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.

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!

​I would like to congratulate Sadiq Khan on his return to City Hall, where he will be serving as Mayor of London for a second term. As a fellow Tooting-ite, having grown up on the Henry Prince Estate, I know our community has a sense of collective pride seeing Sadiq returned as Mayor of our incredible city.

I would also like to congratulate Leonie Cooper on her re-election as Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth.

Thank you to every single person in Tooting and across London who put their trust in the Labour Party, and thank you to all of the volunteers who hit the ground running, knocking on doors, delivering leaflets, and making phone calls.

We will leave no stone unturned to get our city back on its feet. A brighter future is possible, and we’ll deliver it together.