The Environment Agency has provided another update following the weekend's work on the River Wandle to clean up last week's oil spill.

I am pleased to hear that the majority of the pollution appears to have been cleared. The specialist contractors managing the clean-up report that the river is looking much better today, with very little visible oil sheen remaining and no further oil being washed from vegetation along the riverbanks.

The Environment Agency tells me that, due to the swift response of multiple agencies, including the emergency services, local authorities, and charities, the impact on the environment around the Wandle appears to be minimal. Thankfully, the number of affected wildlife remains low. The few wild birds that have been impacted are being cared for by the RSPCA. No fish mortalities have been reported, and the fish populations in the Wandle appear to remain healthy.

Investigations into this incident are ongoing, and options for enforcement are being considered by the Environment Agency and its partners. People are still urged to be cautious and keep pets away from the water and angling is not recommended for the time being.

If you see any further signs of diesel around the Wandle, please contact the Environment Agency on its 24/7 incident number: 0800 807060 or via email at [email protected].

The Environment Agency continue to keep me updated about the recent oil spill into the River Wandle. The Environment Agency, along with emergency services, Thames Water, the RSPB, and local authorities, are actively working on containment and clean-up efforts.

Key Points:

• Specialist contractors have placed containment booms to limit the spread, and clean-up operations have significantly reduced visible diesel.
• No new diesel is entering the river, and rainfall is expected to dilute the remaining small quantity.
• A thin rainbow sheen on the water and a lingering diesel odour may persist for a few days.
• People and pets should avoid contact with the water.
• Observations have been undertaken of fish populations and they appear to be healthy, but fishing remains discouraged.
• The RSPCA has observed that most waterfowl and wildlife have stayed away from the pollution but are caring for a number of birds that have been contaminated.
• Report any sightings of contaminated birds to the Swan Sanctuary (01932 240790) or the RSPCA (0300 1234 999).
• If you see any significant signs of diesel, please report it to the Environment Agency’s 24/7 incident line: 0800 807060 or via email: [email protected].

My office will continue to monitor the situation and I will provide any updates as they come in.

Yesterday, I became aware that an incident had occurred on the River Wandle where diesel oil had spilled from a bus depot in Thornton Heath into the river.

The Wandle is a vital ecosystem, and is home to a range of wildbirds, fish, frogs and toads. It is critical to protect this pocket of wildlife and to ensure the progress made in bringing the river back to life is not allowed to slide backwards. 

I have been in contact with the Environment Agency who tell me that they are working to assess the impact of the oil on water quality and wildlife along the course of the river, as well as putting in place plans to extract the oil from the river. This remedial work will continue over the coming days. 

The Environment Agency advises local residents to report any oil spotted in the river to the Environment Agency's emergency hotline by phone 0800 807060 or email [email protected]

Today, in Parliament, I launched the All Party Parliamentary Group on Emergency Care. As a doctor at the A&E in St George's, I know my colleagues up and down the country work tirelessly to provide the highest standards of care for their patients in some of the most difficult of circumstances. 

Our group of Parliamentarians is committed to fighting to improve emergency care at every level. We will be hearing from experts, publishing reports and making sure that the importance of emergency care is highlighted in Government policy.

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.

​As 2024 draws to a close, I wanted to take this opportunity to look back on the events of the past year. It has been a year of change and renewal - full of ups and downs - but as I enter into my ninth year as your Member of Parliament for Balham, Earlsfield, Furzedown and Tooting, it remains the greatest honour of my life to represent the community in which I was born and raised.

Entering the new year, I would like to pay tribute to the incredible frontline workers working around the clock to keep the country going through the festive period. From our NHS services to local hospitality staff to food bank volunteers - you all have my heartfelt gratitude for your tireless work this Christmas and throughout the year.

​What a year it has been for elections, both locally and across the country. We began the year with a fantastic win in the Tooting Broadway by-election, increasing the Labour vote share by nearly 7% to a whopping 58% majority. Then came the Mayoral elections in May, when we kept London red by electing my Tooting predecessor Sadiq Khan to a historic third term as Mayor of London.

Finally - and most importantly - we finally elected a new Labour Government after 14 long years, with areas up and down the country voting Labour for the very first time. It was humbling to receive the most votes of any Labour MP and thanks must go to everyone who voted for me - your support means the world.

​After years of campaigning - and countless stories of mismanagement and scandal - the Ministry of Justice announced a £100 million funding package for HMP Wandsworth. This will go a long way to reduce the impact of overcrowding, repair crumbling cell blocks and facilities, and ensure that prison guards can work in a safe environment.

​Thousands of local people have contacted me this year regarding a variety of issues, I have dealt with 15,000 cases. I reclaimed tens of thousands in unpaid pensions or benefits for local people, got decisions on hundreds of delayed passport or visa applications, and helped countless local residents get repairs to their homes. My door is always open and please get in touch if there is anything I can help with.

​It has now been over a year since the horrific 7th October attacks and Israel's subsequent invasion of Gaza. The humanitarian disaster we have seen unfold there in the time since, has been truly heartwrenching. This year, I've raised the issue numerous times in Parliament, visited the region in the spring, and held evidence sessions with humanitarian experts.

​Using my background as an NHS doctor, I have enjoyed trying my hand at being a TV medic this year! The lovely people at This Morning and Loose Women have had me on many times to talk about a range of topics from mental health to medical emergencies and even gave me space to open up about my own childhood challenges with speech, in a bid to end stigma and help others.

​in 2024, I successfully campaigned for a tripling of the Tooting neighbourhood policing team, putting more bobbies on our streets. In the summer, Operation Kenny run by the Metropolitan Police resulted in a 70% reduction in crime in Tooting town centre. This work will continue with the new Government's plans to recruit 13,000 new officers and return policing to communities.

​I have never stopped campaigning for cleaner streets. This year saw a 15% reduction in fly-tipping in Wandsworth, with thousands of fines issued to people dumping their bulky rubbish on our streets. Meanwhile, Wandsworth Labour introduced food recycling for the first time ever in the borough.

​Mental health is incredibly important to me and, for far too long, much-needed reforms were swept under the rug by a Conservative Government that simply wasn't interested. After much hard work, it was fantastic to see reform of the Mental Health Act announced in the King's Speech in July - this was long overdue.