Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The last few weeks have been as busy as ever. The Easter holidays have provided a good chance to do some campaigning to get Ken Livingstone re elected as Mayor of London. You can find out more details of his campaign by clicking HERE.
I also attended a concert organised by Islamic Relief at Royal Albert Hall to raise money for children in the developing world. The Royal Albert Hall Easter concert is now an annual event organised by this excellent charity. In addition to great music, Ken Livingstone popped by to make a stirring speech on the importance of voting to increase the threshold the BNP would require to win a seat on the Greater London Assembly. You can find out more details about Islamic Relief by visiting their website – click HERE.
I also hosted various tours of the Palace of Westminster for students from Garratt Park School in Earlsfield and Chestnut Grove School in Balham. One of my passions is to make Parliament more accessible and relevant to local residents. I am really proud that so many students from Tooting now visit Parliament and engage with me on their visits about issues which are important to them. These visits are always stimulating and interesting as younger citizens tell it as it is! You can see a photo of Garratt Park students by clicking HERE and of Chestnut Grove Students by clicking HERE. If you would like to come to a tour of the House of Commons then please send me a message by clicking HERE.
I annually attended the Muslim News Awards in Park Lane and am always impressed at the breadth of British Muslim talent which unfortunately is not widely reported in the mainstream media as much as it should be. I am really pleased and proud that, this year, I won the Award for excellence for Citizenship. Modesty prevents me from reproducing the citation but you can see a photo of me receiving the Award from the Chief executive of the Crown Prosecution Service who sponsored this Award by clicking HERE.
I also attended a concert organised by Islamic Relief at Royal Albert Hall to raise money for children in the developing world. The Royal Albert Hall Easter concert is now an annual event organised by this excellent charity. In addition to great music, Ken Livingstone popped by to make a stirring speech on the importance of voting to increase the threshold the BNP would require to win a seat on the Greater London Assembly. You can find out more details about Islamic Relief by visiting their website – click HERE.
I also hosted various tours of the Palace of Westminster for students from Garratt Park School in Earlsfield and Chestnut Grove School in Balham. One of my passions is to make Parliament more accessible and relevant to local residents. I am really proud that so many students from Tooting now visit Parliament and engage with me on their visits about issues which are important to them. These visits are always stimulating and interesting as younger citizens tell it as it is! You can see a photo of Garratt Park students by clicking HERE and of Chestnut Grove Students by clicking HERE. If you would like to come to a tour of the House of Commons then please send me a message by clicking HERE.
I annually attended the Muslim News Awards in Park Lane and am always impressed at the breadth of British Muslim talent which unfortunately is not widely reported in the mainstream media as much as it should be. I am really pleased and proud that, this year, I won the Award for excellence for Citizenship. Modesty prevents me from reproducing the citation but you can see a photo of me receiving the Award from the Chief executive of the Crown Prosecution Service who sponsored this Award by clicking HERE.
# posted by Sadiq @ 1:30 PM 
Thursday, April 03, 2008
I am afraid that pressure of various campaigns and parliamentary business has meant that I have not been able to do my weekly blog for the last 3 weeks. This entry will simply highlight some of the things I have been up to over the last 3 weeks;
I have been holding my usual drop in surgeries in Earlsfield Library and Balham Community Centre as well as my appointment surgery at Tooting Library.
I held my inaugural Environmental Policy Forum in the House of Commons. The forum was attended by more than 100 local environmental activists, who had the opportunity to put questions to the Minister for Climate Change, Joan Ruddock MP, before discussions were held about what local action could be taken on the issues of sustainable transport, sustainable energy and recycling. There were several points of action from the meeting which I am following up with the Council, the Government and Transport for London.
I met representatives of Oxfam who were running a “Sisters of the Planet” exhibition in the House of Commons. The exhibition was designed to highlight the disproportionate impact climate change is having on women living in poverty. It was an audio-visual exhibition which, through the stories of women, highlights how climate change is already putting greater pressure on their lives. It also shows what can be achieved when women have a voice in decision making and support to adapt their local environments. You can see a photo of me visiting the exhibition by clicking HERE.
I met with representatives of Wandsworth and Merton Law Centre to discuss concerns they have about the potential ramifications of changes in Legal Aid is having on their ability to do their job. I also met with Legal Aid Minister, Lord Hunt, to discuss these issues. I am confident that a solution can be found to the excellent local Law Centres concerns, whilst at the same time addressing the ever increasing Legal Aid Budget.
I attended and spoke at an event organised jointly by the Age Activity Centre and Cancer Resource Centre, in Tooting, looking at the link between cancer and diet.
Safety of local children on the road is an important issue to me. I met with parents, students and teachers from Sellincourt Primary School to discuss concerns they had about local road safety. Part of the road outside the school is level with the pavement (without a raised kerb) and the wooden bollards have been knocked down by cars and not replaced by the Council. Cars regularly mount the pavement outside the school, to park and turn round, blocking the view of pedestrians crossing the road. Parents and teachers are concerned that it is just a matter of time before a child is seriously hurt in a road traffic accident. I visited the school to see the problem for myself and made immediate representations to the Council and local Safer Neighbourhood Team, to request that they take urgent action to stop this problem.
I have also had a number of responses to the consultation I have begun about the major developments on Springfield University Hospital. South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust have laid out proposals to develop the 80 acre site at Springfield University Hospital, which up to 1400 new houses, new shops, communal spaces and hospital facilities. This will clearly have an impact on traffic, the environment and local amenities and the building works are likely to take a number of years. It is important that local resident have their say on this issue. You can find out more and download my survey by clicking HERE.
I also attended and thoroughly enjoyed Battersea Labour Party’s Centenary Event in the House of Commons. A commemorative DVD has been made of their history and it was good to see other Parliamentarians present to celebrate the evening.
Theatre staff at St Georges have expressed some concerns about restructuring taking place and I was keen to meet staff to listen to and discuss the issue with them. Over one hundred and fifty theatre nurses and technicians at St. George’s Hospital attended the meeting. UNISON Theatre staff, while agreeing that there needs to be increased utilisation of Theatres at the hospital, contend that staff need to be involved in any developments and it is vital that Theatre staff pay and conditions are not eroded. I have contacted the Hospital Trust about this matter and will be working with the Trust, UNISON officials and St George’s Staff. You can see a photo of me with St George’s Theatre Staff by clicking HERE
I hosted a reception for Young Enterprise London to celebrate the volunteers who make their work possible. Young Enterprise provides young people in the city with direct experience of learning to work efficiently as individuals and as team members by supporting them in starting up their own businesses. You can find out more about their work by visiting their website by clicking HERE.
I was also interviewed by students from Burntwood School as part of their contribution to BBC News Schools Day. I was very impressed with the journalistic and technical talents of students at Burntwood School. It is really good to see the confidence of those involved in this project. The excellent coverage they received on the BBC showed the rest of the world that the next Kate Adie or Kirsty Walk could come from Tooting. To see Burntwood’s School Report for the BBC click HERE. To see a photo of me with the aspiring Journalists, click HERE.
One of the highlights of the last fortnight has been the opportunity to give out so many awards to Girl Guides from South London at a special ceremony organised thanks to the Jack Petchey Foundation. 36 Achievement Award winners and 9 Adult Leader Award winners were presented.
I also attended the launch of the campaign by Ken Livingstone to be re-elected as Mayor of London. To find out more about Ken’s policies and vision for London click HERE.
I attended a special conference for young people in the Methodist Church Hall and was interviewed by young people from “Voice it”. You can find out more details about the exciting work that is going out in partnership between the Ministry of Justice and Radiowaves by visiting www.radiowaves.co.uk/voiceit.
My campaign to save 4 local Post Offices from closure in Tooting has been gaining momentum. I am pleased that the Council is now onboard but very disappointed about the party political games they continue to play on an issue that should unite locally elected representatives. I attended a Public Meeting organised by the Council in Tooting Ward (where there are no plans to close any Post Offices). I have made further representations to the Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council, Maurice Heaster, to lobby him to provide subsidy for the four Post Offices proposed for closure in Tooting. I have also met with the Minister of State for Post Offices, Pat McFadden MP, and was told by him that the Government are encouraging Post Office Ltd to engage seriously with local authorities who wish to step in and fund particular branches. The Minister was confident that a deal would be struck with Essex Council to save their Post Offices and saw no reason why Wandsworth Council couldn’t do the same.
There are fifty local authorities in discussions with Post Office Ltd about taking control of local services, however, Wandsworth is not yet one of them. I have expressed to Councillor Heaster that I will work with him and the Council Officers to save local Post Office in Tooting.
To find out more about what I have been doing in relation to local Post Office click HERE
I have been holding my usual drop in surgeries in Earlsfield Library and Balham Community Centre as well as my appointment surgery at Tooting Library.
I held my inaugural Environmental Policy Forum in the House of Commons. The forum was attended by more than 100 local environmental activists, who had the opportunity to put questions to the Minister for Climate Change, Joan Ruddock MP, before discussions were held about what local action could be taken on the issues of sustainable transport, sustainable energy and recycling. There were several points of action from the meeting which I am following up with the Council, the Government and Transport for London.
I met representatives of Oxfam who were running a “Sisters of the Planet” exhibition in the House of Commons. The exhibition was designed to highlight the disproportionate impact climate change is having on women living in poverty. It was an audio-visual exhibition which, through the stories of women, highlights how climate change is already putting greater pressure on their lives. It also shows what can be achieved when women have a voice in decision making and support to adapt their local environments. You can see a photo of me visiting the exhibition by clicking HERE.
I met with representatives of Wandsworth and Merton Law Centre to discuss concerns they have about the potential ramifications of changes in Legal Aid is having on their ability to do their job. I also met with Legal Aid Minister, Lord Hunt, to discuss these issues. I am confident that a solution can be found to the excellent local Law Centres concerns, whilst at the same time addressing the ever increasing Legal Aid Budget.
I attended and spoke at an event organised jointly by the Age Activity Centre and Cancer Resource Centre, in Tooting, looking at the link between cancer and diet.
Safety of local children on the road is an important issue to me. I met with parents, students and teachers from Sellincourt Primary School to discuss concerns they had about local road safety. Part of the road outside the school is level with the pavement (without a raised kerb) and the wooden bollards have been knocked down by cars and not replaced by the Council. Cars regularly mount the pavement outside the school, to park and turn round, blocking the view of pedestrians crossing the road. Parents and teachers are concerned that it is just a matter of time before a child is seriously hurt in a road traffic accident. I visited the school to see the problem for myself and made immediate representations to the Council and local Safer Neighbourhood Team, to request that they take urgent action to stop this problem.
I have also had a number of responses to the consultation I have begun about the major developments on Springfield University Hospital. South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust have laid out proposals to develop the 80 acre site at Springfield University Hospital, which up to 1400 new houses, new shops, communal spaces and hospital facilities. This will clearly have an impact on traffic, the environment and local amenities and the building works are likely to take a number of years. It is important that local resident have their say on this issue. You can find out more and download my survey by clicking HERE.
I also attended and thoroughly enjoyed Battersea Labour Party’s Centenary Event in the House of Commons. A commemorative DVD has been made of their history and it was good to see other Parliamentarians present to celebrate the evening.
Theatre staff at St Georges have expressed some concerns about restructuring taking place and I was keen to meet staff to listen to and discuss the issue with them. Over one hundred and fifty theatre nurses and technicians at St. George’s Hospital attended the meeting. UNISON Theatre staff, while agreeing that there needs to be increased utilisation of Theatres at the hospital, contend that staff need to be involved in any developments and it is vital that Theatre staff pay and conditions are not eroded. I have contacted the Hospital Trust about this matter and will be working with the Trust, UNISON officials and St George’s Staff. You can see a photo of me with St George’s Theatre Staff by clicking HERE
I hosted a reception for Young Enterprise London to celebrate the volunteers who make their work possible. Young Enterprise provides young people in the city with direct experience of learning to work efficiently as individuals and as team members by supporting them in starting up their own businesses. You can find out more about their work by visiting their website by clicking HERE.
I was also interviewed by students from Burntwood School as part of their contribution to BBC News Schools Day. I was very impressed with the journalistic and technical talents of students at Burntwood School. It is really good to see the confidence of those involved in this project. The excellent coverage they received on the BBC showed the rest of the world that the next Kate Adie or Kirsty Walk could come from Tooting. To see Burntwood’s School Report for the BBC click HERE. To see a photo of me with the aspiring Journalists, click HERE.
One of the highlights of the last fortnight has been the opportunity to give out so many awards to Girl Guides from South London at a special ceremony organised thanks to the Jack Petchey Foundation. 36 Achievement Award winners and 9 Adult Leader Award winners were presented.
I also attended the launch of the campaign by Ken Livingstone to be re-elected as Mayor of London. To find out more about Ken’s policies and vision for London click HERE.
I attended a special conference for young people in the Methodist Church Hall and was interviewed by young people from “Voice it”. You can find out more details about the exciting work that is going out in partnership between the Ministry of Justice and Radiowaves by visiting www.radiowaves.co.uk/voiceit.
My campaign to save 4 local Post Offices from closure in Tooting has been gaining momentum. I am pleased that the Council is now onboard but very disappointed about the party political games they continue to play on an issue that should unite locally elected representatives. I attended a Public Meeting organised by the Council in Tooting Ward (where there are no plans to close any Post Offices). I have made further representations to the Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council, Maurice Heaster, to lobby him to provide subsidy for the four Post Offices proposed for closure in Tooting. I have also met with the Minister of State for Post Offices, Pat McFadden MP, and was told by him that the Government are encouraging Post Office Ltd to engage seriously with local authorities who wish to step in and fund particular branches. The Minister was confident that a deal would be struck with Essex Council to save their Post Offices and saw no reason why Wandsworth Council couldn’t do the same.
There are fifty local authorities in discussions with Post Office Ltd about taking control of local services, however, Wandsworth is not yet one of them. I have expressed to Councillor Heaster that I will work with him and the Council Officers to save local Post Office in Tooting.
To find out more about what I have been doing in relation to local Post Office click HERE
# posted by Sadiq @ 4:32 PM
Monday, March 31, 2008
I am afraid that pressure of various campaigns and parliamentary business has meant that I have not been able to do my weekly blog for the last 3 weeks. This entry will simply highlight some of the things I have been up to over the last 3 weeks;
I have been holding my usual drop in surgeries in Earlsfield Library and Balham Community Centre as well as my appointment surgery at Tooting Library.
I held my inaugural Environmental Policy Forum in the House of Commons. The forum was attended by more than 100 local environmental activists, who had the opportunity to put questions to the Minister for Climate Change, Joan Ruddock MP, before discussions were held about what local action could be taken on the issues of sustainable transport, sustainable energy and recycling. There were several points of action from the meeting which I am following up with the Council, the Government and Transport for London.
I met representatives of Oxfam who were running a “Sisters of the Planet” exhibition in the House of Commons. The exhibition was designed to highlight the disproportionate impact climate change is having on women living in poverty. It was an audio-visual exhibition which, through the stories of women, highlights how climate change is already putting greater pressure on their lives. It also shows what can be achieved when women have a voice in decision making and support to adapt their local environments. You can see a photo of me visiting the exhibition by clicking HERE.
I met with representatives of Wandsworth and Merton Law Centre to discuss concerns they have about the potential ramifications of changes in Legal Aid is having on their ability to do their job. I also met with Legal Aid Minister, Lord Hunt, to discuss these issues. I am confident that a solution can be found to the excellent local Law Centres concerns, whilst at the same time addressing the ever increasing Legal Aid Budget.
I attended and spoke at an event organised jointly by the Age Activity Centre and Cancer Resource Centre, in Tooting, looking at the link between cancer and diet.
Safety of local children on the road is an important issue to me. I met with parents, students and teachers from Sellincourt Primary School to discuss concerns they had about local road safety. Part of the road outside the school is level with the pavement (without a raised kerb) and ineffective wooden bollards have been knocked down by cars and not replaced by the Council. Cars regularly mount the pavement outside the school, to park and turn round, blocking the view of pedestrians crossing the road. Parents and teachers are concerned that it is just a matter of time before a child is seriously hurt in a road traffic accident. I visited the school to see the problem for myself and made immediate representations to the Council and local Safer Neighbourhood Team, to request that they take urgent action to stop this problem.
I have also had a number of responses to the consultation I have begun about the major developments on Springfield University Hospital. South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust have laid out proposals to develop the 80 acre site at Springfield University Hospital, which up to 14000 new houses, new shops, communal spaces and hospital facilities. This will clearly have an impact on traffic, the environment and local amenities and the building works are likely to take a number of years. It is important that local resident have their say on this issue. You can find out more and download my survey by clicking HERE.
I also attended and thoroughly enjoyed Battersea Labour Party’s Centenary Event in the House of Commons. A commemorative DVD has been made of their history and it was good to see other Parliamentarians present to celebrate the evening.
Theatre staff at St Georges have expressed some concerns about restructuring taking place and I was keen to meet staff to listen to and discuss the issue with them. Over one hundred and fifty theatre nurses and technicians at St. George’s Hospital attended the meeting. UNISON Theatre staff, while agreeing that there needs to be increased utilisation of Theatres at the hospital, contend that staff need to be involved in any developments and it is vital that Theatre staff pay and conditions are not eroded. I have contacted the Hospital Trust about this matter and will be working with the Trust, UNISON officials and St George’s Staff. You can see a photo of me with St George’s Theatre Staff by clicking HERE
I hosted a reception for Young Enterprise London to celebrate the volunteers who make their work possible. Young Enterprise provides young people in the city with direct experience of learning to work efficiently as individuals and as team members by supporting them in starting up their own businesses. You can find out more about their work by visiting their website by clicking HERE.
I was also interviewed by students from Burntwood School as part of their contribution to BBC News Schools Day. I was very impressed with the journalistic and technical talents of students at Burntwood School. It is really good to see the confidence of those involved in this project. The excellent coverage they received on the BBC showed the rest of the world that the next Kate Adie or Kirsty Walk could come from Tooting. To see Burntwood’s School Report for the BBC click HERE. To see a photo of me with the aspiring Journalists, click HERE.
One of the highlights of the last fortnight has been the opportunity to give out so many Awards to Girl Guides from South London at a special ceremony organised thanks to the Jack Petchey Foundation. 36 Achievement Award winners and 9 Adult Leader Award winners were presented.
I also attended the launch of the campaign by Ken Livingstone to be re-elected as Mayor of London. To find out more about Ken’s policies and vision for London click HERE.
I attended a special conference for young people in the Methodist Church Hall and was interviewed by young people from “Voice it”. You can find out more details about the exciting work that is going out in partnership between the Ministry of Justice and Radiowaves by visiting www.radiowaves.co.uk/voiceit.
My campaign to save 4 local Post Offices from closure in Tooting has been gaining momentum. I am pleased that the Council is now onboard but very disappointed about the party political games they continue to play on an issue that should unite locally elected representatives. I attended a Public Meeting organised by the Council in Tooting Ward (where there are no plans to close any Post Offices). I have made further representations to the Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council, Maurice Heaster, to lobby him to provide subsidy for the four Post Offices proposed for closure in Tooting. I have also met with the Minister of State for Post Offices, Pat McFadden MP, and was told by him that the Government are encouraging Post Office Ltd to engage seriously with local authorities who wish to step in and fund particular branches. The Minister was confident that a deal would be struck with Essex Council to save their Post Offices and saw no reason why Wandsworth Council couldn’t do the same.
There are fifty local authorities in discussions with Post Office Ltd about taking control of local services, however, Wandsworth is not yet one of them. I have expressed to Councillor Heaster that I will work with him and the Council Officers to save local Post Office in Tooting.
To find out more about what I have been doing in relation to local Post Office click HERE.
I have been holding my usual drop in surgeries in Earlsfield Library and Balham Community Centre as well as my appointment surgery at Tooting Library.
I held my inaugural Environmental Policy Forum in the House of Commons. The forum was attended by more than 100 local environmental activists, who had the opportunity to put questions to the Minister for Climate Change, Joan Ruddock MP, before discussions were held about what local action could be taken on the issues of sustainable transport, sustainable energy and recycling. There were several points of action from the meeting which I am following up with the Council, the Government and Transport for London.
I met representatives of Oxfam who were running a “Sisters of the Planet” exhibition in the House of Commons. The exhibition was designed to highlight the disproportionate impact climate change is having on women living in poverty. It was an audio-visual exhibition which, through the stories of women, highlights how climate change is already putting greater pressure on their lives. It also shows what can be achieved when women have a voice in decision making and support to adapt their local environments. You can see a photo of me visiting the exhibition by clicking HERE.
I met with representatives of Wandsworth and Merton Law Centre to discuss concerns they have about the potential ramifications of changes in Legal Aid is having on their ability to do their job. I also met with Legal Aid Minister, Lord Hunt, to discuss these issues. I am confident that a solution can be found to the excellent local Law Centres concerns, whilst at the same time addressing the ever increasing Legal Aid Budget.
I attended and spoke at an event organised jointly by the Age Activity Centre and Cancer Resource Centre, in Tooting, looking at the link between cancer and diet.
Safety of local children on the road is an important issue to me. I met with parents, students and teachers from Sellincourt Primary School to discuss concerns they had about local road safety. Part of the road outside the school is level with the pavement (without a raised kerb) and ineffective wooden bollards have been knocked down by cars and not replaced by the Council. Cars regularly mount the pavement outside the school, to park and turn round, blocking the view of pedestrians crossing the road. Parents and teachers are concerned that it is just a matter of time before a child is seriously hurt in a road traffic accident. I visited the school to see the problem for myself and made immediate representations to the Council and local Safer Neighbourhood Team, to request that they take urgent action to stop this problem.
I have also had a number of responses to the consultation I have begun about the major developments on Springfield University Hospital. South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust have laid out proposals to develop the 80 acre site at Springfield University Hospital, which up to 14000 new houses, new shops, communal spaces and hospital facilities. This will clearly have an impact on traffic, the environment and local amenities and the building works are likely to take a number of years. It is important that local resident have their say on this issue. You can find out more and download my survey by clicking HERE.
I also attended and thoroughly enjoyed Battersea Labour Party’s Centenary Event in the House of Commons. A commemorative DVD has been made of their history and it was good to see other Parliamentarians present to celebrate the evening.
Theatre staff at St Georges have expressed some concerns about restructuring taking place and I was keen to meet staff to listen to and discuss the issue with them. Over one hundred and fifty theatre nurses and technicians at St. George’s Hospital attended the meeting. UNISON Theatre staff, while agreeing that there needs to be increased utilisation of Theatres at the hospital, contend that staff need to be involved in any developments and it is vital that Theatre staff pay and conditions are not eroded. I have contacted the Hospital Trust about this matter and will be working with the Trust, UNISON officials and St George’s Staff. You can see a photo of me with St George’s Theatre Staff by clicking HERE
I hosted a reception for Young Enterprise London to celebrate the volunteers who make their work possible. Young Enterprise provides young people in the city with direct experience of learning to work efficiently as individuals and as team members by supporting them in starting up their own businesses. You can find out more about their work by visiting their website by clicking HERE.
I was also interviewed by students from Burntwood School as part of their contribution to BBC News Schools Day. I was very impressed with the journalistic and technical talents of students at Burntwood School. It is really good to see the confidence of those involved in this project. The excellent coverage they received on the BBC showed the rest of the world that the next Kate Adie or Kirsty Walk could come from Tooting. To see Burntwood’s School Report for the BBC click HERE. To see a photo of me with the aspiring Journalists, click HERE.
One of the highlights of the last fortnight has been the opportunity to give out so many Awards to Girl Guides from South London at a special ceremony organised thanks to the Jack Petchey Foundation. 36 Achievement Award winners and 9 Adult Leader Award winners were presented.
I also attended the launch of the campaign by Ken Livingstone to be re-elected as Mayor of London. To find out more about Ken’s policies and vision for London click HERE.
I attended a special conference for young people in the Methodist Church Hall and was interviewed by young people from “Voice it”. You can find out more details about the exciting work that is going out in partnership between the Ministry of Justice and Radiowaves by visiting www.radiowaves.co.uk/voiceit.
My campaign to save 4 local Post Offices from closure in Tooting has been gaining momentum. I am pleased that the Council is now onboard but very disappointed about the party political games they continue to play on an issue that should unite locally elected representatives. I attended a Public Meeting organised by the Council in Tooting Ward (where there are no plans to close any Post Offices). I have made further representations to the Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council, Maurice Heaster, to lobby him to provide subsidy for the four Post Offices proposed for closure in Tooting. I have also met with the Minister of State for Post Offices, Pat McFadden MP, and was told by him that the Government are encouraging Post Office Ltd to engage seriously with local authorities who wish to step in and fund particular branches. The Minister was confident that a deal would be struck with Essex Council to save their Post Offices and saw no reason why Wandsworth Council couldn’t do the same.
There are fifty local authorities in discussions with Post Office Ltd about taking control of local services, however, Wandsworth is not yet one of them. I have expressed to Councillor Heaster that I will work with him and the Council Officers to save local Post Office in Tooting.
To find out more about what I have been doing in relation to local Post Office click HERE.
# posted by Sadiq @ 4:04 PM
I am afraid that pressure of various campaigns and parliamentary business has meant that I have not been able to do my weekly blog for the last 3 weeks. This entry will simply highlight some of the things I have been up to over the last 3 weeks;
I have been holding my usual drop in surgeries in Earlsfield Library and Balham Community Centre as well as my appointment surgery at Tooting Library.
I held my inaugural Environmental Policy Forum in the House of Commons. The forum was attended by more than 100 local environmental activists, who had the opportunity to put questions to the Minister for Climate Change, Joan Ruddock MP, before discussions were held about what local action could be taken on the issues of sustainable transport, sustainable energy and recycling. There were several points of action from the meeting which I am following up with the Council, the Government and Transport for London.
I met representatives of Oxfam who were running a “Sisters of the Planet” exhibition in the House of Commons. The exhibition was designed to highlight the disproportionate impact climate change is having on women living in poverty. It was an audio-visual exhibition which, through the stories of women, highlights how climate change is already putting greater pressure on their lives. It also shows what can be achieved when women have a voice in decision making and support to adapt their local environments. You can see a photo of me visiting the exhibition by clicking HERE.
I met with representatives of Wandsworth and Merton Law Centre to discuss concerns they have about the potential ramifications of changes in Legal Aid is having on their ability to do their job. I also met with Legal Aid Minister, Lord Hunt, to discuss these issues. I am confident that a solution can be found to the excellent local Law Centres concerns, whilst at the same time addressing the ever increasing Legal Aid Budget.
I attended and spoke at an event organised jointly by the Age Activity Centre and Cancer Resource Centre, in Tooting, looking at the link between cancer and diet.
Safety of local children on the road is an important issue to me. I met with parents, students and teachers from Sellincourt Primary School to discuss concerns they had about local road safety. Part of the road outside the school is level with the pavement (without a raised kerb) and ineffective wooden bollards have been knocked down by cars and not replaced by the Council. Cars regularly mount the pavement outside the school, to park and turn round, blocking the view of pedestrians crossing the road. Parents and teachers are concerned that it is just a matter of time before a child is seriously hurt in a road traffic accident. I visited the school to see the problem for myself and made immediate representations to the Council and local Safer Neighbourhood Team, to request that they take urgent action to stop this problem.
I have also had a number of responses to the consultation I have begun about the major developments on Springfield University Hospital. South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust have laid out proposals to develop the 80 acre site at Springfield University Hospital, which up to 14000 new houses, new shops, communal spaces and hospital facilities. This will clearly have an impact on traffic, the environment and local amenities and the building works are likely to take a number of years. It is important that local resident have their say on this issue. You can find out more and download my survey by clicking HERE.
I also attended and thoroughly enjoyed Battersea Labour Party’s Centenary Event in the House of Commons. A commemorative DVD has been made of their history and it was good to see other Parliamentarians present to celebrate the evening.
Theatre staff at St Georges have expressed some concerns about restructuring taking place and I was keen to meet staff to listen to and discuss the issue with them. Over one hundred and fifty theatre nurses and technicians at St. George’s Hospital attended the meeting. UNISON Theatre staff, while agreeing that there needs to be increased utilisation of Theatres at the hospital, contend that staff need to be involved in any developments and it is vital that Theatre staff pay and conditions are not eroded. I have contacted the Hospital Trust about this matter and will be working with the Trust, UNISON officials and St George’s Staff. You can see a photo of me with St George’s Theatre Staff by clicking HERE
I hosted a reception for Young Enterprise London to celebrate the volunteers who make their work possible. Young Enterprise provides young people in the city with direct experience of learning to work efficiently as individuals and as team members by supporting them in starting up their own businesses. You can find out more about their work by visiting their website by clicking HERE.
I was also interviewed by students from Burntwood School as part of their contribution to BBC News Schools Day. I was very impressed with the journalistic and technical talents of students at Burntwood School. It is really good to see the confidence of those involved in this project. The excellent coverage they received on the BBC showed the rest of the world that the next Kate Adie or Kirsty Walk could come from Tooting. To see Burntwood’s School Report for the BBC click HERE. To see a photo of me with the aspiring Journalists, click HERE.
One of the highlights of the last fortnight has been the opportunity to give out so many Awards to Girl Guides from South London at a special ceremony organised thanks to the Jack Petchey Foundation. 36 Achievement Award winners and 9 Adult Leader Award winners were presented.
I also attended the launch of the campaign by Ken Livingstone to be re-elected as Mayor of London. To find out more about Ken’s policies and vision for London click HERE.
I attended a special conference for young people in the Methodist Church Hall and was interviewed by young people from “Voice it”. You can find out more details about the exciting work that is going out in partnership between the Ministry of Justice and Radiowaves by visiting www.radiowaves.co.uk/voiceit.
My campaign to save 4 local Post Offices from closure in Tooting has been gaining momentum. I am pleased that the Council is now onboard but very disappointed about the party political games they continue to play on an issue that should unite locally elected representatives. I attended a Public Meeting organised by the Council in Tooting Ward (where there are no plans to close any Post Offices). I have made further representations to the Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council, Maurice Heaster, to lobby him to provide subsidy for the four Post Offices proposed for closure in Tooting. I have also met with the Minister of State for Post Offices, Pat McFadden MP, and was told by him that the Government are encouraging Post Office Ltd to engage seriously with local authorities who wish to step in and fund particular branches. The Minister was confident that a deal would be struck with Essex Council to save their Post Offices and saw no reason why Wandsworth Council couldn’t do the same.
There are fifty local authorities in discussions with Post Office Ltd about taking control of local services, however, Wandsworth is not yet one of them. I have expressed to Councillor Heaster that I will work with him and the Council Officers to save local Post Office in Tooting.
To find out more about what I have been doing in relation to local Post Office click HERE.
I have been holding my usual drop in surgeries in Earlsfield Library and Balham Community Centre as well as my appointment surgery at Tooting Library.
I held my inaugural Environmental Policy Forum in the House of Commons. The forum was attended by more than 100 local environmental activists, who had the opportunity to put questions to the Minister for Climate Change, Joan Ruddock MP, before discussions were held about what local action could be taken on the issues of sustainable transport, sustainable energy and recycling. There were several points of action from the meeting which I am following up with the Council, the Government and Transport for London.
I met representatives of Oxfam who were running a “Sisters of the Planet” exhibition in the House of Commons. The exhibition was designed to highlight the disproportionate impact climate change is having on women living in poverty. It was an audio-visual exhibition which, through the stories of women, highlights how climate change is already putting greater pressure on their lives. It also shows what can be achieved when women have a voice in decision making and support to adapt their local environments. You can see a photo of me visiting the exhibition by clicking HERE.
I met with representatives of Wandsworth and Merton Law Centre to discuss concerns they have about the potential ramifications of changes in Legal Aid is having on their ability to do their job. I also met with Legal Aid Minister, Lord Hunt, to discuss these issues. I am confident that a solution can be found to the excellent local Law Centres concerns, whilst at the same time addressing the ever increasing Legal Aid Budget.
I attended and spoke at an event organised jointly by the Age Activity Centre and Cancer Resource Centre, in Tooting, looking at the link between cancer and diet.
Safety of local children on the road is an important issue to me. I met with parents, students and teachers from Sellincourt Primary School to discuss concerns they had about local road safety. Part of the road outside the school is level with the pavement (without a raised kerb) and ineffective wooden bollards have been knocked down by cars and not replaced by the Council. Cars regularly mount the pavement outside the school, to park and turn round, blocking the view of pedestrians crossing the road. Parents and teachers are concerned that it is just a matter of time before a child is seriously hurt in a road traffic accident. I visited the school to see the problem for myself and made immediate representations to the Council and local Safer Neighbourhood Team, to request that they take urgent action to stop this problem.
I have also had a number of responses to the consultation I have begun about the major developments on Springfield University Hospital. South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust have laid out proposals to develop the 80 acre site at Springfield University Hospital, which up to 14000 new houses, new shops, communal spaces and hospital facilities. This will clearly have an impact on traffic, the environment and local amenities and the building works are likely to take a number of years. It is important that local resident have their say on this issue. You can find out more and download my survey by clicking HERE.
I also attended and thoroughly enjoyed Battersea Labour Party’s Centenary Event in the House of Commons. A commemorative DVD has been made of their history and it was good to see other Parliamentarians present to celebrate the evening.
Theatre staff at St Georges have expressed some concerns about restructuring taking place and I was keen to meet staff to listen to and discuss the issue with them. Over one hundred and fifty theatre nurses and technicians at St. George’s Hospital attended the meeting. UNISON Theatre staff, while agreeing that there needs to be increased utilisation of Theatres at the hospital, contend that staff need to be involved in any developments and it is vital that Theatre staff pay and conditions are not eroded. I have contacted the Hospital Trust about this matter and will be working with the Trust, UNISON officials and St George’s Staff. You can see a photo of me with St George’s Theatre Staff by clicking HERE
I hosted a reception for Young Enterprise London to celebrate the volunteers who make their work possible. Young Enterprise provides young people in the city with direct experience of learning to work efficiently as individuals and as team members by supporting them in starting up their own businesses. You can find out more about their work by visiting their website by clicking HERE.
I was also interviewed by students from Burntwood School as part of their contribution to BBC News Schools Day. I was very impressed with the journalistic and technical talents of students at Burntwood School. It is really good to see the confidence of those involved in this project. The excellent coverage they received on the BBC showed the rest of the world that the next Kate Adie or Kirsty Walk could come from Tooting. To see Burntwood’s School Report for the BBC click HERE. To see a photo of me with the aspiring Journalists, click HERE.
One of the highlights of the last fortnight has been the opportunity to give out so many Awards to Girl Guides from South London at a special ceremony organised thanks to the Jack Petchey Foundation. 36 Achievement Award winners and 9 Adult Leader Award winners were presented.
I also attended the launch of the campaign by Ken Livingstone to be re-elected as Mayor of London. To find out more about Ken’s policies and vision for London click HERE.
I attended a special conference for young people in the Methodist Church Hall and was interviewed by young people from “Voice it”. You can find out more details about the exciting work that is going out in partnership between the Ministry of Justice and Radiowaves by visiting www.radiowaves.co.uk/voiceit.
My campaign to save 4 local Post Offices from closure in Tooting has been gaining momentum. I am pleased that the Council is now onboard but very disappointed about the party political games they continue to play on an issue that should unite locally elected representatives. I attended a Public Meeting organised by the Council in Tooting Ward (where there are no plans to close any Post Offices). I have made further representations to the Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council, Maurice Heaster, to lobby him to provide subsidy for the four Post Offices proposed for closure in Tooting. I have also met with the Minister of State for Post Offices, Pat McFadden MP, and was told by him that the Government are encouraging Post Office Ltd to engage seriously with local authorities who wish to step in and fund particular branches. The Minister was confident that a deal would be struck with Essex Council to save their Post Offices and saw no reason why Wandsworth Council couldn’t do the same.
There are fifty local authorities in discussions with Post Office Ltd about taking control of local services, however, Wandsworth is not yet one of them. I have expressed to Councillor Heaster that I will work with him and the Council Officers to save local Post Office in Tooting.
To find out more about what I have been doing in relation to local Post Office click HERE.
# posted by Sadiq @ 8:43 AM
Friday, March 07, 2008
My campaign with local residents and Post Masters and Post Mistresses to prevent any local post offices being closed continues. Despite massive government subsidy, the Post Office Limited is still making loses. The challenge for us locally is to persuade the Post Office why our post offices should not be selected for closure. As I have been examining each plan in detail, speaking to local residents, reading the surveys that have been returned, meeting local businesses and Post Masters and Post Mistresses it is clear that some of the post offices have stronger grounds to resist closure than others. There is still almost four weeks to go before the consultation ends and I am keen to maximise participation in the process so that I can respond fully to the consultation and try to ensure informed decisions are made at the conclusion. You can click HERE to read more about my local consultation and how you can get involved.
I have also been working with TARA Arts to lobby the Arts Council not to make cuts to the funding they receive. In October the Government announced that grant-in aid funding for the Arts Council would continue to rise above inflation to £467 million by 2010/11-an increase of 3.3% above inflation over three years. The Labour Government has a proud record of support for the arts over the last ten years and has increased funding to the arts by 73% in real terms. However, I am very concerned by the decision by the Arts Council to cut TARA Arts’ funding. The Arts Council operates at arms length from the Government and levels of funding for individual arts organisations are entirely for the Arts Council. The Oily Cart Company and Children’s Discovery Centre in Tooting will receive continued funding and I have written to them to congratulate them on this good news. However, TARA Arts are having theirs cut by 50%. I have met with representatives of the Arts Council London to discuss my concerns. I am unhappy with their conclusions and the impact this may have on the excellent work TARA Arts does. I am continuing to work with TARA Arts to see what can be done about this and the impact it will have.
On Wednesday, I attended the centenary celebration of Tooting Fire Station on Trinity Road. There are only 16 fire stations in London older than ours. I am a big fan of our local station, who once rescued my family and our home when I was a young boy. It was good to meet so many ex fire men and women as well joining with them in celebration the invaluable work they do.
On Thursday, I was the Chief Guest and speaker at the AGM of Tooting Neighbourhood Centre. It was really good to see this local group doing so well. The Community Care Outreach and Befriending Scheme, the Over 60’s luncheon club, the Home and Respite Care and the Hope (Mental Health) project are all well used by local older citizens. Particular credit goes to the Chair, Bishop Powell, the Project Director (David Lorde) and all the staff, volunteers and Management Committee.
I also attended the AGM of Tooting Labour Party this week. I am constantly impressed with the efforts of literally hundreds of local residents in their commitment to the aims, values and aspirations of the Labour Party locally and nationally. People often forget that we are a voluntary party and rely on the time, efforts and generosity of numerous individuals coming together to try and make a difference.
On Saturday I held my appointment surgery at Tooting Library.
On Sunday, I attended a special service at the Yahweh Christian Fellowship (YCF). Pastor Noel and the YCF are doing a fantastic job trying to stop any more young people from our community suffering the misery caused by guns, knives and gangs. One of the main challenges that the YCF is addressing, with other local agencies, is to give our young people a sense of belonging.
I also attended the Islamic Awareness Day event at Tooting Islamic Centre. Cllr Nick Bowes of Tooting Ward and Sgt Lisa Hurley of the Tooting Safer Neighbourhood Team, attended this event as well. One of the best ways of dispelling the myths that exist about Islam is for events like this to take place. Living in the most diverse city in the world, it is important that we learn about each others religions and beliefs.
I have also been working with TARA Arts to lobby the Arts Council not to make cuts to the funding they receive. In October the Government announced that grant-in aid funding for the Arts Council would continue to rise above inflation to £467 million by 2010/11-an increase of 3.3% above inflation over three years. The Labour Government has a proud record of support for the arts over the last ten years and has increased funding to the arts by 73% in real terms. However, I am very concerned by the decision by the Arts Council to cut TARA Arts’ funding. The Arts Council operates at arms length from the Government and levels of funding for individual arts organisations are entirely for the Arts Council. The Oily Cart Company and Children’s Discovery Centre in Tooting will receive continued funding and I have written to them to congratulate them on this good news. However, TARA Arts are having theirs cut by 50%. I have met with representatives of the Arts Council London to discuss my concerns. I am unhappy with their conclusions and the impact this may have on the excellent work TARA Arts does. I am continuing to work with TARA Arts to see what can be done about this and the impact it will have.
On Wednesday, I attended the centenary celebration of Tooting Fire Station on Trinity Road. There are only 16 fire stations in London older than ours. I am a big fan of our local station, who once rescued my family and our home when I was a young boy. It was good to meet so many ex fire men and women as well joining with them in celebration the invaluable work they do.
On Thursday, I was the Chief Guest and speaker at the AGM of Tooting Neighbourhood Centre. It was really good to see this local group doing so well. The Community Care Outreach and Befriending Scheme, the Over 60’s luncheon club, the Home and Respite Care and the Hope (Mental Health) project are all well used by local older citizens. Particular credit goes to the Chair, Bishop Powell, the Project Director (David Lorde) and all the staff, volunteers and Management Committee.
I also attended the AGM of Tooting Labour Party this week. I am constantly impressed with the efforts of literally hundreds of local residents in their commitment to the aims, values and aspirations of the Labour Party locally and nationally. People often forget that we are a voluntary party and rely on the time, efforts and generosity of numerous individuals coming together to try and make a difference.
On Saturday I held my appointment surgery at Tooting Library.
On Sunday, I attended a special service at the Yahweh Christian Fellowship (YCF). Pastor Noel and the YCF are doing a fantastic job trying to stop any more young people from our community suffering the misery caused by guns, knives and gangs. One of the main challenges that the YCF is addressing, with other local agencies, is to give our young people a sense of belonging.
I also attended the Islamic Awareness Day event at Tooting Islamic Centre. Cllr Nick Bowes of Tooting Ward and Sgt Lisa Hurley of the Tooting Safer Neighbourhood Team, attended this event as well. One of the best ways of dispelling the myths that exist about Islam is for events like this to take place. Living in the most diverse city in the world, it is important that we learn about each others religions and beliefs.
# posted by Sadiq @ 5:17 PM
Sunday, March 02, 2008
On Monday I held my usual advice surgery at Balham Community Centre on Bedford Hill. No appointment is required for this surgery. If you would like more details of my surgeries you can click HERE
I met with representatives of Post Office Ltd to find out more about plans from the Post Office to close down some Sub-Post Offices in Tooting and to discuss my concerns about these as well as the consultation processes. Cllr John Farebrother, who is one of the Labour Councillors in Furzedown, and has taken a keen interest in Post Office provision in his ward where there are a large number of older residents, also attended the meeting. You can see a photo of the meeting by clicking HERE. You can find out more about the plans and what I am doing about this by clicking HERE.
I was also the Whip on a piece of Delegated Legislation; GLA Elections (Election Addresses)(Amendment) Order 2008, which was passed.
During the course of the week, Parliament continued to scrutinise the European Union (Amendment) Bill.
I also met the Secretary of State for International Development, Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, to discuss Fairtrade Fortnight, which takes place between 25th February and 9th March. I discussed with Douglas my plans for this fortnight as well as the difficulties I have had in persuading Wandsworth Council to support Tooting becoming a Fairtrade zone and Wandsworth becoming a Fairtrade Borough. You can find out more about what I have been doing on Fairtrade and about the fortnight by clicking HERE. You can see a photo of Douglas and me by clicking HERE.
On Thursday, the Home Secretary, made a statement in the House of Commons into the Inquiry conducted by Sir Christopher Rose into the “Bugging” of me when I visited Tooting constituent Babar Ahmad in Woodhill Prison. I am very pleased that the Home Secretary and Sir Christopher's Report have reiterated that constituents must be allowed confidentiality with their MP and that it concluded that I was not the subject police monitoring. I would like to thank all the Tooting residents that wrote, emailed and called me with messages of support over this issue.
On Sunday, I joined Cllr Judi Gasser, Cllr Billi Randall and local members of the Labour Party in meeting residents in and around Furzedown ward. We had a really positive response on the door step, with the main issue being raised around street cleaning and litter. Once again, I will be writing to Wandsworth Council to urge them to address this problem, which is one of the primary responsibilities they have a local authority.
I met with representatives of Post Office Ltd to find out more about plans from the Post Office to close down some Sub-Post Offices in Tooting and to discuss my concerns about these as well as the consultation processes. Cllr John Farebrother, who is one of the Labour Councillors in Furzedown, and has taken a keen interest in Post Office provision in his ward where there are a large number of older residents, also attended the meeting. You can see a photo of the meeting by clicking HERE. You can find out more about the plans and what I am doing about this by clicking HERE.
I was also the Whip on a piece of Delegated Legislation; GLA Elections (Election Addresses)(Amendment) Order 2008, which was passed.
During the course of the week, Parliament continued to scrutinise the European Union (Amendment) Bill.
I also met the Secretary of State for International Development, Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, to discuss Fairtrade Fortnight, which takes place between 25th February and 9th March. I discussed with Douglas my plans for this fortnight as well as the difficulties I have had in persuading Wandsworth Council to support Tooting becoming a Fairtrade zone and Wandsworth becoming a Fairtrade Borough. You can find out more about what I have been doing on Fairtrade and about the fortnight by clicking HERE. You can see a photo of Douglas and me by clicking HERE.
On Thursday, the Home Secretary, made a statement in the House of Commons into the Inquiry conducted by Sir Christopher Rose into the “Bugging” of me when I visited Tooting constituent Babar Ahmad in Woodhill Prison. I am very pleased that the Home Secretary and Sir Christopher's Report have reiterated that constituents must be allowed confidentiality with their MP and that it concluded that I was not the subject police monitoring. I would like to thank all the Tooting residents that wrote, emailed and called me with messages of support over this issue.
On Sunday, I joined Cllr Judi Gasser, Cllr Billi Randall and local members of the Labour Party in meeting residents in and around Furzedown ward. We had a really positive response on the door step, with the main issue being raised around street cleaning and litter. Once again, I will be writing to Wandsworth Council to urge them to address this problem, which is one of the primary responsibilities they have a local authority.
# posted by Sadiq @ 4:12 PM
Friday, February 15, 2008
On Monday, I held my usual drop-in surgery at Earlsfield Library. Most of the people who came to see me, as normal, were in need of decent housing for rent, but had been waiting for an inordinate amount of time on Wandsworth Council’s various waiting lists. The Tory Council have at the same time been selling off record numbers of affordable housing, failed to put any pressure on developers to build a decent number of affordable homes to meet the needs of local residents and have failed to replace the housing sold off.
In the afternoon, the Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon Jack Straw made a statement about allegations of the bugging of conversations I had with a constituent, Babar Ahmad, who is detained at Woodhill Prison. You can see the Statement and debate by clicking HERE.
On Tuesday, I met with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities, Skills, John Denham MP, and to discuss plans to expand and strengthen apprenticeships. The number of young people and adults successfully completing apprenticeships has risen from around 40,000 in 2001/02 to over 100,000 per year now. This represents a major boost to our national skills base, and it’s encouraging that the government are investing even more in apprenticeship schemes. You can see a photo of our meeting by clicking HERE.
I also met with the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, to discuss policing and transport issues affecting Tooting residents. He took a keen interest in the matters I raised and has agreed to come to Tooting shortly to see for himself the situation in our local area. I will keep readers updated about this.
On Wednesday, I took part in Sainsbury’s “Active Kids 2008, Skip2bfit” challenge. Skip2bFit is a fitness initiative designed to motivate children to eat healthily and exercise more. I competed against other MPs to win ‘Active Kids’ vouchers for local schools. I came 4th overall and won 1,000 vouchers for Tooting primary schools. You can see a photo of me taking part by clicking HERE.
On Thursday, I attended a special Chinese New Year Assembly at Fircroft Primary School.
I also met a senior representative of Marks and Spencers to discuss their plans for Tooting. M&S will be opening a much larger store in the Colliers Wood Retail Park, so are closing the Tooting branch and unfortunately, there is no prospect of a U turn. I have received assurances that all staff will be offered jobs in the new branch, or other local stores and will be working closely with the Tooting Town Centre manager. However, it is important that the Council is pressurised to do more to help Tooting Town Centre. A laissez faire approach is not the way to encourage “brand names” to Tooting.
In the evening I attended a Commendation Ceremony at the Town Hall to honour Wandsworth Borough Police. Some extremely, dedicated and conscientious Officers and Community Support Officers were commended. It was quite humbling hearing some of the stories behind the actions of the Officers which lead to the commendations; from professionalism, determination and tenacity in tackling violent and threatening suspects to partnership building skills in working with young people locally. It really was a moving night and I really hope the local press relay to the public the sort of work local police and PCSO’s do on a daily basis to make us safer.
On Friday, I hosted my 3rd annual Warm front event. I hold the event annually to ensure that older people in our community are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to. Record numbers termed up to Balham Library, where the event was held, to receive free benefit checks. I also arrange for local community organisations and services to be at the event to offer support and advice. To find out more click HERE. To see a photo of this year’s event click HERE.
In the afternoon, I visited the Furzedown Project and helped launch a new mini bus that users of the Project have been given thanks to generous donations from a number of charities including “Stage for Age” who are the celebrity wing of Help the Aged.
I also visited Springfield Hospital to discuss their plans to build a mixed development on the site for housing, a hospital as well as some retail and community aspect. I have a number of concerns about the current plans and have asked for further information on a variety of matters.
On Sunday, I joined Councillors Billi Randall, Rex Osborn and Andy Gibbons, along with a number of local Labour Party members, speaking to residents in the Graveney part of the constituency. There were still many complaints about poor street cleaning and fly tipping as well as concern about the future of Tooting Town Centre. As normal, I have agreed to take up individual casework on behalf of constituents.
In the afternoon, the Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon Jack Straw made a statement about allegations of the bugging of conversations I had with a constituent, Babar Ahmad, who is detained at Woodhill Prison. You can see the Statement and debate by clicking HERE.
On Tuesday, I met with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities, Skills, John Denham MP, and to discuss plans to expand and strengthen apprenticeships. The number of young people and adults successfully completing apprenticeships has risen from around 40,000 in 2001/02 to over 100,000 per year now. This represents a major boost to our national skills base, and it’s encouraging that the government are investing even more in apprenticeship schemes. You can see a photo of our meeting by clicking HERE.
I also met with the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, to discuss policing and transport issues affecting Tooting residents. He took a keen interest in the matters I raised and has agreed to come to Tooting shortly to see for himself the situation in our local area. I will keep readers updated about this.
On Wednesday, I took part in Sainsbury’s “Active Kids 2008, Skip2bfit” challenge. Skip2bFit is a fitness initiative designed to motivate children to eat healthily and exercise more. I competed against other MPs to win ‘Active Kids’ vouchers for local schools. I came 4th overall and won 1,000 vouchers for Tooting primary schools. You can see a photo of me taking part by clicking HERE.
On Thursday, I attended a special Chinese New Year Assembly at Fircroft Primary School.
I also met a senior representative of Marks and Spencers to discuss their plans for Tooting. M&S will be opening a much larger store in the Colliers Wood Retail Park, so are closing the Tooting branch and unfortunately, there is no prospect of a U turn. I have received assurances that all staff will be offered jobs in the new branch, or other local stores and will be working closely with the Tooting Town Centre manager. However, it is important that the Council is pressurised to do more to help Tooting Town Centre. A laissez faire approach is not the way to encourage “brand names” to Tooting.
In the evening I attended a Commendation Ceremony at the Town Hall to honour Wandsworth Borough Police. Some extremely, dedicated and conscientious Officers and Community Support Officers were commended. It was quite humbling hearing some of the stories behind the actions of the Officers which lead to the commendations; from professionalism, determination and tenacity in tackling violent and threatening suspects to partnership building skills in working with young people locally. It really was a moving night and I really hope the local press relay to the public the sort of work local police and PCSO’s do on a daily basis to make us safer.
On Friday, I hosted my 3rd annual Warm front event. I hold the event annually to ensure that older people in our community are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to. Record numbers termed up to Balham Library, where the event was held, to receive free benefit checks. I also arrange for local community organisations and services to be at the event to offer support and advice. To find out more click HERE. To see a photo of this year’s event click HERE.
In the afternoon, I visited the Furzedown Project and helped launch a new mini bus that users of the Project have been given thanks to generous donations from a number of charities including “Stage for Age” who are the celebrity wing of Help the Aged.
I also visited Springfield Hospital to discuss their plans to build a mixed development on the site for housing, a hospital as well as some retail and community aspect. I have a number of concerns about the current plans and have asked for further information on a variety of matters.
On Sunday, I joined Councillors Billi Randall, Rex Osborn and Andy Gibbons, along with a number of local Labour Party members, speaking to residents in the Graveney part of the constituency. There were still many complaints about poor street cleaning and fly tipping as well as concern about the future of Tooting Town Centre. As normal, I have agreed to take up individual casework on behalf of constituents.
# posted by Sadiq @ 5:22 PM
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
You may have heard the Sunday Times story alleging that a conversation I had with a constituent whilst visiting him in prison was bugged. I have no idea if it's true, but I'm really pleased that the government are investigating these reports. MPs should be scrutinised (for the record I don't employ any member of my family) and I don’t think we are above the law, but it is also crucial that everyone can have confidence that their discussions with their MP are private, because occasionally people do bring complaints about the police or legal system to me and are entitled to privacy when discussing these matters.
I hold at least four advice surgeries a month at locations across the constituency, you’re welcome to come and discuss your issues, in private, with me. Click HERE for details of my surgeries.
I hold at least four advice surgeries a month at locations across the constituency, you’re welcome to come and discuss your issues, in private, with me. Click HERE for details of my surgeries.
# posted by Sadiq @ 6:03 PM
In response to the news announced this week that the Marks and Spencer’s store in Tooting Town Centre will close in May this year, I have called on Wandsworth Council to do more to support retailers and attract larger stores to our area.
Despite my best efforts, M&S will be closing after 40 years on Tooting High Street. The priority now is to get a flagship brand replacing M&S at their current location. It is also important that the 51 staff at the Tooting Marks and Spencer’s branch, half of whom live locally, are offered employment at the new Colliers Wood branch, or other local stores. I am pleased to have received a number of assurances from M&S in this regard, including confirmation that all staff will be consulted.
It is really important for local residents like me that we have a vibrant town centre. We don’t want a parade of only bargain shops. We want mainstream prominent retailers to add to our diversity of shops.
I will be working with the Tooting Town Centre Manager to try to ensure that Marks and Spencer is replaced by a store that provides a useful service to local people and creates even more local jobs.
Despite my best efforts, M&S will be closing after 40 years on Tooting High Street. The priority now is to get a flagship brand replacing M&S at their current location. It is also important that the 51 staff at the Tooting Marks and Spencer’s branch, half of whom live locally, are offered employment at the new Colliers Wood branch, or other local stores. I am pleased to have received a number of assurances from M&S in this regard, including confirmation that all staff will be consulted.
It is really important for local residents like me that we have a vibrant town centre. We don’t want a parade of only bargain shops. We want mainstream prominent retailers to add to our diversity of shops.
I will be working with the Tooting Town Centre Manager to try to ensure that Marks and Spencer is replaced by a store that provides a useful service to local people and creates even more local jobs.
# posted by Sadiq @ 6:02 PM
On Monday, I attended the Holocaust Memorial Day event held at Wandsworth Town Hall. The programme organised this year to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, was very moving. I was really pleased to see the four students who accompanied me to Auschwitz talk so movingly about their experience and the lessons that we all need still need to learn. Recent atrocities in Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sudan show us that we all still need to do much more. We all should reflect on our own attitudes to those who we regard as different from ourselves and commit to working towards the elimination of discrimination within our community. To read more about my visit to Auschwitz, click HERE.
One of the responsibilities I have as a Minister in the Government Whips Office is responsibility for the Ministry of Justice. On Monday there were Justice Questions in the Chamber, which is an opportunity for MP’s to hold Justice Ministers to account. This occurs approximately every 6 weeks.
Most of February is being taken up with scrutiny by Parliament of the European Union Bill. The whole of the House of Commons is acting as the Committee stage of the Bill. If the Bill is passed it will give effect to the Treaty of Lisbon in UK law. The Treaty of Lisbon ensures a bigger role for national parliaments in the EU and a new voting system which gives the UK a bigger say; greater transparency of what the EU can do; more efficient institutions; a full-time President of the European Council and representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and more focus on global issues. Our government will still have control over important policy areas such as justice and home affairs, including policing and control of our borders, as well as social security, tax, foreign policy and defence (these are the ‘red lines’ you may have heard the Prime Minister referring to). This Treaty is important because it will help the EU work more effectively, and when the EU works well it can help us get things we all want: more jobs and more opportunities, a safer society and greater influence for the UK in the most important issues of the day. The Tories however are still arguing strongly for a referendum on the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon; indicating they would campaign hard for a 'no' vote. Were this to succeed it would leave Britain on the outskirts of Europe, marginalised and exposed, subject to EU laws but with no power to influence them.
I am always keen to make Parliament more accessible to people and so I am happy to take part in an innovative scheme called “ParliaMentors” organised by the Three Faiths Forum. 9 MP’s from the 3 main parties have been assigned a group of three students (one Jewish, one Christian and one Muslim) to mentor through a project on political engagement which they will be working on tighter. You can read more about this project by following this link to an article in the Times this week.
Private Members' Bills are Public Bills introduced by MPs and Lords who aren’t government ministers. On Friday I was in the Chamber when the House of Commons approved the 2nd Readings of two PMBs which had been proposed by colleague MP’s. The first, moved by Sharon Hodgson MP, was The Special Education Needs (Information) Bill which aims to establish best practice and provide better quality information from one principal source about special educational needs. The second Bill was moved by my neighbour and good mate Keith Hill MP. He tabled the Health & Safety (Offences) Bill. The Bill will increase fines for health and safety breaches to £20,000 and widen the range of offences for which prison is a penalty.
One of the responsibilities I have as a Minister in the Government Whips Office is responsibility for the Ministry of Justice. On Monday there were Justice Questions in the Chamber, which is an opportunity for MP’s to hold Justice Ministers to account. This occurs approximately every 6 weeks.
Most of February is being taken up with scrutiny by Parliament of the European Union Bill. The whole of the House of Commons is acting as the Committee stage of the Bill. If the Bill is passed it will give effect to the Treaty of Lisbon in UK law. The Treaty of Lisbon ensures a bigger role for national parliaments in the EU and a new voting system which gives the UK a bigger say; greater transparency of what the EU can do; more efficient institutions; a full-time President of the European Council and representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and more focus on global issues. Our government will still have control over important policy areas such as justice and home affairs, including policing and control of our borders, as well as social security, tax, foreign policy and defence (these are the ‘red lines’ you may have heard the Prime Minister referring to). This Treaty is important because it will help the EU work more effectively, and when the EU works well it can help us get things we all want: more jobs and more opportunities, a safer society and greater influence for the UK in the most important issues of the day. The Tories however are still arguing strongly for a referendum on the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon; indicating they would campaign hard for a 'no' vote. Were this to succeed it would leave Britain on the outskirts of Europe, marginalised and exposed, subject to EU laws but with no power to influence them.
I am always keen to make Parliament more accessible to people and so I am happy to take part in an innovative scheme called “ParliaMentors” organised by the Three Faiths Forum. 9 MP’s from the 3 main parties have been assigned a group of three students (one Jewish, one Christian and one Muslim) to mentor through a project on political engagement which they will be working on tighter. You can read more about this project by following this link to an article in the Times this week.
Private Members' Bills are Public Bills introduced by MPs and Lords who aren’t government ministers. On Friday I was in the Chamber when the House of Commons approved the 2nd Readings of two PMBs which had been proposed by colleague MP’s. The first, moved by Sharon Hodgson MP, was The Special Education Needs (Information) Bill which aims to establish best practice and provide better quality information from one principal source about special educational needs. The second Bill was moved by my neighbour and good mate Keith Hill MP. He tabled the Health & Safety (Offences) Bill. The Bill will increase fines for health and safety breaches to £20,000 and widen the range of offences for which prison is a penalty.
# posted by Sadiq @ 5:48 PM
Thursday, January 31, 2008
On Monday, I held my normal open advice session at Balham Community Centre on Bedford Hill. If you need help from me, as your MP, you can clock HERE to find out details of my surgeries.
I also met with the Minster for Energy, Malcolm Wicks MP, to discuss issues raised with me by local constituents about the Energy Bill. The Second Reading of this took place on Tuesday and I was really pleased to have the opportunity to put to Malcolm some of these concerns.
I also signed the memorial book organised by the Holocaust Education Trust to commemorate the Holocaust as well as raising awareness about other genocides and humanitarian disasters around the world. You can see a photo about he book signing by clicking HERE.
On Tuesday, I joined tens of staff, patients, ex staff and new born babies to formally open the new midwife led maternity unit at St Georges Hospital. The unit is designed to be a ‘home away form home’ for expectant mothers, offering them a maternity service without medical intervention. The new unit has been named the Carmen Suite after Carmen Brooks-Johnson who has been a mid-wife at St George’s for more than 30 years. You can see a photo of Carmen and me by clicking HERE.
One of the highlights of being the MP for Tooting is meeting the different school children who attend local schools. I played host to the School Council from Hornsby House School on Wednesday. After giving a short talk on my job and answering some really tough but fascinating questions by the School Council, the students went on a professional tour of the Palace of Westminster. You can see a photo of us by clicking HERE. If you would like a tour of the House of Commons or to see a Parliamentary debate then you can email me on sadiqkhanmp@parliament.uk and I will try and sort this out for you.
On Thursday, I joined Tooting Ward’s excellent Labour Councillor Nick Bowes, local parents and children from Fircroft Primary School to celebrate our successful campaign to try and get bollards installed on Glenburnie and Fircroft Road. There is a raised table junction on these roads which means cars can mount the pavement, causing a very worrying safety risk to children at the school. We lobbied the Council to install bollards to prevent this, and eventually they agreed to meet our requests.
In addition to my normal parliamentary and Ministerial duties I also met with Professor Ted Cantle of the Institute of Community Cohesion (ICoCo) to discuss some impressive work they are undertaking. You can find out more about ICoCo by clicking HERE.
On Friday, I attended meetings at Fircroft and Gatton Primary Schools, respectively. I am governor of both these schools and try and visit as often as I can. Both schools continue to go from strength to strength, with improving benefits to local children.
On Saturday, Cllr Nick Bowes of Tooting Ward and I met with residents of Broadwater Road to discuss concerns they have about traffic on their road. We were presented with a petition which Cllr Bowes will hand in to the Full Council meeting at Wandsworth Town Hall. The residents had been suffering from damage to their vehicles and noise and air pollution as due to increased congestion on their road after the Council implemented a one-way system in surrounding streets. The residents want their part of the road to be included in the system and Nick and I are supporting them with this campaign. You can see a photo of us collecting the petition from local residents by clicking HERE.
I also met Labour Councillors from Tooting to celebrate the news that, as a result of our long campaign, Tooting Library is to receive £3 Million from the Big Lottery Fund for a complete refurbishment. You can see a photo of the Labour Group of Councillors and me by clicking HERE.
I was really pleased to be asked to meet and speak to the organisers and participants in a new local project called “3 Faith Forum”. This is an initiative which brings together a small group of young people from three different religious communities in Tooting, to talk, work and devise a project together. 24 representatives from the New Testament Assembly Church, Tooting and Balham Mosque and the SGI-UK Lay Buddhist society were introduced to each other at the event and will be working together on community projects. The initiative has been funded by Community Cohesion money from the Government.
On Sunday, I joined local volunteers and Labour Party members meeting local residents in Tooting. Additionally, Cllr Judi Gasser, Cllr Andy Gibbons and Cllr Nick Bowes joined us too. Once again, the main issues concerning local residents were to do with the local Tory Council. I have agreed to take these matters up on behalf of local residents,
I also met with the Minster for Energy, Malcolm Wicks MP, to discuss issues raised with me by local constituents about the Energy Bill. The Second Reading of this took place on Tuesday and I was really pleased to have the opportunity to put to Malcolm some of these concerns.
I also signed the memorial book organised by the Holocaust Education Trust to commemorate the Holocaust as well as raising awareness about other genocides and humanitarian disasters around the world. You can see a photo about he book signing by clicking HERE.
On Tuesday, I joined tens of staff, patients, ex staff and new born babies to formally open the new midwife led maternity unit at St Georges Hospital. The unit is designed to be a ‘home away form home’ for expectant mothers, offering them a maternity service without medical intervention. The new unit has been named the Carmen Suite after Carmen Brooks-Johnson who has been a mid-wife at St George’s for more than 30 years. You can see a photo of Carmen and me by clicking HERE.
One of the highlights of being the MP for Tooting is meeting the different school children who attend local schools. I played host to the School Council from Hornsby House School on Wednesday. After giving a short talk on my job and answering some really tough but fascinating questions by the School Council, the students went on a professional tour of the Palace of Westminster. You can see a photo of us by clicking HERE. If you would like a tour of the House of Commons or to see a Parliamentary debate then you can email me on sadiqkhanmp@parliament.uk and I will try and sort this out for you.
On Thursday, I joined Tooting Ward’s excellent Labour Councillor Nick Bowes, local parents and children from Fircroft Primary School to celebrate our successful campaign to try and get bollards installed on Glenburnie and Fircroft Road. There is a raised table junction on these roads which means cars can mount the pavement, causing a very worrying safety risk to children at the school. We lobbied the Council to install bollards to prevent this, and eventually they agreed to meet our requests.
In addition to my normal parliamentary and Ministerial duties I also met with Professor Ted Cantle of the Institute of Community Cohesion (ICoCo) to discuss some impressive work they are undertaking. You can find out more about ICoCo by clicking HERE.
On Friday, I attended meetings at Fircroft and Gatton Primary Schools, respectively. I am governor of both these schools and try and visit as often as I can. Both schools continue to go from strength to strength, with improving benefits to local children.
On Saturday, Cllr Nick Bowes of Tooting Ward and I met with residents of Broadwater Road to discuss concerns they have about traffic on their road. We were presented with a petition which Cllr Bowes will hand in to the Full Council meeting at Wandsworth Town Hall. The residents had been suffering from damage to their vehicles and noise and air pollution as due to increased congestion on their road after the Council implemented a one-way system in surrounding streets. The residents want their part of the road to be included in the system and Nick and I are supporting them with this campaign. You can see a photo of us collecting the petition from local residents by clicking HERE.
I also met Labour Councillors from Tooting to celebrate the news that, as a result of our long campaign, Tooting Library is to receive £3 Million from the Big Lottery Fund for a complete refurbishment. You can see a photo of the Labour Group of Councillors and me by clicking HERE.
I was really pleased to be asked to meet and speak to the organisers and participants in a new local project called “3 Faith Forum”. This is an initiative which brings together a small group of young people from three different religious communities in Tooting, to talk, work and devise a project together. 24 representatives from the New Testament Assembly Church, Tooting and Balham Mosque and the SGI-UK Lay Buddhist society were introduced to each other at the event and will be working together on community projects. The initiative has been funded by Community Cohesion money from the Government.
On Sunday, I joined local volunteers and Labour Party members meeting local residents in Tooting. Additionally, Cllr Judi Gasser, Cllr Andy Gibbons and Cllr Nick Bowes joined us too. Once again, the main issues concerning local residents were to do with the local Tory Council. I have agreed to take these matters up on behalf of local residents,
# posted by Sadiq @ 6:03 PM
Friday, January 25, 2008
Last week was a pretty busy legislative week in Parliament.
On Monday, we had the Second Reading of the Education and Skills Bill. I am particularly pleased about this Bill as it will extend educational opportunity to young people in our community. The Bill seeks to raise the leaving age from education or skills training. This will happen in two stages. From 3013 the leaving age will be 17 and from 2015 it will be 18, if the Bill is passed. It will also give adults new rights to basic and intermediate skills training. Click HERE to find out more about the Bill.
On Tuesday, I played host to Year 10 students from Graveney School. The group of students were studying Parliament as part of their GCSE Citizenship course, so it was important for them to come and see the House of Commons and the House of Lords for themselves. It is always great when local school children attend Parliament as it shows them how accessible Parliament is and hopefully how easy it is to influence politicians to make them deliver on the issues that really matter. You can see a photo of us by clicking HERE.
On Wednesday, I had a really enjoyable evening with a local student from Tooting in Number Ten Downing Street with the Prime Minister. I invited Bertie Watkin from Graveney School Sixth Form to accompany me to an event to celebrate the educational achievements of young people. Having attended a local state school in Tooting myself, it was a real delight to take a local boy with an interest in politics to meet the Prime Minister.
You can see a photo of us with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown by clicking HERE.
On Thursday and Friday I attended the annual Franco British Colloque. It was fascinating debating and discussing issues of domestic, national and international significance and also coming up with some joint solutions.
On Saturday I was a speaker at the Fabian Annual Conference held at Imperial College London. The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband MP, was the key note speaker. You can find out more about the Fabians by clicking HERE.
On Monday, we had the Second Reading of the Education and Skills Bill. I am particularly pleased about this Bill as it will extend educational opportunity to young people in our community. The Bill seeks to raise the leaving age from education or skills training. This will happen in two stages. From 3013 the leaving age will be 17 and from 2015 it will be 18, if the Bill is passed. It will also give adults new rights to basic and intermediate skills training. Click HERE to find out more about the Bill.
On Tuesday, I played host to Year 10 students from Graveney School. The group of students were studying Parliament as part of their GCSE Citizenship course, so it was important for them to come and see the House of Commons and the House of Lords for themselves. It is always great when local school children attend Parliament as it shows them how accessible Parliament is and hopefully how easy it is to influence politicians to make them deliver on the issues that really matter. You can see a photo of us by clicking HERE.
On Wednesday, I had a really enjoyable evening with a local student from Tooting in Number Ten Downing Street with the Prime Minister. I invited Bertie Watkin from Graveney School Sixth Form to accompany me to an event to celebrate the educational achievements of young people. Having attended a local state school in Tooting myself, it was a real delight to take a local boy with an interest in politics to meet the Prime Minister.
You can see a photo of us with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown by clicking HERE.
On Thursday and Friday I attended the annual Franco British Colloque. It was fascinating debating and discussing issues of domestic, national and international significance and also coming up with some joint solutions.
On Saturday I was a speaker at the Fabian Annual Conference held at Imperial College London. The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband MP, was the key note speaker. You can find out more about the Fabians by clicking HERE.
# posted by Sadiq @ 4:41 PM
Thursday, January 17, 2008
I would like to wish all readers of this website and local residents a very Happy New Year. I was very fortunate during the Christmas break to be able to take my mum with me to perform a pilgrimage (the Hajj) in Mecca, Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat in Saudi Arabia. It was an amazing experience joining almost 3 million people from across the globe (including 25,000 British Muslims) to perform the Hajj. Whilst there, I also managed to be filmed by the BBC for two separate news pieces as well as a piece for a British satellite channel, The Islam Channel! Before going to Hajj, I wrote a short piece about the British Hajj Delegation for the monthly paper, The Muslim News. You can read the article by clicking HERE.
Last week was the first week back at Parliament, after the Christmas recess. On Saturday I held my usual advice session at Tooting Library and on Monday I held my open surgery at Earlsfield Library.
A number of constituents have been in touch about a nasty newsletter they have received entitled “Vigilante”. The leaflet asks people to ‘declare war on paedophiles’ by donating £1 per month to a PO Box address registered in Balham. I alerted the police when I found out it was being distributed in our community as it seems like a sinister money making scam and has highly inflammatory content. The police have now branded it as ‘malicious communication’ and started a criminal investigation into the matter. If you receive any material of this kind, please take it to you nearest police station.
You can see a photo of me with the leaflet by clicking HERE and find out more about this by clicking HERE.
During the week I attended my normal meetings with the Justice Department and Whips office and undertook a variety of tasks involving my Ministerial responsibilities.
On Monday, I also attended a meeting hosted by the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband MP at the Foreign Office with the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander MP to discuss developments in Pakistan over the last few weeks with the killing of Benazir Bhutto, troubles in Pakistan and cancelled elections. The British Government is actively involved in ensuring that the situation does not deteriorate whilst trying to help move things forward. The Foreign Secretary also made a statement in the House of Commons about Pakistan and Kenya in the afternoon.
On Tuesday I met again with the Chief Executive and Chair of St Georges Hospital NHS Trust to discuss the future of the League of Friends at St Georges. I am quietly confident that there will be a positive outcome to the challenge of finding suitable alternative accommodation for the Friends.
I also met with the Charity Commission to discuss the position of 2 separate charities in Tooting.
In the evening I hosted a meeting in the House of Commons with “The Muslim News” where David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, answered questions from more than 120 participants about our Government’s foreign policy. The participants I spoke to after the meeting were really impressed with David’s grasp of a multiple of issues and also his honesty and candour in articulating the challenges facing us over the coming period.
I am always happy to organise tours of the Palace of Westminster and tickets for debates in the Chamber of the House of Commons for my constituents. I sometimes get tickets for Prime Minister’s Questions, which I am always happy to pass onto constituents. On Wednesday Jonathan Roseweir and Kate Jackson came to PMQ’s. You can see a photo of Jonathan and me by clicking HERE.
If you wish to attend a tour or to see PMQ’s please email David in my office on parrydg@parliament.uk.
On Wednesday the Remaining Stages and Third Reading of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill passed the House of Commons. The Bill is very wide-ranging and contains several provisions related to the criminal justice system. Among these are measures on youth justice, sentencing, the release and recalls of prisoners, criminal appeals, trials in the absence of defendants, allowing non-legal staff to prosecute in magistrates’ courts, and restricting the compensation payable for miscarriages of justice.
The Bill also covers aspects of pornography and prostitution, offences relating to nuclear material and facilities, data protection penalties, international cooperation in criminal matters, a new ‘violent offender order’, more measures against anti-social behaviour, and changes to police disciplinary procedures.
The Government also agreed to come back with proposals in the House of Lords to amend the Bill to include provision to abolish the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel. Consultation has now started with the Anglican Church, which would be most affected by the repeal of this law, but I am confident that the amendment will be passed in the House of Lords.
I also visited the RSPCA shop in Southside Shopping Centre in Wandsworth. The Shop has been given notice to leave the premises due to a refurbishment of the centre. Local RSPCA organisers contacted me as they have received no help from either Southside or Wandsworth Council in finding a new site for their shop. I collected a petition from them, signed by more than 500 people, which has been handed into the council for their consideration. I have contacted and will be working with the Tooting Town Centre Manager to try and find alternative premises for the shop. Read more about this by clicking HERE.
Last week was the first week back at Parliament, after the Christmas recess. On Saturday I held my usual advice session at Tooting Library and on Monday I held my open surgery at Earlsfield Library.
A number of constituents have been in touch about a nasty newsletter they have received entitled “Vigilante”. The leaflet asks people to ‘declare war on paedophiles’ by donating £1 per month to a PO Box address registered in Balham. I alerted the police when I found out it was being distributed in our community as it seems like a sinister money making scam and has highly inflammatory content. The police have now branded it as ‘malicious communication’ and started a criminal investigation into the matter. If you receive any material of this kind, please take it to you nearest police station.
You can see a photo of me with the leaflet by clicking HERE and find out more about this by clicking HERE.
During the week I attended my normal meetings with the Justice Department and Whips office and undertook a variety of tasks involving my Ministerial responsibilities.
On Monday, I also attended a meeting hosted by the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband MP at the Foreign Office with the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander MP to discuss developments in Pakistan over the last few weeks with the killing of Benazir Bhutto, troubles in Pakistan and cancelled elections. The British Government is actively involved in ensuring that the situation does not deteriorate whilst trying to help move things forward. The Foreign Secretary also made a statement in the House of Commons about Pakistan and Kenya in the afternoon.
On Tuesday I met again with the Chief Executive and Chair of St Georges Hospital NHS Trust to discuss the future of the League of Friends at St Georges. I am quietly confident that there will be a positive outcome to the challenge of finding suitable alternative accommodation for the Friends.
I also met with the Charity Commission to discuss the position of 2 separate charities in Tooting.
In the evening I hosted a meeting in the House of Commons with “The Muslim News” where David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, answered questions from more than 120 participants about our Government’s foreign policy. The participants I spoke to after the meeting were really impressed with David’s grasp of a multiple of issues and also his honesty and candour in articulating the challenges facing us over the coming period.
I am always happy to organise tours of the Palace of Westminster and tickets for debates in the Chamber of the House of Commons for my constituents. I sometimes get tickets for Prime Minister’s Questions, which I am always happy to pass onto constituents. On Wednesday Jonathan Roseweir and Kate Jackson came to PMQ’s. You can see a photo of Jonathan and me by clicking HERE.
If you wish to attend a tour or to see PMQ’s please email David in my office on parrydg@parliament.uk.
On Wednesday the Remaining Stages and Third Reading of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill passed the House of Commons. The Bill is very wide-ranging and contains several provisions related to the criminal justice system. Among these are measures on youth justice, sentencing, the release and recalls of prisoners, criminal appeals, trials in the absence of defendants, allowing non-legal staff to prosecute in magistrates’ courts, and restricting the compensation payable for miscarriages of justice.
The Bill also covers aspects of pornography and prostitution, offences relating to nuclear material and facilities, data protection penalties, international cooperation in criminal matters, a new ‘violent offender order’, more measures against anti-social behaviour, and changes to police disciplinary procedures.
The Government also agreed to come back with proposals in the House of Lords to amend the Bill to include provision to abolish the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel. Consultation has now started with the Anglican Church, which would be most affected by the repeal of this law, but I am confident that the amendment will be passed in the House of Lords.
I also visited the RSPCA shop in Southside Shopping Centre in Wandsworth. The Shop has been given notice to leave the premises due to a refurbishment of the centre. Local RSPCA organisers contacted me as they have received no help from either Southside or Wandsworth Council in finding a new site for their shop. I collected a petition from them, signed by more than 500 people, which has been handed into the council for their consideration. I have contacted and will be working with the Tooting Town Centre Manager to try and find alternative premises for the shop. Read more about this by clicking HERE.
# posted by Sadiq @ 10:27 AM
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
I want to take this opportunity to wish all residents in Tooting and the rest of Wandsworth a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Being the Member of Parliament for Tooting is a great honour and the busy 2007 I've had reminded me what a wonderful community we live in. From the various faith groups, businesses and local residents working together in the Balham And Tooting Community Association (BACTA) to the excellent festival organised, once again, in Furzedown, we are very lucky. We work together to better our community, which makes me extremely proud. Over the last year, residents and amenity groups have come together to save Wandsworth Museum and local people have raised record sums for local and national good causes whether that is for the Trinity Hospice, Macmillan nurses or Breast Cancer awareness charities. Parents, carers and teachers continue to work together to try and get the most out of our local schools to help our children fulfil their potential, whilst our nurses and doctors continue to go the extra mile at St Georges and our GP practices. It is not possible in this short letter to do justice to all the local people who do so much to make our community wonderful. I am very much looking forward to working with and supporting you in 2008. To all of you I would like to say "Thank You" for all that you do.
# posted by Sadiq @ 11:45 AM
Last week, I attended Smallwood Primary School to present certificates to all the children who entered my Christmas Card Competition. You can find out more about my Christmas Card competition by clicking HERE.
I also hosted a tour of the House of Commons for students from South Thames College. The group were young adults who gave me a pretty tough (but very friendly) grilling about a variety of issues ranging from the environment to what a normal day is like for a MP. You can see a photo of my session with the students by clicking HERE.
Over the last couple of weeks most of our local primary schools have been holding plays, fairs and assemblies. I attended a Key Stage 1 Christmas play at Fircroft Primary School last week, which was simply superb. The amount of work put in by the teachers in preparing costumes, props and decorations as well as working with young children to remember lines was very impressive. Congratulations to all staff and pupils in Tooting for the various performances they have put on!
I also hosted a tour of the House of Commons for students from South Thames College. The group were young adults who gave me a pretty tough (but very friendly) grilling about a variety of issues ranging from the environment to what a normal day is like for a MP. You can see a photo of my session with the students by clicking HERE.
Over the last couple of weeks most of our local primary schools have been holding plays, fairs and assemblies. I attended a Key Stage 1 Christmas play at Fircroft Primary School last week, which was simply superb. The amount of work put in by the teachers in preparing costumes, props and decorations as well as working with young children to remember lines was very impressive. Congratulations to all staff and pupils in Tooting for the various performances they have put on!
# posted by Sadiq @ 11:39 AM
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
On Monday, I held my usual drop-in advice surgery at Earlsfield Library.
I also participated in a Standing Committee that approved new legislation on High Cost Criminal Legal Costs, in addition to my normal parliamentary duties.
On Tuesday, I attended an assembly at Trinity St Mary’s Primary School to award certificates to all those who entered my Christmas Card Competition and to present a runner-up with their prize. The wonderful Head, Julie Davey, is doing a great job in helping all the children reach their full potential and I really enjoyed the performance by the Gospel Choir and listening to the children’s daily prayer. You can find out more about my competition by clicking HERE.
On Wednesday I was one of the guest speakers at a reception organised by my neighbour and friend, Martin Linton MP, for readers of his excellent “Bugle”. The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband MP, was his Chief Guest.
On Friday, I met with the Chair and Chief Executive of Wandsworth Primary Care Trust to discuss local healthcare matters. You can find out more about our PCT by clicking HERE. The PCT still has a healthy budget balance and is in the process of consulting on the London plans by Professor Ara Darzi.
I also participated in a Standing Committee that approved new legislation on High Cost Criminal Legal Costs, in addition to my normal parliamentary duties.
On Tuesday, I attended an assembly at Trinity St Mary’s Primary School to award certificates to all those who entered my Christmas Card Competition and to present a runner-up with their prize. The wonderful Head, Julie Davey, is doing a great job in helping all the children reach their full potential and I really enjoyed the performance by the Gospel Choir and listening to the children’s daily prayer. You can find out more about my competition by clicking HERE.
On Wednesday I was one of the guest speakers at a reception organised by my neighbour and friend, Martin Linton MP, for readers of his excellent “Bugle”. The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband MP, was his Chief Guest.
On Friday, I met with the Chair and Chief Executive of Wandsworth Primary Care Trust to discuss local healthcare matters. You can find out more about our PCT by clicking HERE. The PCT still has a healthy budget balance and is in the process of consulting on the London plans by Professor Ara Darzi.
# posted by Sadiq @ 3:42 PM
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
In addition to my normal Parliamentary duties over the last week I visited a number of local Primary schools and met local schoolchildren.
On Wednesday I took the winner of my Christmas Card Competition, 8 year old Shanelle Taylor-Hutton, and her art teacher, Michaela Truscott, from Furzedown Primary School to meet the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. I had been bragging to other MPs about how talented children in Tooting are and how good my Christmas card design is, so the Prime Minister said he wanted to see it for himself and meet the young artist that designed it. I arranged for Shanelle and her teacher to come to Parliament for a special meeting with the Prime Minister. He was extremely impressed not only with the winning design on the front, but also the 8 runners up on the bak of the card.
To read more about my Christmas Card Competition and to see photos of the meeting with Gordon Brown, Click HERE.
During the week I also visited six different Primary Schools to present the runners up with their prizes and to award each child who entered my competition with a certificate.
The reception I received from staff and teachers at Swaffield Primary School (Click here to see a photo), Ravenstone primary School, Fransiscan Primary School, Furzedown Primary School (Click here to see a photo), Sellincourt Primary School and Fircroft Primary School was phenomenal. All the teachers and staff deserve special praise for their efforts in this year’s competition.
I also attended a General Committee of Tooting Labour Party for a festive evening of Question Time.
On Thursday I met a local constituent who is a volunteer with the Stop AIDS Campaign. We discussed the Government’s new AIDS strategy for developing countries as well as what can be done to tackle the disease in the UK. I have since made further representations on this issue to the Secretary of State for the Department for International Development. To read more about this issue click HERE.
On Saturday, I attended a demonstration outside the Sudanese Embassy to protest the conviction of volunteer teacher, Gillian Gibbons, by the Sudanese Authorities for allowing her pupils to name a class teddy bear after the Prophet Muhammad. I am pleased that the hard work of Lord Nasir Ahmed and diplomatic efforts from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office secured her safe release. I am also pleased that all the main British Muslim organisations, including the Muslim Council of Britain and the British Muslim Forum, have unreservedly condemned the actions of the Sudanese Authority. I was extremely disappointed that the religion I and many other residents of Tooting and the UK practice was misused in this way – the actions of the Sudanese Authorities has nothing to do with Islam as we know it.
On Wednesday I took the winner of my Christmas Card Competition, 8 year old Shanelle Taylor-Hutton, and her art teacher, Michaela Truscott, from Furzedown Primary School to meet the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. I had been bragging to other MPs about how talented children in Tooting are and how good my Christmas card design is, so the Prime Minister said he wanted to see it for himself and meet the young artist that designed it. I arranged for Shanelle and her teacher to come to Parliament for a special meeting with the Prime Minister. He was extremely impressed not only with the winning design on the front, but also the 8 runners up on the bak of the card.
To read more about my Christmas Card Competition and to see photos of the meeting with Gordon Brown, Click HERE.
During the week I also visited six different Primary Schools to present the runners up with their prizes and to award each child who entered my competition with a certificate.
The reception I received from staff and teachers at Swaffield Primary School (Click here to see a photo), Ravenstone primary School, Fransiscan Primary School, Furzedown Primary School (Click here to see a photo), Sellincourt Primary School and Fircroft Primary School was phenomenal. All the teachers and staff deserve special praise for their efforts in this year’s competition.
I also attended a General Committee of Tooting Labour Party for a festive evening of Question Time.
On Thursday I met a local constituent who is a volunteer with the Stop AIDS Campaign. We discussed the Government’s new AIDS strategy for developing countries as well as what can be done to tackle the disease in the UK. I have since made further representations on this issue to the Secretary of State for the Department for International Development. To read more about this issue click HERE.
On Saturday, I attended a demonstration outside the Sudanese Embassy to protest the conviction of volunteer teacher, Gillian Gibbons, by the Sudanese Authorities for allowing her pupils to name a class teddy bear after the Prophet Muhammad. I am pleased that the hard work of Lord Nasir Ahmed and diplomatic efforts from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office secured her safe release. I am also pleased that all the main British Muslim organisations, including the Muslim Council of Britain and the British Muslim Forum, have unreservedly condemned the actions of the Sudanese Authority. I was extremely disappointed that the religion I and many other residents of Tooting and the UK practice was misused in this way – the actions of the Sudanese Authorities has nothing to do with Islam as we know it.
# posted by Sadiq @ 5:25 PM
Monday, December 03, 2007
On Monday, I held my usual drop in advice surgery at Balham Community Centre, helping local constituents with their individual problems. I also attended regular meetings to do with the Ministry of Justice and the Government Whips Department. As well as this, I sat on a Committee approving a Statutory Instrument dealing with Immigration law.
A great deal of time for the rest of the week was taken up in various sittings of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, which is in Committee stage. You can find out more about this by clicking HERE.
On Saturday I visited the Wandsworth Policing Contact Centre (WPCC) on Upper Tooting Road. Special Constables do a tremendous job in Wandsworth and WPCC is a fantastic initiative where local police can get involved in Crime Prevention and give advice to local residents. I was pleased to see representatives of Cambridgeshire Police visiting the Contact Centre to see best practice in action. The Specials also pop into local shops to give advice to deter any shoplifters. You can find out more about WPCC by visiting their website by clicking HERE.
A great deal of time for the rest of the week was taken up in various sittings of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, which is in Committee stage. You can find out more about this by clicking HERE.
On Saturday I visited the Wandsworth Policing Contact Centre (WPCC) on Upper Tooting Road. Special Constables do a tremendous job in Wandsworth and WPCC is a fantastic initiative where local police can get involved in Crime Prevention and give advice to local residents. I was pleased to see representatives of Cambridgeshire Police visiting the Contact Centre to see best practice in action. The Specials also pop into local shops to give advice to deter any shoplifters. You can find out more about WPCC by visiting their website by clicking HERE.
# posted by Sadiq @ 10:36 AM
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Last week was a particularly busy week in Parliament, with the Continuation of the Queen’s Speech.
On Monday, I hosted children from Furzedown Primary School who had accepted my invitation to visit the Palace of Westminster on an official guided tour of Parliament. It was really good to see so many local children at ease in such a powerful place. It was great to see so many confident and articulate local children asking me interesting questions and taking such a real and genuine interest in politics. You can see a photo of the students by clicking HERE.
I then rushed back to Tooting to formally open the new and improved Ultrasound Unit at St Georges Hospital that will benefit from 2 new CT scanners at a cost of £1 million from the Government and a refurbished unit at a cost of £400,000 from St George’s Charity. The Ultrasound Department sees more than 100 patients a day and the CT section sees more than 50 patients a day, and it's important that these patients have access to new state-of-the-art faculties. I am pleased that the Government has equipped our hospital with two new CT scans to use. The newly refurbished department now provides the space, privacy and dignity that patients expect and deserve.
You can see a photo of my visit my clicking HERE.
I then returned to the House of Commons to host the launch of “Million +” – a new Think Tank researching policies and priorities for higher education. I was really pleased that the Secretary of State for Innovations, Universities and Skills, Rt Hon John Denham MP, was the key note speaker as he is a good friend and has a real passion for increasing the skills and knowledge base of young people. To find out more about Million +, visit their website by clicking HERE.
On Tuesday, I recorded a quick clip for BBC “Children in Need” fund on the launch of the “Mosques for Children in Need” campaign.
On Wednesday, I joined the Prime Minister and other Parliamentary colleagues to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali and the Hindu New Year in a reception in the House of Commons, organised by the Hindu Forum of Britain.
After voting, I took part in an excellent Public Meeting in St Augustine Church Hall in Tooting, organised by Balham and Tooting Community Association (BATCA) titled “Friends, Strangers, Citizens?” I was really impressed not just by the number of local residents who attended but also the quality of issues raised. Joining me on the Panel were representatives of St Georges Hospital, the local Police, the PCT, the local Church and a former Head of a local secondary school.
On Thursday, I welcomed a second group from Furzedown Primary School to the House of Commons (see above). You can click HERE to see a photo of the second group from Furzedown School.
In the afternoon, I joined Home Office Minister, Vernon Coaker MP on a visit to Earlsfield Police Station to congratulate local stakeholders involved in the “Spark2Life” initiative. Des Brown, founder of Spark2life, local police, the Safer Neighbourhood Team and the Local Council have done a really good job using pioneering initiatives to reduce crime, particularly against young people. I am extremely proud that a Wandsworth initiative to tackle gang and knife crime is being used as an example of best practice for others to follow. You can find out more about Spark2live by visiting their website on www.myspace.com/thespark2life.
In the evening I Chaired a Governing Body meeting at Gatton Primary School in Tooting Broadway.
On Friday, I attended my normal quarterly meeting with Senior Managers of St Georges Hospital NHS Trust. There is really good news with a Budget surplus and the Trust are continuing to try and improve clinical excellence including around MRSA and C Diff. Things have improved markedly and many staff are disappointed by Party Political Opportunists using figures more than 3 years old to try and discredit St Georges. Key challenges are the A & E 4 hour waiting time’s target, complaints response times, the 18 week pathway-performance against local milestones and the 28 day guarantee following cancellation of admission. You can follow progress at St Georges by visiting their website on www.stgeorges.nhs.uk
On Saturday, I held my usual appointment surgery at Tooting Library.
In the evening I attended, and was the Chief Speaker, at the wonderful Variety Show organised by the Hindu Society to celebrate Diwali. The Society put on a fantastic show and I particularly enjoyed the dancing performances by local children. The Hindu Society does a fantastic job in teaching local children how to speak Hindi.
On Monday, I hosted children from Furzedown Primary School who had accepted my invitation to visit the Palace of Westminster on an official guided tour of Parliament. It was really good to see so many local children at ease in such a powerful place. It was great to see so many confident and articulate local children asking me interesting questions and taking such a real and genuine interest in politics. You can see a photo of the students by clicking HERE.
I then rushed back to Tooting to formally open the new and improved Ultrasound Unit at St Georges Hospital that will benefit from 2 new CT scanners at a cost of £1 million from the Government and a refurbished unit at a cost of £400,000 from St George’s Charity. The Ultrasound Department sees more than 100 patients a day and the CT section sees more than 50 patients a day, and it's important that these patients have access to new state-of-the-art faculties. I am pleased that the Government has equipped our hospital with two new CT scans to use. The newly refurbished department now provides the space, privacy and dignity that patients expect and deserve.
You can see a photo of my visit my clicking HERE.
I then returned to the House of Commons to host the launch of “Million +” – a new Think Tank researching policies and priorities for higher education. I was really pleased that the Secretary of State for Innovations, Universities and Skills, Rt Hon John Denham MP, was the key note speaker as he is a good friend and has a real passion for increasing the skills and knowledge base of young people. To find out more about Million +, visit their website by clicking HERE.
On Tuesday, I recorded a quick clip for BBC “Children in Need” fund on the launch of the “Mosques for Children in Need” campaign.
On Wednesday, I joined the Prime Minister and other Parliamentary colleagues to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali and the Hindu New Year in a reception in the House of Commons, organised by the Hindu Forum of Britain.
After voting, I took part in an excellent Public Meeting in St Augustine Church Hall in Tooting, organised by Balham and Tooting Community Association (BATCA) titled “Friends, Strangers, Citizens?” I was really impressed not just by the number of local residents who attended but also the quality of issues raised. Joining me on the Panel were representatives of St Georges Hospital, the local Police, the PCT, the local Church and a former Head of a local secondary school.
On Thursday, I welcomed a second group from Furzedown Primary School to the House of Commons (see above). You can click HERE to see a photo of the second group from Furzedown School.
In the afternoon, I joined Home Office Minister, Vernon Coaker MP on a visit to Earlsfield Police Station to congratulate local stakeholders involved in the “Spark2Life” initiative. Des Brown, founder of Spark2life, local police, the Safer Neighbourhood Team and the Local Council have done a really good job using pioneering initiatives to reduce crime, particularly against young people. I am extremely proud that a Wandsworth initiative to tackle gang and knife crime is being used as an example of best practice for others to follow. You can find out more about Spark2live by visiting their website on www.myspace.com/thespark2life.
In the evening I Chaired a Governing Body meeting at Gatton Primary School in Tooting Broadway.
On Friday, I attended my normal quarterly meeting with Senior Managers of St Georges Hospital NHS Trust. There is really good news with a Budget surplus and the Trust are continuing to try and improve clinical excellence including around MRSA and C Diff. Things have improved markedly and many staff are disappointed by Party Political Opportunists using figures more than 3 years old to try and discredit St Georges. Key challenges are the A & E 4 hour waiting time’s target, complaints response times, the 18 week pathway-performance against local milestones and the 28 day guarantee following cancellation of admission. You can follow progress at St Georges by visiting their website on www.stgeorges.nhs.uk
On Saturday, I held my usual appointment surgery at Tooting Library.
In the evening I attended, and was the Chief Speaker, at the wonderful Variety Show organised by the Hindu Society to celebrate Diwali. The Society put on a fantastic show and I particularly enjoyed the dancing performances by local children. The Hindu Society does a fantastic job in teaching local children how to speak Hindi.
# posted by Sadiq @ 1:07 PM
Monday, November 19, 2007
On Monday, I held my usual open advice surgery at Earlsfield Library.
On Tuesday, I visited Auschwitz concentration and death camp (in Poland) with the Holocaust Education Trust. I helped arrange for 2 students from Graveney Secondary School and 2 students from Ernest Bevin College to also attend as well as a local History teacher. The day has to be one of the most chilling and traumatic of my life. It is also one that I can never forget. You can find out more about our visit and see some photos by clicking HERE.
To find out more about the Holocaust Education Trust, click HERE
Last week was also when the Government laid out our plans for the coming legislative year, in the Queen’s Speech. Some highlights include new legislation to improve youth and community facilities, to provide a more personalised NHS and to protect our environment with the Climate Change Bill. To watch clips of the Queen’s Speech and to read about the new legislative agenda in more detail click HERE.
On Thursday, I had the joy of joining 3 leading local community figures to judge my annual Christmas Card Competition. A record number of local children of all ages from 9 primary schools across the community entered the competition this year, with designs as colourful and varied as Tooting’s community. Joining me with the tricky task of judging this year’s competition, was Stuart Lowe, Wandsworth Borough Police Commander, Father William Hebborn of St Anselm’s Church and Jane Bruccoleri, Chief Reporter for the Wandsworth Borough News and Guardian. We chose a winner and 8 runners up. Their designs will now be printed and sent out to 500 people from our community and around the world. To see a photo of us judging the competition click HERE
I also arranged for a meeting for local retailers, residents and the Tooting Town Centre Manager to meet with a senior representative of Tescos to discuss their plans to open an Express store in Mitcham Road. Whilst many local people welcome the new store, some local residents and retails have concerns about its impact on the area. I am working with both Tesco Head Office and local retailers to achieve the best deal for Tooting. To read more about the meeting and the arrival of the new store click HERE. You can see a photo of our meeting by clicking HERE.
I was also pleased to have helped set up the first formal Interfaith dialogue between local Catholic Church leaders and local Muslim leaders at a special meeting in Gatton Primary School. This is the start of, what I am confident will be, many joint initiatives building on the work of other local interfaith groups such as BATCA (Balham and Tooting Community Association). Father William Hebbon and Maulana Maqsood deserve a special mention for their contribution to this excellent project. You can see a photo of our meeting by clicking HERE.
On Friday, I was asked to officially open a new building at Garratt Park School on Garratt Lane. The school invested £2 million in a new state-of-the-art building and in refurbishing the existing school site. I was really impressed with the new building, and it was clear how much hard work had been put in by the teachers and parents and governors to provide the best quality facilities for the students
Over the week end, I attended 3 different Diwali celebration events in Tooting. One organised by the London Fire Service, the other by the Mauritius Hindu Organisation and the third by Tooting Business Network. Diwali is a Hindu, Jain and Sikh festival to celebrate new beginnings, and celebrates joy, love and reflection.
On Sunday, I also joined local volunteers talking to residents in Earlsfield ward. The main issues raised were the state of the pavements and streets and the lack of adequate street parking in some of the Estates. I have agreed to take up these issues as well as other individual queries raised.
On Tuesday, I visited Auschwitz concentration and death camp (in Poland) with the Holocaust Education Trust. I helped arrange for 2 students from Graveney Secondary School and 2 students from Ernest Bevin College to also attend as well as a local History teacher. The day has to be one of the most chilling and traumatic of my life. It is also one that I can never forget. You can find out more about our visit and see some photos by clicking HERE.
To find out more about the Holocaust Education Trust, click HERE
Last week was also when the Government laid out our plans for the coming legislative year, in the Queen’s Speech. Some highlights include new legislation to improve youth and community facilities, to provide a more personalised NHS and to protect our environment with the Climate Change Bill. To watch clips of the Queen’s Speech and to read about the new legislative agenda in more detail click HERE.
On Thursday, I had the joy of joining 3 leading local community figures to judge my annual Christmas Card Competition. A record number of local children of all ages from 9 primary schools across the community entered the competition this year, with designs as colourful and varied as Tooting’s community. Joining me with the tricky task of judging this year’s competition, was Stuart Lowe, Wandsworth Borough Police Commander, Father William Hebborn of St Anselm’s Church and Jane Bruccoleri, Chief Reporter for the Wandsworth Borough News and Guardian. We chose a winner and 8 runners up. Their designs will now be printed and sent out to 500 people from our community and around the world. To see a photo of us judging the competition click HERE
I also arranged for a meeting for local retailers, residents and the Tooting Town Centre Manager to meet with a senior representative of Tescos to discuss their plans to open an Express store in Mitcham Road. Whilst many local people welcome the new store, some local residents and retails have concerns about its impact on the area. I am working with both Tesco Head Office and local retailers to achieve the best deal for Tooting. To read more about the meeting and the arrival of the new store click HERE. You can see a photo of our meeting by clicking HERE.
I was also pleased to have helped set up the first formal Interfaith dialogue between local Catholic Church leaders and local Muslim leaders at a special meeting in Gatton Primary School. This is the start of, what I am confident will be, many joint initiatives building on the work of other local interfaith groups such as BATCA (Balham and Tooting Community Association). Father William Hebbon and Maulana Maqsood deserve a special mention for their contribution to this excellent project. You can see a photo of our meeting by clicking HERE.
On Friday, I was asked to officially open a new building at Garratt Park School on Garratt Lane. The school invested £2 million in a new state-of-the-art building and in refurbishing the existing school site. I was really impressed with the new building, and it was clear how much hard work had been put in by the teachers and parents and governors to provide the best quality facilities for the students
Over the week end, I attended 3 different Diwali celebration events in Tooting. One organised by the London Fire Service, the other by the Mauritius Hindu Organisation and the third by Tooting Business Network. Diwali is a Hindu, Jain and Sikh festival to celebrate new beginnings, and celebrates joy, love and reflection.
On Sunday, I also joined local volunteers talking to residents in Earlsfield ward. The main issues raised were the state of the pavements and streets and the lack of adequate street parking in some of the Estates. I have agreed to take up these issues as well as other individual queries raised.
# posted by Sadiq @ 5:12 PM
