Dear Constituents,

The 2025 Budget

Earlier this week, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, delivered her Autumn Budget.

Just a few days before, I spoke in Parliament about how the previous Government mishandled the economy, mishandled Brexit, mishandled the pandemic, spent Treasury reserves three times over, and promised money for sensitive schemes which they did not have the money for.

In this year’s Budget, the Chancellor rejected austerity and instead made fair and necessary choices for our country. I would like to share a few measures in this Budget that will make a positive difference for you and your family:

• Scrapping the Two Child Limit, to lift 1,650 children in Hampstead and Highgate out of poverty.
• Combined with other measures announced this year, including the expansion of free school meals, we are lifting 550,000 out of poverty within this Parliament and set for the largest fall in child poverty on record.
• Supporting high streets with permanently lower tax rates for 750,000 retail and hospitality properties.
• Taking levies off energy bills to save families £150 on average next year, rising to £300 for many poorer households.
• Cutting NHS waiting lists with 250 new Neighbourhood Health Centres
• Maintaining the highest levels of public investment for four decades.
• Freezing train fares and prescription charges.

Royal Free Maternity Unit

I remain extremely concerned by the decision to close the Royal Free Hospital maternity unit. Doctors and midwives have significant concerns that the North Central London ICB’s consultation did not adequately seek out the views of frontline staff, nor women and families.

Doctors believe the consultation arrived at a recommendation which is likely to be detrimental to patient safety and will increase health inequalities. Clinicians have repeatedly tried to raise their concerns with the ICB, but feel they have not been heard, and have certainly have not been reassured. Earlier this month, I took doctors to meet the Minister for Patient Safety, Baroness Merron, to ensure clinical staff have their voices heard at the top of Government.

Remembrance Day

My constituent Elizabeth De Freitas remembers being taken down to a bomb shelter by her mum and aunt while her father, John Martin Philips, was away in the army for most of her early years. On Remembrance Sunday, I honoured John’s service, and others like him who have served and continue to do so.

Standing Up for Victims of Sexual Assault

One of my constituents recently told me that she was drugged and raped by a powerful and wealthy man she was working for as a nanny. She told me she produced very clear and detailed evidence of the rape to the police, but ultimately her case was dismissed because it came down to her word against his. With fewer than 4% of rape accusations result in a charge or summons, I urged the Government to act. The Minister told me that she will meet with me to discuss this issue further, as she has seen similar cases of high wealth alleged rapists evading justice.

Kristallnacht Memorial

Earlier this month, I had the honour of attending a Kristallnacht memorial service at Belsize Square Synagogue to remember the terrible events of 9-10 November 1938 across Germany and Austria.

I thanked the Association of Jewish Refugees for hosting the service and for the work they do to support Jewish refugees in my constituency, and for the ORT for sharing some heartfelt stories of their organisation’s history and their role in education and training for Jewish refugees in the UK and beyond.

Pushing for More Climate Action after COP30

Like my constituents, I was deeply disappointed to see that COP30 did not deliver any new pledges to cut fossil fuels. This was despite the best efforts of the UK and many of our international partners. In Parliament, I called on Ed Miliband to ensure what was agreed at COP30 does not become a loophole for climate inaction.

Promoting Local Food Cooperatives

The Cooperation Town in Gospel Oak distributes 2 tonnes of food to our community every week. My constituents tell me that this is an extremely cost-effective way to transfer power and wealth from supermarkets to residents. Local members save up to 40% on their food costs, as well as benefiting from the healthier food on offer. In a debate about the inequality of access to healthy food, I highlighted how co-ops play a vital role in making healthy food more affordable. I called the Government should bring this model to more neighbourhoods across the country. Find out more about the work of Cooperation Town, here.

Supporting my Constituent’s Parkinson’s Campaign

It was a privilege to meet my constituent Gillian Lacey Solymar in Parliament. She is the co-founder and presenter of the Movers & Shakers podcast. Alongside Parkinson’s charities, her podcast created the Parky Charter: five steps for better care. Their petition reached over 100,000 signatures and earlier this month it was debated in Parliament, where almost 50 MPs attended! I could not be prouder of Gillian and everything she has done to fight for the rights of people with Parkinson’s. People with Parkinson’s or other forms of parkinsonism, and their principal unpaid carer, can apply for a Parkinson’s UK Personal Assistance Grant up to £1,500, you can find out more here.

Sir Isaiah Berlin Lecture

Finally, I want to send a big thank you to Hampstead Synagogue for hosting David Milliband for the annual Sir Isaiah Berlin Lecture. It was lovely to catch up with lots of familiar faces and David’s speech gave me a lot of food for thought!

Community Bulletin

Funding for Grassroot Sports Clubs

Cash4Clubs is a small grants scheme for community sports clubs and organisations giving them a chance to apply for grants to improve facilities, purchase new equipment, gain coaching qualifications, or invest in the sustainability of their club.

The 2025 programme is focused on supporting adult participation in sport. Cash4Clubs aims to get vital funds to clubs that need it most and as such, prioritises groups working in areas of high deprivation and engaging adults from specific under-represented groups. These groups include women, people from racially-diverse communities, people with disabilities and people from the LGBTQ+ community.

Find out more and apply for funding by the 8^th December, here: Cash4Clubs – Sported

Explore Technology Careers

Designed to inspire the next generation of innovators, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a free, curriculum-linked programme and national tech-for-good competition for 11–18-year-olds at secondary schools and colleges across the UK. Powered by Samsung and supported by leading partners including Tech She Can, D&T Association, and the Design Council – all committed to helping young people build future-ready skills and explore tech-for-good careers.

Why get involved?

Students can learn the art of the design thinking process inspired by real-world innovation at Samsung, supporting them to go from a blank page to a brilliant idea – in as little as one lesson.

Help students turn curiosity into creativity and use tech to solve real-world problems to come up with their own tech-for-good idea!

Fantastic prizes for the most innovative ideas entered into the competition including the latest Samsung tech, expert mentoring, in-school prototyping workshops, work experience, and national recognition – winning ideas featuring on the Piccadilly Circus screen and amplified across social media and radio!

Free teaching resources are flexible and inclusive, working across PSHE, D&T, STEM, and enrichment settings. It supports Gatsby benchmarks and the updated careers guidance. Entries for the competition close on 1 February 2026.

Teachers and home educators can register now www.solvefortomorrowuk.com

Nominate a charity for £1,000

Supporting your favourite charity is easy – simply complete the short nomination form to get them into the draw to win a £1,000 grant. You can nominate a registered charity, not for-profit organisation, or community interest company in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man.

Find out more and nominate, here: 12 Days Christmas Draw – Movement for Good – Nominate a charity for an award.