Newsletter - April 2026

International Women’s Day enabled us to celebrate and be grateful for the contribution to local and to national life of so many amazing women. With Seema Malhotra MP, I hosted an event in Hounslow where we recognised the achievements of around 40 local Women.  And, in Westminster, the Speaker hosted the annual 100 Women in Westminster celebration.   

War in Iran:  I welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement confirming that the UK is not going to get dragged into the wider conflict in Iran, initiated by a US President who has no plan and no strategy.

Keir Starmer was right to also mention the importance of learning the lessons from the war in Iraq. In both cases, the people of those countries were living under despotic regimes but it is not clear how the US bombing Iran will actually change the Iranian leadership, who remain in place. It is up to the people of Iran to decide their own fate and the future of their country.

Meanwhile, my team and I have been supporting constituents and providing advice to those stranded in the Middle East.  

Immigration Changes: Some aspects of the proposals announced in November affect a large number of my constituents, many of whom have contacted me. 

I have written both separately and jointly with 100 other Labour MPs to the Home Secretary to ask the Government to re-think some aspects of “earned settlement”. I believe these proposals risk moving the goalposts for those who have been here building a life and working in sectors where their skills and hard work are needed; they pay taxes and contribute to the economy. Introducing a 15 or 20 year wait for earned settlement also risks having an impact on their children. I raised my concerns about the potential impact of the changes in the Chamber 

Choice at the End of Life  As a co-sponsor of Kim Leadbeater’s bill, I am disappointed that, despite the Commons supporting it, a small number of opponents in the Lords have effectively talked it out. (Unlike the Commons, the Lords has no time-limit to these procedures.)  Whilst I respect those with an ethical objection to such a law, I believe that we need to reform the law so that people who have a terminal illness with less than 3 months to live are able to have a choice towards the end of their life.  

I was particularly struck with Esther Rantzen’s phrase in her recent BBC interview “I want a long life and a quick death”.  I will continue to work in Parliament to support a the law-change I believe is needed.  

---

MY WESTMINSTER NEWS

Lobular Breast Cancer: Difficult to diagnose, this cancer rarely forms a lump and can be hard to detect on mammograms and other imaging. This means that early diagnosis is challenging. I met with campaigners to show my support for Lobular Breast Cancer UK's call for earlier diagnosis and targeted treatment in the UK breast cancer treatment guidelines. 

Safety of Children in Nurseries: Along with affected parents whose children had been at the now closed nursery in Twickenham and Munira Wilson MP, I met Minister Olivia Bailey to discuss the use of CCTV.  Parents are not only urging her to ensure that it’s compulsory, but that guidelines and OFSTED practice clearly define the appropriate use of CCTV.  

Leasehold: I attended a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Leasehold Reform to listen to the Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook, talk about the Governments ongoing work to reform leasehold.  I represent a large number of leaseholders, many of whom are having to pay more and more each year in service charges, building insurance and other costs. I welcomed the Government’s announcement earlier this year that they will cap ground rent and introduce more transparency around service charge fees but I know that there is more to do. I will keep working on leasehold issues and always appreciate the chance to hear from leaseholders locally.   

Social Media and under 16s: In learning the lessons from the Under16s social media ban in Australia, it was very helpful to meet Dr Danielle Einstein, a leading authority on the link between technology use and anxiety. 

Additionally, my team are currently analysing the results from my survey around the potential for a ban on social media.

Margaret Bondfield was Britain's first woman cabinet minister.  Nan Sloane came to Parliament to talk about her book that draws on newly uncovered archival material to provide a reassessment of Margaret Bondfield's influential life and contribution “that restores Bondfield to her rightful and prominent place in British political history”. 

It was an honour to host the prominent Pakistani Punjabi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in Parliament.

Organised in collaboration with Isleworth-based musicians Raja Kaasheff and Rubayyat Jahan, the event celebrated the latter and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's new duet as well as the role music plays in bringing people together across borders and across communities.

I met with Heathrow Southern Rail to discuss their proposal of rail access to Heathrow from Surrey and Hampshire (and from London Waterloo, too). Not only would this rail link give better public transport access to thousands of passengers and staff each day, but it would also reduce congestion on local roads and the M25.

Student Loans and the "Maternity Penalty" It's not fair that women graduates who take maternity leave face a longer and greater pay-back on their student loan as the interest still increases despite their earnings dropping below the threshold whilst on maternity leave.

After raising this issue in the Commons and writing to the Skills Minister, I am hopeful the government will address this unfairness. 

LETTERS 

I wrote to the Government about the need to provide funding to the BBC World Service which serves millions of people across the world. The World Service has frontline reporting from Sudan, Afghanistan, the West Bank and other parts of the world where it serves as an important voice for human rights. I was pleased that, following my letter, the Government announced an increase in funding for the World Service. 

I also wrote to the Veterans Minister to encourage the Government to engage closely with Nepal’s new leadership on issues impacting the Gurkha community here in the UK. Hounslow has long been home to a large number of Gurkhas; I hope the Government can work collaboratively to ensure they have the support they need.   

TRANSPORT

Green Signals – the leading Rail Podcast – gave me a chance to explain the role of the Committee and some of the work we’ve been doing.  The interview is available on all main podcast sites, and here on YouTube 

Improving Transport Accessibility has long been a passion for me and I led the Commons debate on the Committee’s “Access Denied” report and the Government’s response.  

Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles:  We have just completed the evidence sessions of our Inquiry, so it was helpful to meet Unite members in the trade who are keen that we recommend the end of cross-border hiring to ensure that this important transport service remains a safe part of our transport infrastructure. 

NATS (the National Air Traffic Control Service) is part of our key national infrastructure. A Parliamentary visit gave me a chance to learn how they keep the skies above us safe. I had a chance to guide planes towards Luton airport (on a simulator in the training room!) 

MY CONSTITUENCY NEWS

Brentford FC Community Sports Trust (BFCST) do amazing work to support young people across West and their impact on young people, families, and the wider community has been huge. I’ve been so pleased to support BFCST for a number of years - so I was pleased to accept their invitation to become one of their Founding Supporters.   

Park Road Allotments; the long-term future of the allotments has been secured with a new agreement between Hounslow Council and the Duke of Northumberland Estate, to be retained as community open space. Well done to the Isleworth Society, local residents, plot holders, and campaigners who worked together to save the allotments through repeated planning applications and appeals. In addition, Councillors Salman Shaheen, Sue Sampson, and John Stroud-Turp worked so hard to save the allotments.  

Ramadan: I really enjoyed visiting Iftars across our constituency to meet with constituents in the run up to Ramadan. The simple act of sharing a meal, sitting down with friends and strangers, and learning more about another faith group is something that cannot be overvalued. I wrote about this in my column for the Hounslow Herald - you can read it here. 

Isleworth Crown Court: Following my visit to the courts in February, I wrote to the Courts Minister, Sarah Sackman, raising concerns about broken lifts and heating, roof leaks, and inadequate disabled access.  In response she has confirmed that, thanks to the £287m the Government has committed to address chronic underfunding in court buildings, the repairs at Isleworth will be addressed this year.  

BUSINESS VISITS

I always value these as they give me an insight into the issues facing local businesses, and are a way to champion them and celebrate their successes.  

Many of us took our children to Snakes and Ladders over the last 25 or so years and it was great to see the many changes there.  It was helpful to meet the owner-founder and team members to learn of their plans and challenges.  

The Osterley Garden Centre on Syon Lane is thriving, employing many local people and helping us with our gardens and balconies.  My visit also enabled me to get some of my gardening questions answered! 

I also met a local resident hoping to manufacture batteries for homes and other buildings to store excess generated electricity e.g. solar power. 

Cllr Jagdish Sharma:  It was with great sadness that we learned that Hounslow’s longest serving Councillor and the UK’s first Asian Mayor, passed away this month. Jagdish was a friend and a long serving colleague of mine at Hounslow Council, he was a giant of Hounslow politics and made a huge contribution to our local life.  

First elected in 1974 Jagdish became the UK’s first Asian Mayor in 1979. He was Hounslow’s Council leader 2010-14 and I was his deputy for three years. During that time, we worked together on important projects including ensuing all low-paid Council staff and those of all contractors received no less than the London Living wage, we started on the regeneration of Hounslow, Feltham, and Brentford Town Centres and ensured that key frontline services such as libraries remained available to all.  

I saw first-hand Jagdish’s principled leadership and his firm dedication to representing all of Hounslow's communities and his commitment to civic life. I will remember his gentle kindness and support. His legacy will live on across the Borough. 

Cllr Junue Miah – passed away after a short illness.  As well as being Hounslow's current Deputy Mayor, Junue owned the popular Spice of India restaurant on Whitton High Street, was the Deputy General Secretary of the UK Bangladesh Caterers Association and Secretary of the West London Bangladesh Welfare Association.  He will be deeply missed by so many. 

With best wishes,

My monthly reports are on my website: Ruth Cadbury MP | Labour MP | Brentford & Isleworth Constituency  

I also report regularly on my Facebook page and via Instagram @RuthCadbury and Bluesky  (@RuthCadbury)

If you would like to raise issues with me, please email ruthcadburymp@parliament.uk  Do include your address, a quick summary of the issue (including a reference number where relevant. For full details of my questions and speeches in Parliament, get regular updates about my Parliamentary activities TheyWorkForYou (votes) or see Hansard (speeches) & on YouTube

To contact me, as your MP, please use ruthcadburymp@parliament.uk  Do include your full address and contact details.