Knife crime, especially amongst young people, is at the top of the country's political agenda and, sadly, it has blighted our own local area. Only this week a 16-year-old was in court for possession of a knife in Greenford and during the past year there have been tragic deaths of two young men in West Ealing and Windmill Park. Suggestions as to how we tackle this problem are coming thick and fast and talk shows and the tabloids are in overdrive.
During the past month the world has witnessed two terrible natural disasters, the earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, and Cyclone Nargis in Burma. The response of the two affected countries' governments has been a marked contrast.
Conservative Ealing Council is pressing ahead with a grants commissioning process that will halt council funding to Southall Black Sisters (SBS). This is a serious mistake by the council, as by its own admission, it will have an adverse impact on the services provided to black and minority ethnic women in the borough suffering from domestic violence. It could also lead to the closure of this internationally renowned organisation that has been at the forefront of helping some of the most marginalised women take control of their lives when they have been blighted by domestic violence.
Your vote for London on May 1 is important as these elections will affect every single one of us in Ealing Southall, which is part of the Ealing and Hillingdon London Assembly division.
THE Post Office's proposals to close eight branches in the borough and 169 across London has prompted fierce opposition from local people and elected representatives, including myself and other local MPs, the Mayor of London and local councillors.
THE time for local people to make their views known to the Government about proposals to expand Heathrow Airport with a third runway and sixth terminal is running out. The consultation ends on February 27.
ONE of the more pleasant duties of being a Member of Parliament is to get away from Parliament into the real world and meet dedicated people tirelessly working to improve our local community.
WHEN Parliament returned after the summer recess in early October I decided to take the plunge and give my maiden speech on what was only my fifth day in the House of Commons. It was a nerve-racking experience but one that I did genuinely enjoy.
AFTER a busy week in Bournemouth at the Labour Party conference I thought it would be interesting to let you know how my first conference as an MP went and what I was able to do there on your behalf.
