April 2026 Update
I am pleased to bring you my April 2026 Update. As ever, if you would like to sign up to my mailing list, you can do so on this page or by emailing [email protected].
Dear constituent,
Parliament is now prorogued, which signals the end of this parliamentary session. The next will be formally marked by the State Opening on 13 May, where the King will deliver a speech outlining the Government's agenda for the next session.
Between then - and despite the Government's best efforts to delay them - all scheduled local elections in England will take place. Over 5,000 seats will be contested across 136 local authorities, including those in London. Of course, I am backing the hardworking Conservative candidates standing in the 8 wards that make up Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, and I hope to see a continuation of Conservative-led administrations in both Hillingdon and Harrow after May 7.
In Westminster, it has been yet another tumultuous month for the Prime Minister. He may have faced down a vote, but Keir Starmer still has questions to answer in relation to the appointment and vetting of Peter Mandelson. It is evident that he has been unable to fully satisfy the House of Commons that due process was followed, and so it is disappointing that the matter will not receive the scrutiny of the privileges committee.
Closer to home, I have been horrified by the antisemitic attacks in north London. These will be deeply concerning for Jewish residents, who want action over platitudes. I have been pleased to hear that local police teams have been doing an excellent job of keeping our community safe, but increased security is not a long-term solution. I will continue to work with parliamentary colleagues to ensure the Government is doing all it can to bring about fundamental change.
I endeavour to keep residents updated with my monthly newsletters, but those who would like to see what is going on in between, I encourage you to visit my website or Facebook page.
In the Constituency
London Marathon 2026: Fundraising for Michael Sobell
I am proud to have completed my fourth London Marathon, with a finishing time of 06:35:05. This year, it was a privilege to be running in support of a charity that I know is close to many hearts locally; the Michael Sobell Hospice in Northwood.
I am thrilled to have raised £1755, and I take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to all those who have made such generous donations. I know this will go a long way in supporting the vital work of the wonderful team at Michael Sobell.
If you would like to contribute, there is still time. You can visit my page here.
Surgeries
I am grateful to the teams at the We Love Coffee in Harefield and Cofix in Northwood for hosting my surgeries this month. These are always a great opportunity to catch up with local business owners, in addition to supporting constituents, whether in-person or via a telephone appointment.
If you would like to make an appointment to meet with me at a surgery, or are a business who would be interested in hosting, please get in touch via 0203 545 2462 or [email protected].
Broadwater Sailing Club
This month, I had the privilege of joining club members at Broadwater Sailing Club. I was there to hear their concerns about the planning application to develop a new outdoor centre on the Southern end of Broadwater Lake.
Broadwater Sailing Club has operated on the lake for over 50 years. During this time, hundreds of members have learnt to sail there, and I was delighted to learn more about the club's junior division, which goes from strength to strength. The sailing club is an excellent asset to our borough and is clearly well-managed.
There are concerns among club members about the club's future viability after their relocation. Chief among these concerns is the practical arrangements for access and use of the facilities. I had promised to feed these concerns back to the council ahead of decision being made.
Later in the month, Hillingdon’s Planning Committee, chaired by Cllr Adam Bennet, approved the construction of the new water activity centre. This is a welcome step as we secure the future of water activities at Broadwater Lake for the next 50 years. I am delighted that the concerns that I raised with the committee were incorporated into the record, which I know was also appreciated by club members.
Interfaith Meeting
I have previously spoken about the need to strengthen interfaith networks. The repercussions of heightened global tension increasingly appear to be taking root and seeping ever deeper into our communities here in the UK. The rise in reports of racially and religiously motivated discrimination and broadening sense of polarisation should in themselves be condemned and addressed, but these have grown into abhorrent acts of violence and terror on our streets.
While there is much work to be done from the top down, facilitating this engagement felt like a positive place to start on a local level. As such, I wrote to all faith leaders across the constituency and invited them to a meeting, which was to be kindly hosted by Rev. Martin Davies at St Mary's Church Hall in Harefield.
It was a pleasure to welcome faith leaders and representatives from The Ark Synagogue (Northwood), Ruislip Baptist Church, Pinner Baptist Church (Hatch End), Churches Together Eastcote, Harrow Quakers, Pinner Shul, Harefield Baptist Church, Sacred Heart Church (Ruislip) and St Martin’s Church (Ruislip) to that meeting this month.
We had a useful discussion about the concerns and priorities within different communities, as well as the crucial matter of building greater interfaith relationships. We explored how existing - but somewhat underutilised - faith networks can be harnessed to support further engagement, in addition to building on and expanding the group established at the meeting.
I believe this was a useful starting point to foster greater links locally.
In Parliament
Prime Minister's Questions: Mount Vernon Hospital
This month in the House of Commons, I challenged the Prime Minister on the future of Mount Vernon Hospital.
My constituents rely on the services at Mount Vernon, and they are being hollowed out before our eyes. Last year, despite raising my concerns with Ministers, they allowed the Urgent Care Centre to shut. My petition was supported by thousands of my residents and people outside of Hillingdon who relied on the service. It has now been announced that the cancer centre at the site is under threat.
To date, I have received little information or seen little interest in this matter from Ministers. My question to the Prime Minister sought to spur the Labour Government into action and protect this vital local service.
The Prime Minister has committed to investigating this matter. I want to assure my constituents that I will be holding him to this promise, and I expect a response before it is too late.
You can view my question to the Prime Minister and his response here.
Antisemitic Attacks in London
The recent attacks in north London are appalling and have caused understandable concern locally. My Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner constituency is home to well-established Jewish communities with deep roots, as well as Iranian refugees who fled their country after the revolution in the late twentieth century.
This month, I heard first-hand from David Summers, who coordinates security at a local synagogue, about the concerns of my Jewish constituents and what they need to feel safe, which I then raised in the House of Commons.
In a statement to the House, the Security Minister updated MPs on the case and the steps being taken to protect the Jewish community in London and across the country. I asked the Minister what consideration he is giving to deploying police from across the country to support the Metropolitan Police’s mission to protect synagogues, schools and other locations at risk.
Sadly, since this statement, we have seen another appalling act of terror on the Jewish community in Golders Green. For many in my constituency, this has deepened concern even further as this hatred and violence moves closer and closer to home. The protection of Jewish residents is even more critical following this attack.
My question can be viewed here.
Foreign Office Questions: Chagos Deal
There is a prevailing sense of optimism that the Government’s disastrous surrender of the British Indian Ocean Territory will be dropped. This will save taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds and protect the vital military base on Diego Garcia.
One unexpected consequence of the Government’s treaty with Mauritius was the arrival of displaced Chagossians in Hillingdon. Arriving at Heathrow Airport, these families were fleeing the draconian laws in Mauritius that limit what they can say about their homeland. Upon arrival, these families needed support to start their new lives in the UK, including access to council and health services in our borough.
This month in Parliament, I asked Ministers at the Foreign Office whether they will do more to support local councils, such as Hillingdon, that have been on the frontline of their mistake.
My question to the Minister can be watched here.
Mandelson Debate
Peter Mandelson’s links to both the Kremlin and Jeffrey Epstein were well-known before his appointment to the most important diplomatic post. The Prime Minister has given a notorious liar access to very sensitive information, undermining our national security.
His insistence on the appointment of Peter Mandelson is hugely embarrassing, and his attempts to deflect blame onto well-respected civil servants are disgraceful. The Prime Minister, by his own admission, had seen documents that proved Mandelson’s close links to the Kremlin and Beijing before appointing him. Keir Starmer allowed Mandelson to view secret intelligence before vetting was complete. We now know that the Prime Minister showed a “dismissive approach” to the vetting procedure.
In an emergency debate this month, secured by the Conservatives, I spoke about my own concerns around this process. Most importantly, for the safety and security of my constituents working at HMS Warrior in Northwood. The Minister was unable to provide any certainty for my constituents, and more revelations have come to light since.
My contribution can be viewed here.
Shadow Ministerial Update
MHCLG Questions: Council Tax
Over the last year, I have spoken at length about the challenges facing local authorities across the country. The failure of this Labour Government to adequately fund councils mean that residents are paying more money for fewer services.
Locally, our services have been protected by excellent local leaders. Hillingdon and Harrow are not immune to these funding challenges; Hillingdon has been placed under immense pressure due to its proximity to Heathrow. Despite this, council tax in Hillingdon remains the lowest in Northwest London, while Harrow continues to introduce new services to support residents.
The Government has made it its policy to force councils into massive council tax hikes to make up for their funding failure. Maximising council tax revenue punishes well-run councils like ours, while poorly run councils can escape the consequences of their actions.
This month, as the Shadow Minister for Local Government, I pushed the Minister responsible about the impact of the government’s policy. I was disappointed by the political response, which predictably reached for well-worn lines about previous governments instead of taking some accountability and answering the question put to her.
My question can be watched here.
Devolution Bill: Greenbelt Protection
While I disagree about the direction of Government policy regarding devolution, it brings in many new powers for local leaders, including land development.
The English Devolution and Community Power Act, when introduced, placed heavy emphasis on central direction. This included the ability to effectively force local mayors into allowing unwise developments on green field land, while previously developed land is available.
Long-time residents will be aware that the previous Labour administration attempted to build over much of the pristine countryside in Hillingdon and Harrow. At the time, I was part of the excellent Conservative council that fought these attempts in the courts; now, as the Shadow Minister, I have forced climbdowns from the Government directly in Westminster.
The amendment the Government has agreed to will ensure that brownfield sites are prioritised and that greenbelt land is developed on last. This is the first time a clear hierarchy has been established, instructing new mayors to prioritise brownfield land for regeneration. I am grateful to the Ministers at the Department for their constructive approach to these conversations.
As ever, my office is on-hand to support those who need it. If you require any assistance, please do not hesitate to get in contact.
Kind regards,
David
