Richmond Park News: 18 June 2021

I was truly delighted to hear that as of today everyone over the age of 18 everywhere in the United Kingdom is invited to book their Covid-19 vaccination.

It is an astounding achievement to have offered the vaccine to every single British adult just six months after the world's first vaccine injection. I offer my heartiest congratulations and my deepest thanks to the NHS staff, local councils, and the tens of thousands of volunteers across the country who made this happen. Our scientists led the way in developing the vaccine, and we carried on leading the way with our targeted and rapid rollout.

If you are eligible for the vaccine, please do book your appointment here or make use of one of the many walk-in clinics now available in the area. You can find a list of walk-in vaccine clinics in South West London (Including in Harlequins in Twickenham, Kingston University and Queen Mary's in Roehampton) here. Please note that supply is limited and will be on a first come, first served basis, so booking an appointment may be more convenient.

Those who are in their 40s and have already had one vaccination may be called early for their second doses. Please do take up this offer - the second jab confers more protection from the virus than the first.

I urge everyone in the constituency to get vaccinated and do your part to stop new variants from arising and spreading. If you are in your thirties or forties and have not yet had your first jab, I ask you to please prioritise doing so, for your own sake and that of your fellow residents.

SCRUTINISING THE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH AUSTRALIA

During yesterday's debate on the Government's trade deal with Australia, I took the opportunity to ask the Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss how a trade agreement with a country 9000 miles away helps us reach our climate change targets. We should be reducing our food and goods miles if we are to reduce our carbon emissions to the levels needed to stop climate change.

I am sorry to say that the secretary of state's answer was not quite to the point. You can see the full text of the debate here. Or you can watch a clip of my question here.

CALLING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS FIRE SAFETY AND THE CLADDING SCANDAL

Earlier this week I co-signed a letter with my Liberal Democrat colleagues urging the Government to take the steps they should have taken years ago in response to the Grenfell tragedy. With almost a million Britons still living in buidlings we know to be unsafe, another tragedy could happen any day.