Monthly Newsletter - July

Ruth Cadbury MP
Aug 24
7 min read

IN THE COMMONS in July:

In the Chamber I asked the Government Minister to condemn Israel’s plans, illegal under international law, to transfer control of the Ibrahimi mosque from the Palestinian municipality of Hebron and to consider sanctions against the Kiryat Arba settlement municipality if it assumes control of this important religious site.
After over 250 of us MPs wrote to Keir Starmer calling for the UK to recognise Palestine, I am really glad he has listened, and agreed to recognise Palestine, albeit with conditions. It is certainly a step in the right direction as we see ever worse horror in Gaza each day.
On the publication of NESO’s report into the substation fire that caused Heathrow to close for a day, I asked the Energy Minister what can be done to ensure this critical national infrastructure can be more resilient to failures of the national grid.
When the Transport Secretary announced a series of road and rail schemes, which did not include extending HS2 beyond Birmingham, I pushed on the need to revisit the need for a new rail line to relieve the West Coast Main line.
The lack of grid connectivity is hampering the essential roll-out of EV and depot charging, as well as for onshore power for shipping. At his Nature and Climate statement, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband assured me that his Department for Energy and Net Zero are meeting the Transport Department to address these challenges

Letters:

SWR: Following complaints about the reduced summer timetable on the Hounslow loop line, I wrote to SWR of the newly nationalised rail company. CEO Lawrence Bowman replied to say that he’d made the difficult decision to plan gaps in the normal timetable rather than have unplanned short-notice cancellations. The reason being that more drivers are on holiday in the summer, and a queue of drivers needing to train to drive the new Arterio trains waiting to come into use. I will hold him to his commitment that there won’t still be a problems next summer, particularly as constituents have experienced additional sudden cancellations.
Breakfast Clubs: Following my visit to Marlborough School’s Breakfast Club, I wrote to Schools Minister Stephen Morgan expressing my support for the scheme but also passing on some suggested improvements the Marlborough team made about the scheme. I am pleased that he was grateful for the suggestions and has committed to visit.
School Funding: I am pleased that Schools Standards Minister Cat McKinnell has agreed to meet Hounslow’s 3 MPs over school funding following our letter to her raising concerns about the timing and challenges of the settlement Hounslow received.

Women in Parliament: On July 2 1928, women received the right to vote on the same terms as men. On the anniversasry it was good to catch up with Helen Pankhurst (Sylvia’s granddaughter & Emmeline’s great granddaughter) and receive a personalised hand-made sash. When I was elected 10 years ago I was the 441st woman elected to the UK Parliament. Since then I’ve been proud to stand up for the rights of women; whether that’s voting to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland, campaigning for better housing for female victims of domestic abuse or highlighting the problems facing women in the criminal justice system.

The Dogs Trust are calling for an overhaul of the dog control laws. They told me the Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) doesn't work and are calling for a breed neutral approach focussing on prevention, education and promoting responsible dog ownership.

Illegal eBikes are a growing scourge in our streets, while their batteries are a significant fire hazard. So I was glad that the All Party Group on Cycling’s report on these illegally modified bikes got significant news coverage. Our recommendations include; withdrawing unsafe batteries and chargers from on-line sales, fixing the gig-economy loophole on substitution of “workers” and the appalling pay rates that incentivises speeding and long hours, introducing a kite-mark scheme to enable bans on legitimate e-bikes in buildings and on public transport to be lifted, giving police clear powers to remove the bikes, and enforce compliance from the delivery platforms.

An MPs’ briefing on knife crime at New Scotland Yard enabled us to see this horrific collection of weapons that have been taken off the streets of London by officers over the last year.

Other work to tackle knife crime includes knife identification workshops, closer work with different communities and with young people, and work with the Home Office to prohibit more types of knives commonly used in violence.

As part of our Rail Investment Pipeline inquiry, the Transport Committee took a trip up north where rail started 200 years ago. In Darlington I saw a replica of Stephenson’s rocket that worked the Stockton-Darlington Railway. We then went on to Hitachi Rail’s state-of-the-art factory where the latest trains are being built.

The Transport Committee has recently published reports on Transport Accessibility: legal obligations, Street Works disruption, and Buses Connecting Communities.

We are now seeking evidence for our next round of inquiries, which will keep us busy for the next year; the Ports National Policy Statement, Taxis & PHV Licensing, Skills for transport manufacturing, and joined Up Journeys (achieving & measuring transport Integration). All details https://lnkd.in/eg5Q8_fp

Heathrow Runway 3: Following Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcement in January that the Government would welcome proposals for a third runway, Heathrow Airport Ltd dusted off the previous proposal for a full-length runway (here). Meanwhile Arora have announced they are leading a partnership for a short runway that avoids putting the M25 in a tunnel.

As Chair of Transport Committee, I have said that “any proposal to expand Heathrow and increase its 480,000 annual cap on flights should be considered by government and scrutinised by Parliament against the four tests that Labour had set for expansion at Heathrow: expansion to be compatible with targets to cut carbon emissions, that local noise and air pollution impacts can be limited, its contribution towards growth across the UK, and that expansion will meet the UK’s capacity demands. The cost to the Treasury, and therefore the taxpayer, for essential transport infrastructure upgrades into and around the expanded airport would also have to be considered as would the impact of increasing numbers of flights over the already very congested skies over South East England on our already stretched air traffic control systems.”

Hounslow Council will also have to consider the local impacts of further expansion; the number of homes to experience significant extra noise, especially in Cranford, Heston, Osterley, north Brentford and Isleworth; the A4 alignment past the airport, the added local road congestion, the need for further rail access to the airport and more.

Hounslow Post Office: Good News! Having been in regular contact with the Post Office since the closure or WH Smiths, they have recently confirmed that there is a successful applicant for Hounslow Post Office and they are now finalising the plans for the new branch. Post Office will share the details as soon as possible. Unfortunately there is still no news as the when the Chiswick post office will open.

The best part of my job is meeting local residents and hearing what matters to them. I’ve recently held three coffee mornings in Heston East, Hounslow Central, and Osterley wards where I picked up a range of local and issues to work on. I’m looking forward to continuing with these after the summer.

Isleworth & Syon School held an inspiring arts festival – a brilliant showcase for the incredible talents of the students’ artwork, mechanical designs, drama and music. It was good to see not only current students with their families, but many Year 6’s who are considering attending I&S in the Autumn.

To raise funds to improve the patient and staff environment at the new Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid, I abseiled down the side of Chelwest hospital. CW+ is the official charity of the trust that runs West Middlesex and Chelsea & Westminster Hospitals and plays a vital role in enhancing patient care, supporting NHS staff, and funding health innovation. The funds I raised will go to create a garden and installing art at the ADC, as well as funding a much-needed cardio-MRI Scanner and improving well-being support for the amazing hospital staff. The target of £1.5m for this has reached the half-way mark, so do help us reach the full amount!

It was an honour to attend the final day of the 3-day Pran Partishtha Mahotsav ceremony at the Sri Laxmi Narayan Temple in Hounslow; where the deities were inaugurated and consecrated in the newly finished first floor of the temple.

For devotees this marks a historic milestone for the temple, one of the largest Hindu temples in London and one which provides a vital spiritual cultural and community Centre for many local families.

Fair Shot FC is a football team whose team members have all been forced to flee war or persecution in their home countries and have come together through the positive impact football has had on their lives. They have been travelling to clubs across the country and teaming up with local fans for a day of football. I met them at a reception at Brentford FC where they celebrated the past season and launched their programme for 25/26, which I’m glad to say will include a women’s team.

Clayponds Gardens Community Fair was an opportunity for local families to enjoy a funfair, pet the farm animals and reptiles and buy from community groups’ fundraising stalls.

I also caught up with the staff of Hounslow Community Hubs. The hubs can be seen across the borough providing advice and information on everything from Benefits to social care.

Founded in 1793 Ormiston Wire in Isleworth is now run by 7th generation Mark Ormiston, producing specialist braided and twisted wires that are exported around the world to be used in everything from award-winning sculptures to oil tankers and weapons.

Mark showed me round their factory and the range of machines they use, some from the 50s to the most modern. Mark is particularly proud of their record on energy saving and recycling. For instance It takes a whole year to fill a skip as they re-use cardboard boxes, and they send unused wire for melting down. Mark’s staff are all long-standing and well-paid; and Mark would welcome applications for a couple of apprentices.

The Polish Community has been a significant presence in the UK since at least World War II. I attended the launch of the exhibition. “My Country is My Home: the Polish community in the UK” This fascinating visual and oral display is at Boston Manor House until the 1st March

With best wishes for a restful and enjoyable summer,