Much of the recent national debate has focused on irregular migration, especially following a record day of small boat arrivals. But here in Hillingdon, we've been at the sharp end of asylum pressures for far longer; not because of Channel crossings, but because we serve as the port authority for Heathrow Airport.
This has placed a unique and long-standing burden on our borough. For years, Hillingdon has been responsible for supporting a significant number of asylum seekers, a responsibility that comes with real financial cost. The strain on council services is growing, yet the Government has failed to step up with the additional funding required. In this year’s local budget, the council made clear that its ability to deliver the high-quality, day-to-day services residents expect is being undermined by the scale and cost of asylum responsibilities.
During this week’s Home Office Questions, I raised the issue directly with the Home Secretary. I urged her to recognise the pressures on our excellent local authority and to engage constructively with Hillingdon to ensure funding matches the demand placed on local services. Sadly, her response was not a commitment to help but a partisan swipe, something that does nothing to address the real concerns of our community.
Elsewhere, I continue to campaign for the protection of the Urgent Care Nurse Practitioner Service at Mount Vernon Hospital. I recently spoke again with the leadership of the Hillingdon Hospitals Trust to insist that any service review must include proper consultation with both staff and residents. While the objective of improving care across the trust is welcome it cannot come at the expense of accessible, frontline services in our community. My petition to protect urgent care at Mount Vernon remains open on my website.
Finally, though the Government’s recent U-turn on Winter Fuel Payments is welcome, it leaves many pensioners confused about what to expect this winter. I’ll keep pushing for clarity and for long-term support for those who need it most.
First published: My Local News, June 2025
