February 2026 Update
I am pleased to bring you my February 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,
Although a shorter month, February was certainly not short of political theatre, courtesy of the Labour Government.
Towards the end of January, the Prime Minister fended off a potential leadership coup after blocking Andy Burnham from standing for Parliament. But just like a game of whack-a-mole, another problem quickly surfaced. Thanks to Kemi Badenoch's forensic scrutiny during PMQs, Keir Starmer was forced to admit that he knew of Mandelson's ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein when he appointed him as ambassador to the US. I am sure the Prime Minister hoped the mini exodus from No.10 that followed was enough to steady the ship - that is, of course, until the Gorton and Denton by-election result. It isn't looking good.
Away from Westminster, I have been working hard to advocate for residents on the issues that matter; the front desk closure at Pinner Police Station, the closure of NatWest on Field End Road and the consultation to move the Cancer Centre at Mount Vernon to Watford General. This is in addition to my regular surgeries and meetings, all of which you can read about below.
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
Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Consultation
Following the consultation launch, I met with Ruth Derrett and Jessamy Kinghorn from NHS England to discuss proposals to move the Cancer Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital to Watford General. I welcomed this discussion, but I regret that it failed to provide clear answers to the concerns that I share with many residents.
I was extremely frustrated with the absence of a proper consultation ahead of the Urgent Care Centre closure, and so this engagement is appreciated. However, it is incompatible with the Government's decision to delay the rebuild of Watford General. That is why I cannot see a tangible purpose to this process when there is simply no capacity at the site to meet and fulfil proposals.
With such uncertainty, I am concerned about the unnecessary distress and alarm this process already seems to be causing locally, especially particularly for patients currently undergoing treatment at Mount Vernon.
In terms of the move itself, I do not want to see the loss of accessible cancer care for patients in my constituency, and I will be making this clear in continued representations to the NHS.
Pinn Medical Centre: Support for a Long-Term Future
In health matters over in Pinner, I had a useful catch-up with partners and management at the Pinn Medical Centre this month.
Following my election in 2019, I was glad to continue the work of my predecessor, Nick Hurd, to maintain the Pinn's walk-in service. Thanks to both a brilliant locally-led campaign and intervention from then Health Secretary Matt Hancock, the service was saved. However, the pandemic that followed placed unprecedented demands and pressures on healthcare providers, which led to the Pinn taking on a walk-in/GP access centre (GPAC) model and later on, a GPAC only service.
I have had ongoing engagement with partners over the years and my most recent intervention helped to secure an extension of the Pinn's current contract for a further 21 months. This is positive news, but the priority and focus must be on ensuring its long-term future. I will therefore be pressing the Health Secretary for his commitment to reinstate a full walk-in centre model, or to support the Pinn in gaining Urgent Treatment Centre status.
I am pleased to have the support of my constituency neighbour Bob Blackman, though I am disappointed not to have received a response from Gareth Thomas, as this should be a cross-party effort for residents across Harrow.
I hope this will go some way to make up for the loss of service to residents arising from the closure of the nurse-led Urgent Care Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital.
NatWest Field End Road Branch Closure
Residents have been sharing their concerns after NatWest announced it would be closing the branch on Field End Road in May.
Customers have been provided with ‘other ways to bank’, but it is important to note these might not work for everyone. This is particularly pertinent to those unable to travel to alternative branches in Uxbridge or Harrow, and who may be worried about – or find it challenging to use – internet and telephone banking.
We have unfortunately seen a decline in the number of banks, but they are still thought of as a focal point of the high street and a vital part of the community. For example, having visited the Pinner and Northwood branches of Nationwide, it is clear that older customers valued being able to speak with somebody face-to-face and made visits to the branch part of their regular routine.
Furthermore, I also have concerns about the closest NatWest banking hub being based in West Drayton. I do not see how this is a sensible and practical alternative for customers when the journey from Eastcote to West Drayton is not straightforward and not supported by good transport links.
As this is a commercial matter for banks, I have written to NatWest's Director of Public Policy to make representations on behalf of residents and to secure a commitment to retain access to cash and banking services. This can be read here.
Michael Sobell House
After meeting Chief Executive Jane Wheeler at their Christmas market in December, I was delighted to visit Michael Sobell House at Mount Vernon. This is just one example of the many vital services at the hospital site, and I welcomed the opportunity to hear more about their work.
I had a useful conversation with Jane and her team about plans to expand the inpatient unit, the charity's fundraising efforts, the role of trainee doctors and volunteers, as well as their children's services.
I also had the chance to speak with one of the families visiting a loved one at the unit. It is clear that the care and support provided is of enormous value and comfort to patients and their families at what is an extremely difficult time.
Finally, Jane and the team were keen to ensure residents are aware of some of the outreach services they provide, including home care, rehabilitation, art therapy, wellbeing and bereavement counselling. Further information can be found here.
Healthy School Meals at Frithwood Primary School
I was pleased to catch-up with Luke Consiglio, CEO of The Pantry UK, this month. What started as a sandwich shop in Hayes is now a local catering business, which provides healthy meals to schools in and around Hillingdon.
It was great to be able to see their work in action at Frithwood Primary School in Northwood for ‘Fish Friday’, which is clearly very popular with the children. I even tried my hand at serving some of the nutritious meals and desserts on offer.
Away from the busy lunch hall, Luke explained a bit more about The Pantry and its ‘Food for Life Gold Standard’ offering, meaning that they meet the highest standards in school food catering. We also discussed the positive impact of a healthy school meal, and I am pleased that local children are benefitting from this.
'Hero Discount' at Minori Restaurant
I was delighted to attend the launch of the ‘Hero Discount’ at Minori Restaurant in Hatch End.
Residents may be familiar with owner Andy Fellini, who has been a long-standing member of the Pinner and Hatch End community. This was evident from the range of people who came along to celebrate, including neighbouring MPs Bob Blackman and Gareth Thomas, local councillors, service personnel and friends.
The 'Hero Discount' honours both serving and retired members of the service community by providing a permanent 15% discount on all food. With a great number of service personnel in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, this is an excellent initiative that Andy has taken.
I am grateful to him and his team for being such an important part of our community and, as ever, for the delicious food.
Kemi Visits Ruislip
It was a pleasure to welcome Kemi Badenoch and the Shadow Chancellor, Mel Stride, to Ruislip High Street this month.
In addition to meeting McDonalds franchisee owner Abel and his team, Kemi also hosted a roundtable with local and independent businesses. The discussion took place against a backdrop of high unemployment, low business confidence and near-flatlined growth.
Business owners were honest about the pressures they are facing, from employers’ national insurance hikes to high energy costs and changes to business rates, and I know they really valued the opportunity to be heard and their concerns listened to – something that has been notably absent under Labour’s governance.
I am proud to represent a constituency with so many independent businesses and vibrant high streets, and I am glad of the opportunity to showcase just some of these to the Leader of the Opposition.
Refill Your Cup
It was great to visit Laura and Natalie, owners of Refill Your Cup on Ickenham Road, Ruislip.
As Natalie had attended the recent roundtable hosted by Kemi Badenoch, I had already learned a bit about their work. I was therefore grateful for the opportunity to be able to visit the shop and see it in action.
For residents who may not be aware, Refill Your Cup is a zero-waste, refill shop where affordability and sustainability are front and centre. Community is also very much at the heart of the business, with a focus on selling locally sourced and created products and running events aimed at connecting with local people.
This is an excellent example of the investment that keeps our high streets thriving. I wish Natalie and Laura the best of luck in their venture, and I look forward to returning soon to refill my cup soon.
The Ark Synagogue
Thank you to Rabbi Aaron Goldstein for welcoming me to the Ark Synagogue in Northwood this month. I was also pleased to meet the newest addition the team, Rabbi Andrea Kulikovsky, who has clearly settled in well.
We discussed the priorities for - and issues facing - the Jewish community, both in Northwood and more widely. I was pleased to receive positive feedback about the local police teams, which reflects what I have heard from other synagogues across the constituency. This reassurance is really important at such a volatile time.
I am grateful to both for their time, and I look forward to visiting again soon.
In Parliament
Home Office Questions: Pinner Police Station
Residents will be aware that I have written to the Mayor of London about the closure of Pinner Police Station. Disappointingly, he has yet to address the concerns that I have raised on behalf of volunteers who run the front desk at the facility.
In Home Office questions this month, I asked Sarah Jones, Minister of State at the Home Office, for her support in obtaining a response to at least reassure residents and volunteers that their voices have been heard.
Unfortunately, the Minister did nothing to offer that reassurance and instead dismissed constituents' concerns in favour of political point scoring. You can view that exchange here.
UK-India Trade
Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner is home to many entrepreneurs of Indian heritage and constituents with links to Indian businesses. This month, MPs debated the UK-India Free Trade Agreement. It is clear from this debate that the Government is unwilling to listen to the voice of business.
Under the previous Conservative governments, businesses were front and centre in our Free Trade Agreement negotiations. While in office, the UK signed landmark agreements with the European Union, Japan, Australia and New Zealand and it brought us to the cusp of ascension to the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership. This Government has now secured an agreement with one of the fastest growing economies, but seems to have forgotten about the importance of business in this process.
As a result, I am concerned that this deal, while welcome, will not be the golden opportunity for local businesses that it otherwise could be. I will follow this matter closely over the coming months.
APPG on Migration Delegation to Strasbourg
This month, I joined an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Migration delegation to Strasbourg to meet with senior officials from the Council of Europe and European Court of Human Rights.
Over two days we met with Council of Europe officials, the Commissioner for Human Rights' team, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, anti-trafficking experts, the President of the ECtHR, the UK's judge at the Court and senior Court Registry lawyers.
Around 1.5-2% of the Court's caseload relates to immigration, and it was noted the Court had only overruled the UK on one migration case in the last decade. At the same time, member states including the UK have raised legitimate concerns about how the Court interprets key provisions, particularly Article 3 on inhuman and degrading treatment and Article 8 on family life. These are now being addressed through a political declaration to be adopted in May 2026. Officials acknowledged the concerns but also argued that some of the friction comes from how national courts interpret Strasbourg rulings rather than the rulings themselves.
On practical matters, we examined immigration detention standards and heard a recommendation that the Home Office and Ministry of Justice coordinate better on planning for foreign offenders nearing the end of prison sentences. We discussed how trafficking victims are identified within asylum and enforcement settings. We also received a briefing on how emergency injunctions to prevent removal operate in practice, including the thresholds applied and the information governments must provide.
The visit was useful in understanding both the workings of the system and the reform discussions underway. The findings will inform ongoing parliamentary scrutiny of asylum policy, detention standards and removal procedures.
Shadow Ministerial Update
Local Government Finance
This month, I had the opportunity to scrutinise the Government’s financial settlement on behalf of His Majesty’s Opposition. What we learnt this month is that the Government is forcing councils to drastically raise council tax precepts, while hammering high street businesses through business rate increases.
Every year, the Government must set out what funding it will give to local authorities across the country. This allows councils to deliver services for local residents from libraries and parks to social services. It often goes overlooked, but local authorities spend upwards of two-thirds of their budget on providing children and adult social care.
When the current Prime Minister was in opposition, he promised not to raise council tax, but in this finance settlement, he has done the opposite, yet again. The settlement that we debated leaves two-thirds of councils in England worse off, piling on the misery from last year’s settlement and tax increases.
Thankfully, with our excellent local councils, my residents will be sheltered from the brunt of council tax increases. Some residents, especially in inner London, can expect up to a £500-a-year increase in their council tax.
While the Government was successful in bringing through its settlement, the Shadow Ministerial team will continue to push Ministers to give greater relief to residents facing the greatest increases this year.
Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Questions
Each month, I have the opportunity to scrutinise Ministers during parliamentary questions. I always seek to ask about the policies most impacting constituents and this month, that was leasehold reform and the Government's plans to bulldoze the greenbelt.
The Government is trying to paint itself as the champion of leaseholders in the UK. Many of my constituents are leaseholders and so I have been pushing Ministers over the years for greater protections for them. I was delighted when the previous Government delivered the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act in 2024 that struck the right balance for my residents.
This act brought in important measures that this Government is yet to implement. I therefore used my first question to ask why the Secretary of State is so unwilling to give leaseholders the certainty and protections they have been promised.
The second issue that I was keen to address was the Government’s plans to remove environmental protections in outer London. Those residents who remember the previous Labour Government will be aware of their dislike of our green spaces. The late John Prescott tried to remove these protections in Hillingdon and Harrow and it was only thanks to the Conservatives that these plans were thwarted.
I am deeply concerned that the Government is continuing its crusade against the green fields, which make outer London unique and contain the city’s sprawl.
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
