Newsletter - March 2026

It is with great sadness that we learned that Cllr Junue Meah passed away this past weekend after a short illness. As well as being Hounslow's Deputy Mayor, Junue also owned the popular Spice of India restaurant on Whitton High Street, and was the Deputy General Secretary of the UK Bangladesh Caterers Association with which he had long been involved. My deepest condolences to his family and colleagues.

The Middle East:  As I write we are several days into the horror of missiles striking across the Middle East.  I support neither the offensive action taken by the US and Israel, nor the subsequent response by Iran.   

The past (such as the Iraq War of 2003) tells us that actions like this trigger long-term disturbance across the world; humanitarian, economic and political. The PM has rightly said that the UK did not join the offensive action as it would have been a breach of international law. It is this very law which underpins the rules based international order that existed from 1945. This has existed for a reason; it provided stability, certainty and security for much of the world.  He remembers the mistakes of Iraq and conferment that any UK actions must always have both a lawful basis and a viable thought through plan – two things apparently missing from President Trump’s analysis.    

Meanwhile, my team are working with the UK Foreign Office to support constituents and their families stuck in the Gulf and needing to get home. 

By-election: Naturally I’m disappointed by the result in the Denton & Gorton by-election – where the excellent Labour candidate polled behind two parties for whom rhetoric is easy but their experience of delivery in power has been hopeless where they have run local Councils.   In contrast, Labour’s Angeliki Stogia led an excellent campaign addressing the delivery of the Labour Government since 2024. Successes in the past couple of weeks include;  Inflation and borrowing down, retails sales and business confidence up, and the UK has a record budget surplus 

On top of this, those on the minimum wage are seeing an increase, energy bills will be down £100 in April and half a million children are being lifted out of poverty. 

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITY (SEND) – GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION:   In February Education Secretary Bridget Philipson unveiled a White Paper and national consultation on the future of SEND.  Every week I visit schools where headteachers and their staff tell me the current system is not fit for purpose, serving neither the children with SEND nor the rest of the school community, while parents of children with additional needs tell of their frustration in getting the support their children need.  Children must wait to be assessed for their EHCP, which will determine their needs.  Too often further resources are going into the adversarial tribunal process – all taking up specialist skills and resources which should go to support the children and the school at the time they need them.  I do encourage constituents to participate in the Government Consultation: SEND Reform consultation, Putting Children & Young People First: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first 

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 MY WESTMINSTER NEWS  

At Health Questions I asked about the variable experiences of treatment for menopause and perimenopause symptoms by local constituents, and particularly south Asian Women.  The Minister, Karin Smyth assured me that the issues of variable training of GPs are being addressed and best practice is being shared.  

Secretary of State for Health Wes Streeting and the Minister for Public Health Ashley Dalton launched the Governments National Cancer Plan, and I met them both to find out more. The extra £2.3 billion investment from Government will deliver 9.5 million additional tests by 2029 along with investment in more scanners, digital technology and automated testing along with specialist care centres for those with rare cancers. Community Diagnostic Centres, such as the centre being built at West Mid, will bring testing and treatment closer to people

I hosted a Westminster Insight Day in Parliament to bring together local young people interested in learning more about politics and the role of an MP. I also asked them to advise me on social media policy and how to improve political engagement and communication with young people. This generated some great ideas that my team and I have already started work on. 

The BBC World Service plays an invaluable role at a time when the world is more dangerous and more divided, offering a trusted and much needed voices from conflict zones around the World, having reported from Afghanistan to Sudan. I wrote to the Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper urging the Government to act to keep its funding.  

Racism in Football: After 4 Premier League players took to social media to call out the racist abuse they had received, I joined over 100 MPs from across the House in writing to the CEO of the Football Association to demand the FA takes stronger action over racism in the game.  We also expressed our disappointment that Sir Jim Ratcliff was not given stronger sanctions by the FA for saying the UK risks being “colonised by immigrants”. 

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MY CONSTITUENCY NEWS

Kew Bridge and Gunnersbury Stations.  We’ve seen the benefits the lifts have made at Syon Lane and Isleworth Station, so I’m really pleased the Government has confirmed that Kew Bridge and Gunnersbury stations have been awarded funding by the Department of Transport for the next stage of planning.   I discussed the details of each with Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, as both present more complex practical and funding challenges. 

At their meeting, local secondary head teachers raised their concerns with me about the withdrawal of the Police/School liaison officers.  These officers have been providing a valuable link between the schools, youngsters at risk of exploitation, and their families, to ensure these young people remain safe and stay in school. I wrote to both the Met Commissioner and London's Deputy Mayor for Policing to express both my own and local headteachers' concerns about the changes in the role of these officers. 

I visited West Middlesex hospital to learn how the Government’s extra £22 billion investment is making a difference. Thanks to this investment in our workforce and new technology we have seen 35,000 extra appointments locally - helping to bring waiting list down.  The new A&E waiting room is a great improvement, and it was good to hear that at West Mid patients are not waiting in ambulances or receiving corridor care. 

I was particularly pleased to visit the Early Pregnancy unit and to meet with members of the women’s health team to learn about the support they provide for menopause, endometriosis and developing improved treatment for fibroids.  

Richmond Furniture Scheme is a local charity selling donated furniture and refurbished appliances to three types of customers; those in receipt of a grant such as after being rehoused; a 25% discount for anyone those on benefits, students, blue light workers, carers and care leavers; and then anyone seeking to buy pre-used furniture or appliances. You can search and buy on-line, and they provide free delivery, and pick-up for donations.  At my visit, CEO Simon Westgarth told me that RFS is taking over the same service in Hounslow borough following the demise of Hounslow Furniture Project, and are working with Hounslow Council to take over the premises in Isleworth.  For more information: https://www.rfsonline.co.uk/ 

Isleworth Councillors Shaheen and Stroud-Turp, local residents and I joined one of Mark’s (Thai Upon Thames) regular litter-picks along the Twickenham Road.  We collected many bags of litter, mainly drink bottles & cans thrown into bushes.  

At my visit to the new Pure Gym in Brentford, off the Great West Road, I had a chance to see and hear about the facilities, meet the staff and see the women’s workout space. More people across Brentford will now be able to benefit from access to another gym- they employ local people and help keep us fit!  

Faith Communities: Representing such a diverse community of communities means I am invited to our numerous places of worship at auspicious occasions.  In February I was honoured to attend the Community Iftar at Hounslow Jamia Masjid along with Councillors, and representatives of local faith and community groups. We joined local Muslims to learn more of the discipline and purpose of Ramadan, and to break the fast with dates and delicious food.  I passed on the concerns of the Prime Minister following the foiled attempt to attack worshippers at Manchester central Mosque earlier that week. I also confirmed that the Government has announced £40 million funding for additional security at mosques, Muslim schools and community centres, and the Government will continue to act to ensure communities are able to live without fear. 

I was also delighted to visit the Laxmi Narayan Hindu temple in Hounslow for the Hindu holy day of Shri Maha Shrivatri. 

Finally, I visited the Dene Centre following their extensive refurbishment of what was once a pub at the top of South Street in Isleworth.  It is now a thriving Muslim community space. I was impressed at the transformation the community have made and was shown the spaces for worship, learning and welfare support by community members. 

Barristers are naturally very concerned about proposed reductions in jury trials so at their invitation I visited Isleworth Crown Court, to understand their fears.  I also saw first-hand the legacy that 14 years of a lack of investment has had on courts such as Isleworth where issues of limited accessibility, broken lifts and poor heating are really impacting people’s access to justice- whether that’s for victims, witnesses or defendants.  I was therefore really pleased that Justice Secretary David Lammy has committed funding for repairs to Crown Courts, as well as removing the cap on sitting days, a major cause of the delays to trials. 

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

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