7th August: Barnet Heritage Walk
I joined the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Caroline Stock, other councillors, local ramblers and members of the public at the launch of Barnet Council’s Heritage Walks. I am an enthusiastic walker myself and the Heritage Walks are a great way to improve health and to learn more about the history of the Borough.
13th August: Anglo-Iranian rally in Trafalgar Square
I addressed around 3,000 Anglo-Iranians at a demonstration in central London protesting against against the Iranian government's human rights abuses and recent aggression. The Hendon constituency is home to the highest percentage of Anglo-Iranians in the UK and I am a longstanding supporter of the NCRI.
14th August: Speaking out against the Pentavia development
I wrote to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government asking that he reviews the Mayor of London's decision to allow the construction of 844 homes on the former Pentavia Retail Park site between the A1 and the M1 in Mill Hill.
19th August: India Independence Day celebrations
I was delighted to join Hendon constituents who were amongst hundreds of people coming together from across London to celebrate Indian Independence Day.
28th August: Meeting the Bishop of Truro to discuss religious freedom
I met the Bishop of Truro, Rt. Rev. Philip Mounstephen, to discuss his independent report - Review for the Foreign Secretary's Support for Persecuted Christians. As a Christian myself, I find it extremely concerning that nearly a quarter of a billion people are suffering persecution today because of their Christian faith.
30th August: Meeting Surfers Against Sewage
During Parliament's summer recess I took the opportunity to meet with environmental pressure group Surfers Against Sewage to discuss the amount of untreated sewage that is discharged into our coastal waters. Ever since I was employed as a beach lifeguard water quality has been very important to me.
3rd September: House of Commons - I asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is his Department's policy to fulfil the UK's obligations under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.
4th September: House of Commons - I asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care how much money the General Practice Resilience Programme will provide in the Barnet Clinical Commissioning Group area in the next 12 months
5th September: Supporting grandparents rights
I have been pressing the Government for a change to the Children’s Act 1989 to give the child a right in law to have a relationship with their grandparents and other members of their extended family. To support this I hosted a lobby event in Parliament, organised by the Hendon Grandparents Support Group, which was attended by grandparents from across the country, family lawyers and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen.
8th September: West Hendon community fun day
I was delighted to attend the West Hendon Residents’ Association community fun day. Having been elected as a councillor in Hendon in 2002 and then MP, I have been at the forefront of the efforts to bring about the regeneration for local people for seventeen years.
9th September: House of Commons - I asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care when he plans to publish the green paper on funding social care
10th September: Hosting Marie Curie dinner in Parliament
For the last three years I have hosted the Marie Curie Housebuilding Brain Game dinner in Parliament to celebrate the money that the event raises for the charity.
20th September: Opening of Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre
I attended the official opening of the brand new and state-of-the-art Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre. With public health receiving more consciousness, I am pleased that Barnet Council has invested in the health of its residents. Working in partnership with GLL will ensure that healthy activities will be affordable for everyone in a sporting activity that suits them.
National Day of Nepal celebrations
In the afternoon, I was delighted to join Deputy Mayor of Barnet Cllr Lachhya Gurung to celebrate the National Day of Nepal at the Nepalese Embassy in London
21st September: Colindale litter pick
I joined the Colindale Litter Pickers Association on a litter pick of Colindale Park during World Clean-Up Day events.
25th September: House of Commons - Speaking out against the Iran Nuclear Deal
My question to the Foreign Secretary on the issue of Iran:
It is four years since the JCPOA was implemented. Many of us were much against it at that time, but since then Iran has become more belligerent, not only engaging in attacks against our nationals, but harassing our police and transport and in cyber-attacks, even against this Parliament itself. Does the Foreign Secretary really believe that this is a country that wants to engage with the international community?
26th September: House of Commons - Calling for global action on climate change
During questions in the House of Commons, I asked the the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy what she is doing to encourage all countries to treat climate change as a priority.
