I hope you are enjoying the spring sun and that your May is off to a
good start. It’s been a busy week both in Westminster and here in
Harrow, marked by two major trade deal announcements, important
meetings on parks and local services, and the commemoration of the
80th anniversary of Victory in Europe
Day. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏


Dear John,

 

I hope you are enjoying the spring sun and that your May is off to a
good start. It’s been a busy week both in Westminster and here in
Harrow, marked by two major trade deal announcements, important
meetings on parks and local services, and the commemoration of the
80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

 

It was a real honour to hear the bells ring out from the iconic St
Mary’s Church, Harrow on the Hill, on Thursday morning - just as
they did 80 years ago, when the news of victory in Europe reached
communities here in Harrow and across the country. Video here.
[[link removed]]

 

I was thinking of my grandparents and their generation - who endured
unimaginable hardship so that we might enjoy the freedoms we often
take for granted. As those who lived through the war gradually leave
us, it falls to our generation to carry forward their stories, their
sacrifices, and the lessons they left behind. It was great to leave
Westminster on Wednesday night and see Parliament adorned in honour of
VE Day 80 and the greatest generation.

The election of POPE LEO XIV is a moment of deep significance and joy
for Catholics across the United Kingdom and around the world. I join
the Prime Minister and the Catholic community here in Harrow in
celebrating this historic occasion and offering prayers for his
papacy.

Below is my newsletter covering some of my work in Parliament and
locally in Harrow too – as always, throughout the year, you can find
regular updates from me on FACEBOOK
[[link removed]] and INSTAGRAM
[[link removed]], OR IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE
YOU WOULD LIKE TO RAISE WITH ME, CONTACT ME ON
[email protected] OR 02072194243.

 

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WEST HARROW PARK

🎉 WEST HARROW PARK TURNS 100 THIS MONTH! 🌳🌳🌳

 

There’s more exciting news to mark the centenary of West Harrow Park
- We’re now working to a short deadline to prepare for the SPECIAL
100 YEAR CELEBRATION ON 24TH MAY at West Harrow Park.

 

🖼️ CALLING ALL LOCAL ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS — if you have
artwork or photos of West Harrow park, please send them over to me as
soon as possible at [email protected], AND IF YOU CAN,
DELIVER PHYSICAL ART TO SYD’S CAFÉ IN WEST HARROW PARK. SYD WILL BE
KEEPING ART SUBMISSIONS ON DISPLAY UNTIL THE 24TH. Following the
Picnic in the Park, OneForty will be hosting an exhibit of art and
imagery celebrating West Harrow park in June! Dates are to be
confirmed but all submissions will be on display. One fantastic
watercolour submission from North Harrow artist ANDY HANNON is already
a highlight (below)!

I’m reaching out to local schools to get involved too. And following
the event, we’ll be hosting a public EXHIBIT AT ONEFORTY showcasing
contributions from across the community.

 

Let’s make this a real celebration of a much-loved local space!

 

SOUTH HARROW STATION SHORTLISTED FOR STEP-FREE FEASIBILITY STUDY 🚆

South Harrow Station has been shortlisted for a step-free access
feasibility study by Transport for London (TfL), marking a promising
step forward in our campaign for greater transport accessibility in
the borough.

 

Opened over100 years ago on 28th June 1903, the station is now one of
the busiest stops on the Picadilly line, handling more than half a
million people per year, located in Zone 5 of London’s transport
system at the Uxbridge branch of the line.

 

The announcement for shortlisting comes after years of dedicated
campaigning by Gareth Thomas MP, councillors, residents, disability
rights groups, and London Assembly Members - efforts which have
already seen step-free initiatives at Sudbury Hill,
Harrow-on-the-Hill, and Northolt stations.

 

GARETH THOMAS MP, HARROW WEST SAID: “_I am delighted South Harrow
has been shortlisted for the step-free feasibility study from_

_Transport for London. I’ve joined many local residents, councillors
and community groups in petitioning for improved accessibility, and
we’ve collected hundreds of signatures from those affected._

_ _

_The station currently has around 40 steps and no lifts or ramps -
this upgrade is long overdue and of real need. With the new fleet of
Piccadilly line trains expected later this year, this would be a
perfect time to enhance accessibility to the station!”_

 

TRADE DEALS

 

 

𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐔𝐊–𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 

I am proud that the UK has secured a historic free trade agreement
with India - one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

I have been campaigning for many years to strengthen our trade
relationship with India, and after a decade of effort and years of
stop-start negotiations, this deal has finally been delivered.

As Exports Minister, I know first-hand what this will mean for UK
businesses. It will make it easier to export iconic British products
like whisky, cars and more - while cutting tariffs on Indian exports
such as clothing and footwear. This is a deal measured in billions of
pounds and will create real opportunities for growth, jobs and
investment in both our nations.

This deal will provide an annual £4.8 billion boost for British
businesses, create more jobs, raise wages by more than £2 billion a
year and bring down prices for hard-pressed consumers.

Kemi Badenoch is desperately seeking to distract from her failure with
a made-up row about a standard tax agreement that will benefit British
workers abroad.

Where the Conservatives failed to seal the deal, Labour is putting
more money in working people’s pockets through our Plan for Change.

 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐔𝐊–𝐔𝐒
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥
𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝!  

Labour has delivered the Government’s first-ever US trade deal that
protects British businesses and jobs - the second landmark agreement
in just days, following the UK–India deal.

 US tariffs on UK cars slashed from 27.5%
 UK steel and aluminium exports to the US now tariff-free
 UK food standards protected
 Boosts to exports in steel, cars, food & drink, and more
 New markets opened up for UK businesses across all sectors

This deal reaffirms our special relationship with the US and
transforms it into shared prosperity - delivering on the PM’s
promise to save UK steel and support British car makers, safeguarding
thousands of jobs across the country.

After a week of landmark trade deals and renewed global partnerships,
the focus must now turn closer to home.

We need a RESET IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE - and the upcoming
UK–EU SUMMIT ON 19TH MAY is a crucial opportunity for us. Whether
it’s on trade, security, science, or climate, we have far more to
gain by working together.

 

WATER ACT ENSURES POLLUTING WATER BOSSES FACE UP TO TWO YEARS IN
PRISON

Water company bosses now face up to two years in prison due to new
powers in force by legislation I voted for last month.

The new powers, delivered by the Government’s landmark Water
(Special Measures) Act 2025, mean water executives who cover up or
hide illegal sewage spills can now be locked up.

No prison sentences have been handed to water executives since
privatisation despite widespread illegal sewage discharges into
rivers, lakes and seas. These new, tougher penalties are essential
because some water companies have obstructed investigations, failing
to handover vital evidence related to illegal sewage discharges. This
has prevented crackdowns against law-breaking water companies.

The new measures deliver on the Labour Government's promise to bring
tougher criminal charges against lawbreakers in the water industry. As
part of the Government’s Plan for Change, the threat of imprisonment
will act as a powerful deterrent as water companies invest in
upgrading broken water infrastructure and clean up our rivers, lakes
and seas for good.

 

ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY STEVE REED SAID:

“Bosses must face consequences if they commit crimes. There must be
accountability. From today, there will be no more hiding places.

“As part of the Plan for Change, these new powers will force water
companies to focused on cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas for
good.”

In addition, new powers will mean that the polluters will pay for the
cost of criminal investigations into wrongdoing. Authorities will now
recover the costs of their enforcement activity, with the Environment
Agency currently consulting on how they will use the powers.

The payment of bonuses to water bosses will also be banned if they
fail to meet high standards to protect the environment, their
consumers, and their company’s finances.

 

BANNING NEONICOTINOIDS FOR BEE HEALTH

A few years ago, I was glad to support the Labour amendment to enforce
this.  Glad to see the Environment Minister Emma Hardy announce that
neonicotinoid pesticides are now banned to protect bees, butterflies
and other pollinators. At a time when Britain is one of the most
nature depleted countries in the world.

I have long campaigned for an end to blanket use of pesticides and
I’m pleased this government is finally taking action to protect
nature.

The pesticides are highly toxic and one teaspoon of the chemical is
enough to kill 1.25bn honeybees. Even at non-fatal doses it can cause
cognitive problems that make it hard for bees to forage for nectar and
the chemicals can stay in the soil for years.

READ:
[link removed]
[[link removed]]

 

THE ROXETH SHOW REVIVAL - SATURDAY 12TH JULY

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠! 🎉
𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄:
𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟐𝐭𝐡

A group of local residents and businesses in South Harrow are reviving
The Roxeth Show for a special day at Roxeth Recreation Ground! 🎈
Join the Roxeth Show in South Harrow as we celebrate music, food, and
culture with an unforgettable community event for all the fam. Stay
tuned for more details and please sign up & get involved with
entertainment or a stall: [link removed]
[[link removed]]

 

Follow The Roxeth Show on Facebook here:
[link removed]
[[link removed]]

 

 

Promoted by David Evans on behalf of the Labour Party, Labour Central
Kings Manor, Newcastle, NE1 6PA, United Kingdom

UNSUBSCRIBE
[[link removed]]



Promoted by Hollie Ridley on behalf of the Labour Party, Labour Central Kings Manor, Newcastle, NE1 6PA, United Kingdom
[link removed]