It was a pleasure to visit Earlsfield Foodbank recently with local Labour councillor Graeme Henderson.

The team here do incredible work in supporting those families most in need across Earlsfield. 

In a country as well off as ours, the fact we have so many who rely on foodbanks is nothing short of outrageous. We discussed our shared aim to end this.

If you’d like to support Earlsfield Foodbank, you can donate here or add to the foodbank collection points at Sainsburys Local (Earlsfield) or Co-op on Garratt Lane. 

If you need support from the Earlsfield Foodbank and would like to collect some food or arrange a delivery, email or call on 07585064428. 

Earlsfield Foodbank is open at St Andrew’s Church (on Garratt Lane) Thursdays 9.30am - 12pm.

Tooting Foodival is back!

As Transition Tooting’s annual sustainable community festival, this is a wonderful opportunity for local residents to come together to celebrate all things locally grown, cooked, re-created and re-imagined.

Led by local volunteers, the event will run from 11- 5pm on Saturday 4th September and is free and open to all! To find out more, see here.

The situation which has unfolded in Afghanistan is shocking and terribly regrettable. It is simply not good enough for world leaders to say the speed of the Taliban advance took them by surprise, when many have been warning of this for months. There has either been a monumental failing of our intelligence services or an unacceptable lack of transparency. Either way the Government has reacted too late.

In 2010, I worked (pictured) as a Humanitarian Aid Doctor in the North West Frontier Province, on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, following the flood crisis. I met many people who had suffered unimaginable pain at the hands of the Taliban.

I am continuing to receive a high volume of emails from local residents concerned about loved ones in Afghanistan. Myself and my team are working to respond as quickly as possible. If you are worried about someone, please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing their details to [email protected]. Please include the following information so I can take action quickly:

• Your full Tooting address
• Your relative’s full name
• Your relative’s date of birth
• Your relative’s passport number
• Your relative’s nationality 

The British consulate remains in full operation in Kabul. The Foreign Office advises British nationals and their family members phone +44 (0)19 0851 6666 and select the option ‘Consular services for British nationals’. Non-British nationals should phone +44 (0)24 7538 9980. Both phone lines are staffed 24 hours a day. 

We must not allow history to repeat itself. Careless leadership from the Prime Minister enabled this tragedy to happen on his watch, while he had taken his eye off the ball. The world must not turn its back on the Afghan people.

Following the recall of Parliament on Wednesday, I remain in close contact with my colleagues in the Shadow Foreign Team and will continue to be on hand to support local residents through this. 

​Calling all dog lovers! The Friends of Tooting Common are planning to run their annual Fun Dog Show on Saturday 11 September.

Last year's virtual event was a huge success – dogs competed across a range of categories, including Best Puppy, Best Rescue, Best Veteran, Best Trick, and – my personal favourite – Dog That Looks Most Like its Owner. An incredible £475 was raised for St George’s Hospital Charity’s Coronavirus Appeal in the process.

Barring any unexpected developments, the Friends are looking forward to bringing this year’s event back to its rightful home on Tooting Common.

For more information about this wonderful event, including how to get involved, email the Friends of Tooting Common on [email protected].

Today, the BBC revealed that in 2018 4,500 people in mental health crisis were unlawfully held in police custody due to a lack of mental health beds.

I spoke about this matter on BBC News earlier today. 

There is no question that the system must change immediately. This is nothing short of a scandal. Rest assured I will be pressing the Government on this issue.

​Today, I spoke with GMB and Royal College of Nursing frontline NHS staff at St George’s Hospital to hear their views on the Government’s latest pay offer. 

The last 18 months has impacted our beloved NHS immeasurably, and staff have made significant sacrifices in order to save lives. 

I stand in solidarity with my NHS colleagues. They deserve far more than just claps. They need a proper pay rise.

​It was a pleasure to, once again, attend the annual Nicholas Stewart Project Community Day on the Henry Prince Estate in Earlsfield. It was a real honour to have been asked to lay flowers in memory of Nicholas, who tragically lost his life seven years ago.

The Nicholas Stewart Project was founded in the wake of Nicholas Stewart’s murder and encourages young people to reject negative influences in their life and turn away from knife crime. 

It is always so inspiring to hear the work of the NSP in supporting young people and be part of our community standing together in hope.

​Tooting Community Kitchen is a wonderful organisation that serves hot food to those vulnerable in our community. And they need volunteers!

If you have a few hours to spare, please consider lending a hand to help out this brilliant local organisation. You can find out more about how to get involved here. 

There was significant concern locally about Wandsworth Council’s decision to extend Controlled Parking Zone restrictions in areas of Earlsfield and Tooting from 9:30am to 9:30pm each day.

Over 1400 local residents completed my consultation on the change. I am pleased that, following our pressure, Wandsworth Council have U-turned on their plans to extend CPZ restrictions. Instead, Event Day only restrictions are planned from 1 October - a far more sensible solution, and something which other councils with stadiums do.

I received more than double the number of responses to Wandsworth Council’s rushed, ill-thought out consultation. In fact, over 93% of respondents were not happy with the council’s plans.

This should never have happened. But I am pleased the Council finally listened and have U-turned on their attempt to rush through restrictions that would simply act as another cash-grab on hardworking local residents.

​It is so important that those living with sight loss in our community are supported when using public transport. 

That is why I recently wrote to South Western Rail and Southern Rail to enquire as to when warning tactile - a vital safety and accessibility tool for those travelling by train - will be installed at Earlsfield and Wandsworth Stations.

I am happy to say that Southern Rail have now confirmed that warning tactile has been installed on surface platforms at Wandsworth Common Station. And, although tactile is yet to be installed at Earlsfield Station, South West Railway have stated that Network Rail is working hard to deliver these accessibility improvements.

Rest assured I will continue to press for accessibility for local residents living with sight loss.