Eight years ago today, I was selected as the Tooting Labour candidate for the by-election caused by Sadiq becoming a candidate for Mayor of London. 

It has been a huge honour and privilege to serve as the representative for the community in which I was born and raised. My heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who has supported me on this incredible journey.

One of the most fulfilling parts of my role as your MP is helping local people solve problems and, in this case, save money.

A Furzedown pensioner had been denied over £12,000 in backdated pension payments and Pension Credit, however following my intervention with the Department for Work and Pensions, this money was recouped. If you have a problem with your state benefits or pension, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me and I'd be happy to help.

Wandsworth Labour are freezing council tax for another year to help families through the cost-of-living crisis. 
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At the same time, we're improving services and building a better Wandsworth.

​My South London Press column is out today! As it was Valentine's Day this week, I wrote a love letter to my local area.

Across Balham, Earlsfield, Furzedown and Tooting, there is such an amazing range of people and culture locally.

Read my article here👇
https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/

Wandsworth is bursting with creativity and culture. Our art, food and history are what makes our community such a great place to live.

Today, Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney, and Marsha de Cordova, MP for Battersea, and I have written to Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to support Wandsworth’s bid to be London Borough of Culture 2025.

As the MP for Tooting, the safety of our community is my top priority. I am delighted that more than 100 local businesses have already signed up to become a Safe Space.

​For more details, head to the Safe Space here

It was wonderful to attend the Furzedown Project Christmas Party with a great carol performance from local children from Penwortham Primary School. Truly brilliant to see the community come together ahead of Christmas.

One of the most important jobs I do as your local Member of Parliament is ensuring that our wonderful communities in Balham, Earlsfield, Furzedown, Tooting and Wandsworth Common remain safe and welcoming places to live.

To this end, I have recently hosted public meetings with local police leadership in Balham and Furzedown, conducted a walkaround with the Borough Superintendent around the local area, and written to the police on behalf of local residents on a wide range of issues.

Please do let me know if you have any concerns regarding crime issues in the local area - my door is always open.

​It was great to bring together local charities, faith leaders, and leader of Wandsworth Council, Simon Hogg who are all working tirelessly to support local families through the cost-of-living crisis. 

I have already been contacted by countless Tooting residents who are concerned about how they are going to pay their bills and put food on the table this winter, and I fear this will only get worse as we move further into the winter months. With so many households already feeling the squeeze, it’s crucial that we work together to tackle poverty. 

Representatives from Earlsfield and Wandsworth foodbanks as well as Dons Local Action Group and Little Village Tooting told me that they are seeing unprecedented demand at present, as more and more of those who were just-about-managing become unable to afford the basics. 

All the organisations represented spoke of the added difficulties the rise in energy prices have brought. The hike in energy prices has meant that even the local charities who are there to address the crisis are struggling to pay their bills, and this means they are less able to help those in need. This comes at the worst possible time, when demand is at it’s highest level for decades. 

Everyone at the event had numerous stories of people facing hardship, people in overcrowded accommodation, people not being able to put food on the table or buy school uniforms for their children. Many people are also concerned about how they will meet the additional cost of christmas. 

Despite heartbreaking stories, it was uplifting to see so many people who donate their time, energy and money into making things better for people in our community. I am always amazed by the generosity of people in Tooting. However, in Britain in 2022 these organisations and charitable schemes shouldn’t have to exist. It is imperative that the Government take action immediately to support people through the months ahead. 

I was deeply concerned to hear pupils at Graveney School in Tooting were being targeted in a recent spate of muggings. I have been in touch with local police leadership to insist on swift action to address this issue. I know that the police are actively working to identify and arrest those responsible.

Every child deserves to walk our streets without fear. I am therefore pleased to hear that the local police force are carrying out high visibility patrols and are carrying out regular weapon sweeps around the school.
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Police are also patrolling the area in unmarked cars to try and identify and arrest the suspects. 

Pupils at Graveney School have also received assemblies on how to keep safe and how to report a street crime. The local police have also liaised with local CCTV to ensure appropriate coverage. 

It is vital that all of these issues are reported to the police so they can bring these worrying incidents to an end as quickly as possible. Anyone who has been a victim of a street robbery in this area who is yet to report the incident to the police are advised to do so. 

Please be assured, I will continue to work with our local police team to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, and I will continue to follow this case as a matter of urgency.