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.

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 and Instagram, 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: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/23/government-decision-not-to-authorise-pesticide-is-sweet-as-honey-for-pollinators?fbclid=IwY2xjawKLIr9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBSTE0xeWRjY0UzWUxQMVZxAR5sn2966VoO77KcrP6RaQaXNKY1qGm7JHBITgCIU4MonkfF8HImLnHeRSMjDA_aem_GQWTXRuUY07fIB6zO2OsvA

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: https://forms.gle/ZP96ueFiJLVm64ig9

Follow The Roxeth Show on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572225744417