Richmond Park News: 23 January 2026

SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR UNDER 16s:

This week the House of Lords voted in favour of banning under 16s from having access to social media. 

The exposure of young people to graphic and inappropriate content is of serious concern to me, and the Liberal Democrats have long-been raising the alarm on social media harms as a public health crisis.

Over the past two weeks, I have received over 1,200 emails on this issue, so I know how much it means to local residents.  I will be hosting an online meeting to hear more about people’s views on the subject, and to answer any questions that people may have. 

The Q&A session will be held on Wednesday, 4 February, at 19:30-20:30.

If you are interested in taking part in this meeting, or just wish to listen to the views of other residents, you can register by clicking on the following link.

FREE SENTENCING REMARKS FOR ALL VICTIMS OF CRIME:

On Tuesday, I was delighted to hear the government announce an amendment to the Sentencing Bill which will introduce a right for all victims to access a transcript of their sentencing remarks, free of charge. This is an extension to the announcement last year which enabled victims of sexual assault to receive free sentencing remarks transcripts.

While I brought this campaign to Parliament, many campaign groups and victims have fought for free sentencing remarks alongside me. It has been a privilege to amplify the voices of victims, and I would like to especially thank my constituent, Juliana Terlizzi, who bravely shared her story and permitted me to raise her case in Parliament on behalf of thousands of other people who have been in her position.

In response to this latest announcement, I thanked the Minister and everybody involved in bringing the legislation to this stage. This amendment is a huge step forward for victims of all kinds, and I am really pleased to see the government right this injustice which has burdened victims.

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

WESTMINSTER HALL DEBATE ON THE ROLE OF THE NHS IN ASSISTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE:

One of the most heart breaking casework issues that myself and my team assists with are domestic abuse cases. I always sympathise deeply with victims of abuse, and so often these individuals feel trapped by their partners and feel that there is no way to escape.

The NHS has more contact with people experiencing domestic abuse than any other service, and therefore, Tuesday’s debate on the role of medical professionals in assisting victims of abuse was extremely important. 

While death is tragically the end-result of too many domestic abuse cases, there will have been a point during almost every single case in which a step could have been taken to better support the victim. 

A report commissioned by Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse underscored this fact, as of the 47 reviews of deaths related to domestic abuse published in 2024, 89% contained reports of an instance in which our health system had the opportunity to step-in and do more to help.

While domestic abuse training is mandatory in the social care system, the same training is not made available to all NHS staff members. Improving training for our frontline services so they feel confident and equipped to assist those who confide in them is absolutely pivotal.

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

THE SALE OF FIREWORKS:

Over national holidays, in particular following Guy Fawkes night, my inbox is inundated with residents calling for fireworks to be banned. As the petition to ‘limit the sale of fireworks to those running local council approved events only’ reached 194,379 signatures, a debate on the topic was triggered in Parliament, which I responded to on behalf of the Liberal Democrats in my role as Business Spokesperson.

My speech began by remarking on the high level of turnout by MPs, as this was the highest attendance I had ever seen in a Westminster Hall Debate. The primary concern raised to me regarding the use of fireworks is the impact that the noise disturbance has on people’s pets, and this is one which I very much sympathise with.

In addition to this, I raised testimony from PTSD survivors, as the loud bangs can be a trigger for many veterans, and I encouraged users of fireworks to be mindful of the impact that these noises can have on those who served our country.

You can view a short clip of my speech by clicking here.

URGENT QUESTION REGARDING BUSINESS RATES:

On Monday I spoke in response to an Urgent Question to the Department of Business and Trade regarding the rumoured changes to business rates for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. 

In my remarks, I highlighted that many businesses are still struggling with sky-high energy costs that the government has failed to get to grips with, while these businesses will also be managing concerns about the recent changes to valuations, leading in many cases to massive increases in business rates. 

I asked the Minister what steps he is taking to give hope to the small and medium businesses on our high streets that are wondering whether they can continue, and I pressed the government on the measures that they are taking to support our entrepreneurs, who are questioning whether the market environment will reward them for taking a risk.

You can watch my speech by clicking here.

CABINET OFFICE ORAL QUESTION:

The role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should play in our society is one which is becoming of increasing importance with the rapid development of technology. 

The unreliability of relying on AI for information was displayed last week, as the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police admitted that his force had used AI to come to their verdict that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should be banned from attending their European game away to Aston Villa.

As the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones MP, made a speech on Tuesday in which he laid out his vision for the future of the Civil Service, which included cuts to personnel with a digital transformation.

While the Civil Service shouldn’t be bloated, I was surprised to hear the Minister speak so brazenly about wanting to sack workers who help our country function - especially when AI has proven to still be in relative early stages of testing for decision making functions.

As such, I asked Darren Jones to clarify whether he plans to replace diligent Civil Servants with artificial intelligence. Frustratingly, the Minister skilfully dodged the question, but in his response, he incorrectly alluded to governmental departments not using AI in decision making matters, which, as revealed by Written Questions I submitted last week, is not the case. I have since followed-up with a letter to the Cabinet Office to request additional clarification.

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

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION ORAL QUESTION:

Last Friday, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) published a report, which I contributed towards, regarding the financial sustainability of children’s care homes.

I have received casework regarding oversight of children’s care homes, and the PAC session which I led on underscored the need for there to be greater financial oversight of private companies, which account for 84% of the children’s homes in the UK.

I therefore asked the Minister, Josh MacAlister MP, what further steps the government plans to take to ensure that children’s homes have appropriate financial and governance oversight.

Frustratingly, this question was once again dodged by a government minister - so I have consequently followed-up to request that he answers my question.

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

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE:

Last year, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), announced that Ofwat will be abolished, and a new, single regulator, will merge Ofwat’s responsibilities with Natural England, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and parts of the Environment Agency.

This will be a fairly significant change in the operations of the water regulators and overseers, especially as the merger is expected to be completed in a short space of time.

As such, during a Public Accounts Committee Session yesterday, I asked the Chief Executive of Ofwat, Chris Walters, what steps he is taking to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible.

Given the failures of Ofwat to hold water companies, such as Thames Water to account, I welcomed the announcement that they would be scrapped, and I was reassured to hear from the Chief Executive that DEFRA are working closely with Ofwat to ensure the transition is managed in a smooth and effective manner.

You can watch a clip of my question and Chris Walters’ response by clicking here.

ROEHAMPTON UNIVERSITY VISIT:

Last Friday, I visited Roehampton University to speak with the students of their business school regarding their thoughts on the current business environment, and to understand their outlook on the job market at the moment.

It was extremely interesting to hear about the students’ experiences when applying for work, with one individual even remarking he had seen a job advert which required 3 years of experience for voluntary work. From an employer's perspective, I understand how flooded the job market has become, as a recently filled intern position I advertised for received many more applications than I was expecting.

This highlights the challenges facing young people coming out of university looking for work, and I emphasised the importance of doing voluntary work, or participating in activities outside of their studies, to set them apart from other candidates.

Other interesting topics, such as the cost to owners of employing people, the cost of transport and social mobility also arose, and I was extremely impressed by the grasp that the students had on current and emerging issues.

I would like to thank Professor Dan Nunan, the Dean of Roehampton’s Business School, for being so accommodating, and an even bigger thank you to the students for engaging in such a constructive question and answer session.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

BARNES COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION PONDER INITIATIVE:

A new, weekly community initiative, named ‘Barnes Tuesday Local’ is launching next Tuesday, 27 January.

The event will take place between 18:00-20:00, and its aim is to bring neighbours together while supporting the local hospitality scene, especially our much-loved pubs.

Barnes Tuesday Local will be a free, informal drop-in held at The Bull’s Head every Tuesday. 

Everyone who lives or works locally is encouraged to come along, have a chat, meet new people, and enjoy a relaxed friendly atmosphere. There’s no agenda and no pressure, just conviviality and conversation about anything and a chance to get out and connect.

The initiative has been set-up by the Barnes Community Association (BCA) Placemaking Group, as part of a wider effort to strengthen community ties, and you can find out more about the weekly event by visiting the BCA’s website.

KINGSTON GREEN SKILLS AND CAREERS FAIR:

On Tuesday 17 February, Kingston Council is hosting a showcase of a wide range of green and sustainable job opportunities, which includes discussions surrounding employability support and green skills training.

The event is being hosted at the Guildhall, KT1 1EU, between 11:00-15:00, and if you want to learn more about the event, you can do so by clicking here.