September 2025 Update
I am pleased to bring you my September 2025 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,
Despite the best efforts of the campaign, the Urgent Care Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital closed its doors last Friday. I share residents' deep disappointment, frustration and concern over the loss of this valued service, which is why I will continue to make the case in support of it and hold the Hillingdon Hospitals Trust to account on its decision.
In Westminster this month, Parliament's return from the summer recess was far from uneventful. We saw the resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister trigger a futile cabinet reshuffle and the sacking of Peter Mandelson raise more questions than answers. This doesn't appear to be a Government restoring stability and integrity to politics as it promised last July.
There is also a continued failure to get a grip on the small boats crisis, and I have previously highlighted its impact on residents in Hillingdon. The Prime Minister now wants to introduce a digital ID scheme to tackle illegal working, removing what he calls a key incentive for those wishing to make the crossing. While I acknowledge online ID as a proven means of reducing online fraud, I have serious concerns about compulsory ID cards, particularly when they will do very little to combat the issue at hand.
We are now in the conference recess until mid-October, but business continues as usual in the constituency. 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.
Save the Urgent Care Centre at Mount Vernon - Health Survey
I am extremely disappointed that the Hillingdon Hospitals Trust have continued with the closure of the Urgent Care Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital. This is in spite of the 27,000 local people who have voiced their opposition to these plans and have had their concerns ignored.
Throughout the summer and over September, the campaign continued. The efforts included:
- A third letter to the Health Secretary. This was following a conversation I had with him about the 10-Year Plan for the NHS and how the unit at Mount Vernon feeds directly into its objectives.
- Leading an Adjournment debate in Parliament, raising local opposition directly with the Health Minister, Karin Smyth. You can read more about the debate in the 'In Parliament' section of the newsletter.
- Writing a piece for Parliament News about my disappointment, not just with the decision, but how it was reached.
- Convening a meeting with the Hillingdon Hospitals Trust management team, resident association representatives, local councillors and parliamentary colleagues, Gagan Mohindra and John McDonnell.
Although the meeting did not succeed in getting the decision changed, or indeed put on hold, the hospital management team have committed to review and reverse the decision if it has a negative impact on the community. I will be writing to the trust, asking them to outline how they will be measuring this and in what timeframe.
Finally, I remain concerned about the decision being taken without proper consultation. That is why I am inviting residents to take part in a Health Survey, providing the opportunity to have your say. This can be responded to here.
To follow the campaign, please visit the Save Mount Vernon’s Urgent Care Centre page on my website.
In the Constituency
Surgeries
I have continued to meet with constituents at my regular surgeries this month, and I am grateful to the teams at Cofix in Northwood and Bucket List Coffee in Eastcote for hosting me.
I'm also grateful to family-run Yako in Pinner for being excellent first-time hosts. I am proud to represent a constituency with so many independent entrepreneurs investing in our high streets.
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]
School Visits
I always say that one of my favourite things about being an MP is visiting schools and hearing directly from pupils. This month, I was delighted to visit Newnham Junior School in Eastcote, which became part of my constituency last July.
It was great to have the opportunity to answer questions from pupils at their morning assembly about politics and my work as MP. There even appeared to be some budding politicians in the room, which is always fantastic to see.
I was also given a tour of the school by the headteacher, Mr Neil Wilkey. He highlighted the '5 Rs' - resilience, respect, resourcefulness, responsibility and reflection - which underpin the school's positive ethos.
Also this month, it was a pleasure to be invited to open the new library at Buckingham Prep School in Rayners Lane. Most of the books were kindly donated by parents, and I was interested to hear from the pupils about what they most like to read.
I also took part in a Q&A with the school council, who asked a variety of insightful questions about work as MP, as well as policy areas that are important to them, such as the environment.
There was also time for a chat with Deputy Head Teacher, Ed Arghebant, to hear how Labour's tax on education has unfortunately - but unsurprisingly - had an impact. Nevertheless, it was a great visit and I look forward to returning in the future.
North Connect PCN
With health issues very much at the forefront of local priorities, I had a useful catch-up this month with the North Connect Primary Care Network (PCN). The team are responsible for seven GP practices in Hillingdon, including Eastbury Surgery in Northwood where the meeting took place.
This was an opportunity to discuss their plans for primary care in Hillingdon. While I understand there to be restrictions placed on funding, it was useful to hear how they are working to support constituents. This is especially important, particularly in light of the closure at the Urgent Care Centre at Mount Vernon. I am grateful to the team for their time, and I look forward to being kept updated.
Police Front Counter Closures: Calls for Consultation
In my previous newsletter, I mentioned concerns around plans to reduce the number of police front counters across London. This would include Hayes and South Harrow Police Stations, leaving residents in both Harrow and Hillingdon boroughs without a walk-in service.
Most concerningly, as we have seen in the case of the Urgent Care Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital, there appears to be no opportunity for the public - those who will be impacted by these decisions - to make their views known.
I have therefore called on the Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime to ensure the plans are subject to public consultation. You can read that letter here.
In the Community
It is always a pleasure to attend the Pinner Rotary Village Show at the Pinner Memorial Park. Not only is this a great day out for families, but it's also a brilliant fundraiser. I am thrilled to hear this year's show was the most successful to date, raising just over £10,000 for Pinner Rotary supported charities, including the Paul Strickland Scanner Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital.
It was great to speak with stallholders and residents at this fantastic event. As ever, a special thank you to the 50 volunteers who were on duty and ensured the event ran smoothly and successfully.
I was delighted to attend Community Connex's activities afternoon at St Edmund's Church in Northwood Hills.
It is always a pleasure to speak with members of Community Connex to hear how the group benefits them, and to thank its volunteers. This was also a special occasion for long-serving Community Connex Manager Jeremy Child, who received a Harrow's Heroes award for 'Supporting Vulnerable People', and I was delighted to present him with the award.
Harrow's Heroes is a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of people like Jeremy and the many others whose contributions - no matter how big or small - make the borough a place we can be proud of.
Christmas Card Competition
Residents will be aware that my office has a tradition of holding a Christmas card competition for infant, primary and junior schools across Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner. I am always thrilled to receive so many brilliant and creative entries, which makes my job of choosing one winner very difficult.
This year, I have once again written to schools inviting them to take part in this year's competition, either at school or at home. The theme this year is ‘A Flag for Christmas’, where children are encouraged to think about and design what they would put on a Christmas-themed flag. All entries should be sent to my constituency office at 10 Village Way, Pinner, HA5 5AF with the child’s full name, age and school on the back of the design by Friday 7 November.
I look forward to seeing what creativity this year's theme brings.
In Parliament
September is always a busy month in Westminster as MPs return from the summer recess. The Government is normally keen to make the most of the month to further its policy agenda and this year was no different.
Adjournment Debate: Urgent Care in Hillingdon
As mentioned, this month I led an Adjournment debate in the House of Commons, where I was able to place on the record the concerns of our community about urgent care, patient safety, and the long-term future of Mount Vernon.
Karin Smyth was the Minister tasked with responding on behalf of the Government. I urged her to listen to the thousands of local people who had voiced their opposition to the closure of the Urgent Care Centre and to safeguard its future.
No such support was forthcoming, but the Minister did rightly highlight the importance of local consultation in local-decision making. We have simply not seen that demonstrated in this case and this has been one of my key frustrations.
There has been limited engagement from hospital management with residents, local leaders and - most concerning of all - staff at the unit. At every stage of the process, we have all been on the backfoot.
I asked the Minister to - at the very least - support a pause, so that the public consultation I was assured would take place at the start of this process could be undertaken. This would have provided the opportunity for meaningful engagement with the very people this disastrous decision impacts.
While there has been no support from the Government, I am grateful to colleagues Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) and John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington), both of whom attended the debate and understand the importance of protecting the urgent care provision at the hospital. On local matters such as these, it is vital to push aside party politics because we should be united by the collective objective to work in the best interests of the communities we were elected to represent.
To watch the full debate, please follow this link.
Shadow Ministerial Update
Readers will be aware that in July, James Cleverly was appointed as the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and that I am continuing in my role as a Shadow Minister. In the past few weeks, we have had two vital bits of legislation come before the House of Commons, namely the Renters' Rights Bill and the English Devolution Bill.
Away from Parliament, I have been continuing my engagement with the world of local government. Residents will know that Hillingdon is facing exceptional challenges as the Government’s failure on immigration force the cost onto local taxpayers. I am confident that the leadership of our council will take necessary measures to support residents, but I am keen to play my part by engaging with local leaders from across the country who face similar challenges.
Renters' Rights Bill
My constituents may be aware that for the last year, the Renters' Rights Bill has slowly been making its way through Parliament.
This was the first Bill that I was involved with as a Shadow Minister and it is disappointing that a year into the process, the Government continues to disregard the concerns being raised from across the political spectrum.
After hours of debate in the House of Commons, weeks of detailed scrutiny in Committee stage and now late nights in the House of Lords, this piece of legislation is not fit for purpose. We have seen how it will decimate the private rented sector, forcing rents up and landlords out. At every stage of the Bill, valid concerns have been raised and in some cases accepted by Parliamentarians from different parties. Sadly, the Government has opted to push ahead without any noticeable changes to the legislation, overruling the clear desire of my colleagues.
As the Bill enters its final stages, I am continuing to advocate for changes. However, I doubt the Government will listen.
English Devolution and Empowerment Bill
As I have already alluded to, there are fundamental challenges facing local government at present. Since the last election, housing delivery has collapsed, and I have heard how landlords are abandoning the sector.
While our second city is stifled by bin strikes that will continue into 2026, the Government is seeking to force devolution onto local people while taking away their say in the decision-making process. It is a cruel irony that the Government is seeking to push through this “community empowerment bill” onto residents without asking what powers they actually want.
During the Bill’s Second Reading this month, I had the chance to amplify the concerns of those in local government and in Westminster, the voices of whom have been ignored by the Government. Speaking from the dispatch box on behalf of the Opposition, I challenged the Government on how this would materially make life better or save those local councillors on the edge. The Minister had no reassurances to give those who are worried about increasing council tax, increasing parking charges or why pubs are facing bill increases of up to £6,500 per year.
I had a great deal of respect for the then Minister as he responded to me at the dispatch box. Despite our differences, Jim McMahon had been a champion for local government when serving as the leader of a council, and I truly believed he wanted the best for our locally-elected councillors. Sadly, Mr McMahon was removed from his post shortly after the second reading debate in the Commons.
In the first day of committee, we heard from expert witnesses from across the local government family who have raised valid concerns about the process. Having fired the previous Minister responsible, it is clear the Government is not seeking to compromise on this Bill and will look to expedite it through parliament against the will of those affected.
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
