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. A year for democracyWhat 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. £100m to fix Wandsworth PrisonAfter 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. Delivering for everyone in TootingThousands 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. On the NHS frontline
Speaking up for Gaza 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. Revitalising Tooting town centre
This Morning and Loose Women 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. Work in Parliament
Keeping our streets safe 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. Cleaning up the local area 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. Free School Meals roll-out
Mental health reform 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.
History was made last Thursday as my friend and predecessor as MP for Tooting, Sadiq Khan, was re-elected for an unprecedented third term as Mayor of London.
After weeks of hard graft, the result was a decisive victory for Sadiq and Labour with our wonderful capital rejecting the divisive, toxic politics of the Tory candidate. I look forward to continuing to work with Sadiq to make Tooting and our wider city a greener, cleaner, safer and more prosperous place to live. Today, Tooting Broadway stayed red, winning a local council seat by-election in the ward! Our brilliant new councillor, Sean Lawless achieved the best result for Labour, since 1986. I've worked with Sean for years and know that he will be a brilliant representative for Tooting.
Thank you for everyone that voted for Labour. Full results: Labour - 1,888 (+6.8%) Tories - 542 (+0.8%) Green Party - 261 (-5.5%) Liberal Democrats - 113 (-2.0%) Changes w./ 2022 On polling day, I joined Labour Party candidates standing for council seats in Dover, Medway and Gravesham. Across the country, Labour won more than 600 local council seats in Stoke-on-Trent, Plymouth, Dover, Medway, and many other areas that we will need to win, if we are to form a Labour majority at the next General Election.
Talking to voters in these seats, it's clear that people right across the country have turned their back on the Conservatives, looking to Labour to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, tackle NHS waiting lists, and improving safety in our communities. The road to Labour in Government runs through our local councils, and I am hopeful this local victory will be the springboard to Labour’s general election victory. It is an honour to have been unanimously re-selected by all the local party branches and affiliated organisations to stand as Labour’s candidate for Tooting in the next general election.
I want to say a huge thank you to all the members and affiliates who took part, and who continue to put their trust in me to represent our community. Serving as the Member of Parliament for the community I grew up in is an honour. From helping local residents with casework, playing a part in winning the council, defending our NHS and serving as the shadow Minister to Mental Health - I have the best job in the world. My job is made even greater by the fantastic support local members show me all year round, so I want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to them all! The next election is make-or-break for our party, we simply must win. I’m looking forward to working hard to make this happen. The NHS is being dismantled, I see it every time I work a shift. More people than ever are relying on foodbanks, and the cost-of-living crisis is having a devastating impact on people locally and across the country. I will be absolutely committed to doing everything I can to put Labour into Government and make the changes this country so desperately needs. Thank you again to everyone who voted. Fresh off the back of our trip to South Wales yesterday, Luke Pollard MP and I continued to take the fight to the Tories today, this time in Reading.
We kicked off the day with a doorknocking session in Reading West, another Tory-held marginal seat where it is essential Labour wins at the next general election. We were delighted to be joined by my colleague, Matt Rodda, MP for Reading East, who took us to a community-run cafe to show the empowering work that local people are doing on a daily basis. Reading is a great example of what Labour can do in power - the town's carbon emissions have been reduced by 70% in the last 12 years and the Council is currently investing £88 million in over 300 new social housing homes across Reading. Today, my friend Luke Pollard MP and I visited the lush landscape of South Wales in order to continue our fight to put Keir Starmer in 10 Downing Street.
We visited Barry Island (cue many Gavin and Stacey references!) in the Vale of Glamorgan seat and Chepstow in Monmouth - two vitally important areas that Labour needs to win to form a government. Labour took control of both Vale of Glamorgan & Monmouthshire Councils after the May elections and I greatly enjoyed campaigning with local members, building on that momentum in order to elect two new Labour MPs at the next election. Of course, a trip to Barry Island would not be complete without a wander down the beautiful seafront, complete with ice cream. Lloniannau! Yesterday, my friend Rex Osborn was elected to Wandsworth Council for Tooting Broadway with a whopping 62% of the vote!
Rex has been a constant in my political life – he was the Labour leader on the council when I was elected in 2014 and I served as his deputy. Rex was the one who urged me to run for selection as an MP and has been with me every step of the way since. Tooting has gained a fantastic voice on the council, who will prioritise our town centres, ensure a fairer deal for renters and push for increased cost-of-living support. This election took place under tragic circumstances, following the sad passing of Councillor Andy Gibbons, who served this area faithfully for 28 years. However, I could not think of a better person to represent Tooting in the Town Hall in Andy’s stead and I look forward to working closely with Rex to honour Andy’s legacy. 44 years of Tory rule in Wandsworth came to an end with Labour taking control of the Council after the local elections. Labour won 35 seats, whilst the Tories won 22. I was thrilled to play a part along with our fantastic Councillors, candidates, and activists in putting Labour into power locally.
Labour’s historic victory here represents a new start for our borough, and it’s great to see Wandsworth’s group of Labour Councillors already taking action to help residents through the cost-of-living crisis. Talking to residents right across the borough, it was obvious to see that people in Wandsworth have rejected Conservative neglect both locally and nationally. The cost of living crisis is hitting residents hard, and it’s clear the Tories aren’t doing enough to address it. Wandsworth residents simply do not trust the Tories. The road to Labour in Government runs through our local councils, and I am hopeful this local victory will be the springboard to Labour’s general election victory. The Local Elections are hastily approaching on 5th May. After 44 long years of Tory rule, Wandsworth needs a breath of fresh air and a Labour council.
Over the next four weeks, I will be out on the campaign trail - knocking on doors, delivering leaflets and working to help our fantastic Labour candidates. I would like to thank all the local residents for their support and warm welcome on the doorstep. Together we can turn Labour red this May! |
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