The Government are right that expanding Heathrow will boost growth. However, the damaging impact that expansion will have on noise and air quality of people living under the flightpath cannot be ignored. 

My position has always been the same and I remain opposed to the expansion of Heathrow airport. While I do not support a third runway at Heathrow, I do agree with the expansion of Gatwick. It can expand faster and with a less negative impact on people living under the flightpaths.

Today, on Holocaust Memorial Day, I am at Auschwitz commemorating 80 years since its liberation.

This day serves as a stark reminder of the sheer evil that led to the murder of 6 million Jews. We remember them and promise to never forget the horrors they faced.

It's finally Friday and what better way to prepare for the weekend than by reading my latest column in the South London Press.

Read my article on the steps Labour are taking, both nationally and locally, to tackle the housing crisis here.

Since the beginning of this terrible violence in October 2023, I have been unrelenting and unequivocal in my calls for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. I have equally been clear that the October 7 attacks by Hamas were completely abhorrent, and hostages must be released.

​Tens of thousands of innocent lives have been lost, with each story as heartwrenching and tragic as the last. There are no words for the pain, suffering and anguish that millions have experienced as a result of this awful war. This ceasefire deal, therefore, is a welcome and significant step towards peace.

We must remain cautiously optimistic that this fragile peace will hold. Ahead of the ceasefire taking effect on Sunday 19 January, we have seen the escalation of strikes on Gaza by the Israeli Defense Forces and the international community must do everything to ensure that the terms of the ceasefire are met in full and on schedule.

Only by ending the violence and bloodshed, as well as releasing the hostages, can reconstruction of the devastated Gaza Strip begin. The influx and distribution of urgent humanitarian aid must be a priority, as hundreds of thousands of Gazan civilians are starving and on the brink of famine. Over 2 million people on both sides of the border have been displaced from their homes, with many of them now having nothing to which they can return.

Regardless of the events of the next few weeks and months, I will continue to be a vocal proponent of peace, reconciliation and a sustainable two-state solution.