Richmond Park News: 2 May 2025

LOCAL ELECTIONS:

Last night, I appeared on Newsnight alongside Bridget Phillipson MP, Helen Whately MP and Professor John Curtice to discuss the projections for the local election results after the polls had just closed. The topic of the debate focused on whether this election result would mark the end of the two-party system which has dominated British Politics. 

At the time of writing this newsletter on late Friday afternoon, the Reform Party and the Liberal Democrats are the two leading parties for the most councillors elected. While, of course, not all Councils were up for election on Thursday, the projected losses for the Conservative and Labour Party show that voters are deserting the two biggest parties, and are looking for alternative options. 

I was disappointed to hear Professor John Curtice attempt to downplay my party’s achievement at the General Election and the positive projections for the local elections. The basis for his view was that the Reform Party has taken votes away from other major parties which have enabled the Liberal Democrats to gain more seats. However, I pointed out that I have been advocating for electoral reform throughout my time as an MP, and tactical voting has significantly disadvantaged the Liberal Democrats at previous elections. 

You can watch the full Newsnight episode by clicking here.

In the early hours of Friday morning and then again in the afternoon of the same day, I appeared on BBC’s panel for the live coverage of the results rolling in. The discussions about the fortunes of the five major parties contesting the election disappointed me, as the major parties’ representatives continued to argue amongst themselves without offering insight into why voters had rejected them at this election. 

While it would be remiss of me to not acknowledge the success of the Reform Party in the local elections and the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, I am sure that the increase in support for Nigel Farage and his party, will also be extremely concerning for many people. 

It was disappointing, but not surprising, to hear a co-guest on the panel, the former Deputy Leader of the Reform Party, Dr David Bull, say that he believed Councils could provide better results for the public by scaling back spending on diversity and inclusion. As an MP whose constituency crosses both Richmond and Kingston boroughs, I understand that Councils across the UK struggle with the financial responsibility of meeting important duties such as providing Adult Social Care for vulnerable people, and it is irresponsible to suggest otherwise.

PARKS POLICE DISBANDMENT: 

As regular readers of my newsletter will know, the Parks Police have been under the threat of being cut since the end of last year, and at the beginning of this week, this was confirmed to my office by the Metropolitan Police. 

As a consequence, our local neighbourhood teams will have to cover the duties which were previously the responsibility of the Parks Police from 1 November onwards, which will only serve to stretch our forces even further. The Parks Police team in Richmond Park do an excellent job of ensuring that ASB and criminal activity in the park is kept to a minimum, and their expertise of the area enables them to respond to emergency cases in a quick and efficient manner.

In my response to the Government’s Motion to approve the Police Grant Report in February, I stated that the government must provide more funding to the Metropolitan Police to ensure that cuts to important departments are not on the table. While I have welcomed an increase in annual funding provided by both this government and the Mayor’s Office, the commitments have not gone far enough as the Metropolitan Police still has a £260 million shortfall.

I receive emails everyday from concerned constituents to report crimes in the area, and it is vital that the government understands the impact that continuous cuts are having on our society. As such, I have written to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP, to highlight the gutting of policing services in our constituency and to call for a meeting to discuss my urgent concerns.

You can read my letter by clicking here.

DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS AND TRADE QUESTIONS:

There are a number of challenges facing our local businesses, and a completely avoidable obstacle that the former government agreed to is the additional red-tape and import duties following Britain's exit from the European Union.

This is a matter that I am extremely passionate about, and it is always immensely frustrating to hear that businesses are struggling as a result of decisions made by politicians. Our role should be to create an environment in which businesses can thrive, but this was not the case with the Brexit trade deal. 

In Business and Trade Questions, I raised a business in my constituency, Sheen Uncovered, who experienced cash flow difficulties as a result of having to pay import duties upfront. This duty ranges between 6-12%, and exists as an additional unnecessary barrier to trade. I therefore challenged the minister to take steps to reduce the import costs with our European partners.

It was refreshing to hear the Minister, Douglas Alexander MP, admit that there are a number of barriers to trade with the EU which were imposed following the former government’s disastrous Brexit deal, and that discussions are ongoing with our European partners to improve trading relations for our businesses.

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

PUBLIC AUTHORITIES (FRAUD, ERROR AND RECOVERY) BILL: REMAINING STAGES:

On Tuesday I spoke in the remaining stages of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. 

While this Bill does make positive provisions which cracks down on instances of fraud which are becoming more prevalent in our society, it also includes serious breaches regarding people’s right to privacy.

I therefore spoke in favour of an amendment which would remove the requirement for banks to look into relevant claimants’ bank accounts. This Bill would enable the government to have direct access to individuals' bank accounts, even enabling the DWP to withdraw funds or revoke driving licenses. This concern is especially serious when it comes to vulnerable groups - such as the elderly, disabled, and those living in poverty - who could face devastating consequences from wrongful penalties.

I also spoke in favour of an amendment which would have required the government to conduct a report of public authority fraud highlighting any errors which would have allowed for greater scrutiny and accountability in relation to public spending. 

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

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE:

In my capacity as a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), I attended a session on Monday scrutinising the defence budget, procurement, and military support for Ukraine.

In February, the Prime Minister announced that defence spending will rise to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027, but the committee asserted that the lack of an Equipment Plan could be problematic and raises concerns about government transparency. The committee session explored what issues have affected previous plans in terms of the defence budget and personnel retention, and what lessons can be learned for future Equipment Plans.

I asked the witnesses what lessons the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have learned from procuring equipment for Ukraine. Andy Start, CEO of Defence and Equipment Support for the MoD, responded to state that the most positive lesson that the MoD has taken from the conflict is the importance of British support to our allies. Andy Start referenced that in a meeting with members from the MoD and President Zelensky, the president had thanked Britain for our support, and stated that if it were not for the allied resistance, Russia would have been able to take Ukraine. 

Andy expanded on his response to reference the importance of procuring a mixture of high-end capabilities, as well as affordable mass. It was positive to hear a reflection regarding Britain’s efforts of support and to hear about the lessons that we have learned as a nation which can be used to improve our defensive capabilities on the global stage.

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

MEETING WITH BUSINESSES IN BARNES:

On Tuesday, I was pleased to join business owners and retailers, alongside the Barnes Community Association and the local police team, to speak about the ongoing issues that businesses are facing, in particular on changes to business rates that have led to soaring bills and uncertainty over their future viability.

Over the past decade in particular small businesses on our high streets have faced multiple challenges with little support being provided by the government. With mounting energy prices, changes to business rates relief, increasing rates of shoplifting and environmental issues including litter and private hire bike use and parking, the government must do better to support our businesses, many of which have had to consider the sad possibility of closing down. 

Businesses are often more than just people’s revenue stream, they are people’s lives and the dreams of running a thriving and loved business is what all owners strive for.

Continuing from my meetings with East Sheen businesses in early April, I will be raising the above issues with the relevant authorities and in Parliament to ensure that businesses in Richmond Park receive the support they deserve.

KINGSTON BOROUGH BUSINESS AWARDS:

Last week, I attended the Kingston Borough Business Awards. These awards celebrate the excellent work and entrepreneurship of people working in businesses in and around the borough over the past year. 

There was a list of different award categories, and it was excellent to hear about the hard work that many of the businesses undertake which not only drives profit for them, but also benefits the wider community.

You can sign-up to the Kingston Borough Business Awards’ (KBBA) newsletter by clicking here, and KBBA’s website encourages local businesses to start planning for next year's awards already!

FOOTBALL FOUNDATION DROP-IN:

The Football Foundation is a charity which is funded via the Premier League, the government and the FA, and it aims to provide sufficient grassroots funding to ensure that the sport is accessible to everyone. 

Our constituency is home to so many excellent grassroots teams, and it is vital that pitches and facilities are maintained to a standard which enables their growth. 

It was also interesting to talk about the work that the Football Foundation does to bridge the gap between Sunday league clubs and professional youth academies. The gap in quality between these clubs is growing, and the void is being filled by private coaching. While this of course should not be discouraged, it is important that people of all backgrounds have as equal an opportunity as possible to follow their dreams of becoming a footballer, and funding grassroots football is key to this.

It was also a pleasure to speak with former Chelsea and England footballer, Graeme Le Saux, see picture below. It was refreshing to hear his passion for the game, and to learn about the positive impact that football had on his life growing-up when he was experiencing challenges. Graeme Le Saux rightly stated that sport should be recognised for the life-skills it teaches, and also the outlet that it provides to people to escape from the difficulties of their lives when they are on the pitch.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

RICHMOND TRANSPORT STRATEGY FORUM:

Richmond Council is inviting residents to attend a public forum regarding the borough’s long-term transport plans. The Transport Strategy 2040 outlines the Council’s plans for more sustainable, inclusive, and accessible transport by 2040, and the forum will give residents an opportunity to hear more about the strategy and raise their ideas.

The forum will take place on Thursday 8 May at York House in Twickenham from 18:30-20:00. You can find out more information about the strategy’s priorities here, and register to attend the session here.

KINGSTON 2025:

2025 marks the 1100th anniversary of the crowning of King Athelstan, the first King of a united England, right in the heart of Kingston. In celebration, Kingston Council is organising a major sixth-month programme of cultural and arts events, including dance and music performances, art exhibitions, film projects, and more.

The launch event for Kingston 2025 takes place this Saturday 3 May in Kingston Market Place, and the details for the events and exact locations can be seen in the image below. The celebration will run from May-October 2025, and you can find out more about the celebrations over the next six months by clicking here.