Richmond Park News: 12 December 2025

PRIME MINISTER’S QUESTIONS:

After being drawn in the ballot for my second Prime Minister’s Question since the 2024 General Election, I was considering a range of topics to speak on. This included national matters such as the use of proportional representation in our voting system, London matters such the increase in travel fares, or local matters, such as Hammersmith Bridge or the proposal for a third runway at Heathrow.

However, the matter that I have been contacted most about over the past month is the government’s changes to pathways to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). The Home Secretary’s announcements last month that the UK will be extending the qualifying period from 5 to 10 years for most migrants before they can apply for settled status will disrupt thousands of UK residents’ lives. 

The majority of migrants come to the UK to seek better lives for themselves and their families, and the lack of clarity regarding these changes will be extremely destabilising to their plans and future in the UK.

In my question to the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, I raised my concerns that the government has lost sight of the real life impact that Labour's changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain will have on working people living here legally, and I urged the Prime Minister to provide clarity for UK residents on the transitional arrangements that would be provided to them under the new changes.

While the Prime Minister offered warm words that refugees are welcome in the UK, I was disappointed that he did not respond to my question directly.

You can watch a full clip of my question and the Prime Minister’s response by clicking here.

EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS BILL:

On Monday, in my Business Spokesperson capacity, I spoke in the most recent stage of the Employment Rights Bill as it returned to the House of Commons. I once again reiterated many of the ways in which the Liberal Democrats welcome this Bill, including through boosting paternity leave and better support for carers. 

I also welcomed recent changes which the government has introduced, thanks to pressure from my Liberal Democrats colleagues in the Lords, on seasonal work and changes to day one rights. These are important changes which will give businesses greater clarity and flexibility when hiring. 

I did, however, raise concerns about the last minute change to the compensation cap for unfair dismissal claims while maintaining opposition to changes to strike ballot thresholds and political fund donations. 

You can see my full speech here. 

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES QUESTION:

The government promised to develop and release a strategy to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the Spring of 2025, then the Summer of this year, and last month, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips MP, stated that the strategy ‘will be out very soon.’

During Women and Equalities Questions this week, I specifically asked the Under Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Davies-Jones MP, what steps she is taking with the Home Office to tackle technologically facilitated abuse. The domestic abuse charity, Refuge, has experienced a 62% increase in referrals regarding this type of abuse, which can take the form of stalking via tracking devices, non-consensual sharing of intimate images and recording devices being used by abusers to monitor victims.

I was pleased to hear that the expected due date for the VAWG strategy to be released has now been upgraded to ‘‘imminently,’ and that there will be a specific reference to tackling technologically facilitated abuse in the strategy.

You can watch a clip of my question and the minister’s response by clicking here.

OPPOSITION DAY DEBATE:

On Wednesday I spoke in the Conservative Opposition Day Debate on Seasonal Workers. During my speech, I highlighted that training, hiring and retaining a skilled workforce are issues affecting businesses across the country. 

Many businesses, such as in the farming and agricultural sector, depend on seasonal workers, and I raised the fact that obstacles to hiring seasonal workers could have a significant impact on these business sectors.

We are currently experiencing a practically stagnant economy with business confidence down, and unemployment up. This issue is particularly impactful for young people, many of whom traditionally found their first jobs in the hospitality sector, the largest employer of young people in the UK. However, with this sector struggling to employ new workers, damage is being done to the prospects of our youth, struggling with unemployment levels, and will be detrimental to our broader economy.

I also raised other key issues affecting businesses, including Cost of Employment, our trading relationship with Europe, business rate reform and the rise in national insurance contributions for employers. 

You can watch a clip of my speech by clicking here.

WESTMINSTER HALL DEBATE ON THE ROLE OF FAIRTRADE:

On Thursday, I was pleased to be spokesperson for the Westminster Hall debate on the role of fairtrade in UK business and trade. 

Fairtrade is a global system that connects farmers and workers from developing countries with consumers and businesses across the world to change trade for the better.

For more than three decades, fairtrade has been making an impact on the way trade works. They believe that every farmer and worker should have access to a better way of doing business, and a better way of living.

I highlighted, in my speech, that in our recent manifesto, Liberal Democrats  committed to introducing a general duty of care for the environment and human rights in business operations and supply chains. I also emphasised that fairtrade certification has shown time and time again that when we create systems that empower producers, protect rights and support sustainable agriculture, everyone benefits, farmers, consumers and businesses alike.  

You can see a clip of my contribution here. 

MEETING WITH HEATHROW REPRESENTATIVES:

On Tuesday, I met with Heathrow’s Director of Carbon Strategy to discuss Heathrow’s plans for a third runway after their business proposal was selected by the government as their preferred option.

While it will come as no surprise to read, I am completely opposed to the government’s plans for a third runway, as Heathrow’s proposal will see the M25 being dug-up, an increase of nearly 300,000 planes in and out of the airport, with this coming at unavoidable social and environmental consequences. 

While it was interesting to hear about the mitigations that Heathrow will be attempting to put in place to limit environmental degradation and noise pollution, these issues simply cannot be effectively mitigated by 2035, at which time Heathrow expects their third runway to be operational.

ST ANN’S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS:

It was a pleasure to attend St Ann’s Church’s switching-on of their Christmas lights last Sunday. 

The beautiful lights really bring a Christmas atmosphere to the area, and I would like to thank Father James and the local community for welcoming me at this event.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY:

Last Saturday was ‘Small Business Saturday’ in the UK, and I marked this day by joining East Sheen’s Local Ward Councillors, Cllr Julia Cambridge, Cllr Margaret Dane and Cllr Zoe McLeod, as well as Richmond Council’s Lead Member for Business and Growth, Cllr Phil Giesler, on a visit to Sheen Uncovered in East Sheen.

Jackie, the owner of Sheen Uncovered, was nominated for the 2025 Women of the Year Awards, while her business was highlighted in Small Biz UK. It was excellent to visit her store last week and to congratulate her on these fantastic achievements.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

THAMES WATER WORKS:

I wanted to update residents on some essential refurbishment works due to begin shortly on 59 Trinity Church Road in Richmond.

The first stage involves detailed site investigations and environmental surveys so engineers can fully assess the condition of the shaft and its surrounding area. These non-intrusive surveys are already underway.

More intrusive investigations, including trial holes and two boreholes to understand the soil conditions, will begin on Monday 5 January 2026 and are expected to take around four weeks. You may also see some initial fencing deliveries arriving from Friday 2 January 2026. 

Working hours for these surveys will be 7:30-18:30 Monday to Friday with noisier activity limited to 8:00-18:00, and Saturdays if required 8:00-13:00. 

CHRISTMAS CARD CREATION:

On Thursday 18 December, between 16:30-20:30, The Bentall Centre in Kingston Town Centre will be hosting a workshop for adults to take part in making Christmas cards.

The session is free, and participants are supplied with the material to make colourful and creative cards.

If you wish to learn more about this workshop, you can do so by clicking here.