Sending my best wishes to everyone in Tooting and around the world. I hope you have a blessed Ramadan.
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Special thoughts and prayers going to Palestinians and all Muslims around the world enduring hardship and suffering at this time.

Tonight, I joined with representatives of all faiths and none at the BATCA annual peace ceremony in Tooting.
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Thank you to everyone for their prayers of peace. They are needed now more than ever and I am so proud to represent such a wonderful, caring community.

Since the horrific terrorist attacks on Israel in October, more than 1,000 incidents of antisemitic hate crimes have been reported to Community Secure Trust.

Today, I visited their headquarters in London to see the work they are doing to tackle antisemitism. It is a stain on our society. It must be combatted and those who perpetrate it must face the full force of the law.

It was wonderful to host a coffee morning for local residents today at Tooting United Reform Church. It was brilliant to welcome residents from Tooting and Furzedown. I am really grateful to everyone who attended, including some local organisations and charities who do invaluable work in the community.

Tonight, I held a peace vigil at Tooting Broadway station to bring our community together to remember all those who have died in Israel and Gaza recently. I want to pay a huge thanks to the representatives from our local religious groups who said a prayer for peace.

During some of our darkest hours, Tooting reminds us that there is always hope.

It was great to attend and speak at the annual Balham and Tooting Community Association’s multi-faith peace ceremony in Tooting Broadway. 

Local people of all faiths and none gathered to celebrate all that unites us. We heard prayers and moving speeches from leaders of six different faiths and school students. I love representing a community where so many faiths are represented. People of all faiths and none live and work alongside each other in our community and I was honoured to be part of such a joyous occasion that celebrates our diversity and our commitment to common values of tolerance and understanding.

Leaders from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh communities spoke and prayed in their own traditions. Senior school pupils from Al Risalah Girls Secondary School spoke of what their faith means to them and their hopes for peace. 

This event has taken place in Tooting for many years now and it’s always an inspiring and uplifting event that I look forward to attending. 

It’s always fantastic to see our community come together. Thank you to all who attending and to those who worked so hard to make this event a success.