Richmond Park News: 3 July 2026

HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE UPDATE

For nearly 18 months, the government avoided talking about Hammersmith Bridge, but in April, a month before the local elections, the Local Transport Minister stated that the bridge would be a ‘compelling candidate’ for repairs via contributions from the Structures Fund - an allocated pot of money which has been set aside by the government to spend on failing bridges and critical infrastructure.

However, this week Hammersmith and Fulham Council announced that they would only be submitting a proposal for a ‘phased repair,’ which would mean that the bridge would not be repaired to a standard to enable buses and emergency vehicles to cross once again. This submission came following a recommendation from the Department for Transport (DfT) that funding for a full repair would not be forthcoming. Estimates for a full repair are now quoted at £300million.

However, Hammersmith and Fulham also stated that the DfT would not even consider a full repair as for a project to be eligible for the Structures Fund, all works would have to be completed by April 2030. This begs the question why the government initially told me that Hammersmith Bridge would be a ‘good’ and ‘compelling’ candidate for funding.

Local residents have been abandoned and misled by the government, and the Department for Transport has shown a complete abdication of responsibility towards fixing Hammersmith Bridge.

I have written to the Department for Transport to make my feelings on this matter clear, and you can view my letter by clicking here.

DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS AND TRADE QUESTIONS

Departmental questions for Business and Trade were held this Thursday, and in my role as Business Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, I challenged the government on facilitating employment and cutting red tape on trade.

Youth unemployment rates have hit record heights in the UK, and a significant reason for this is that it is becoming too expensive for businesses to employ people due to the government’s hike of National Insurance Contributions and the increase of business rates for many businesses up and down the country. 

While I have been supportive of aspects of the incoming Employment Rights Act, I have concerns that the introduction of this legislation will make it unappealing for businesses to hire young people who require flexibility at their jobs due to other commitments.

You can watch my question on this subject to the Minister, Kate Dearden MP, and her response, by clicking here.

My second question to the Minister was regarding breaking down barriers to trade with Europe. The current Prime Minister and Chancellor have both admitted that repairing the relationship with Europe is the biggest lever they could pull for growth, while Andy Burnham has declared his desire to rejoin the EU.

I therefore challenged the Minister, Sir Chris Bryant MP, if the government would consider negotiating a new Growth and Defence Partnership with Europe.

Sir Chris Bryant’s response even made the Speaker of the House laugh, as he asserted that it was the Liberal Democrats who had encouraged the referendum on leaving the European Union in 2016.

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

WESTMINSTER HALL DEBATE ON THE FINANCIAL INCLUSION OF YOUNG PEOPLE

There has been a growing sense that young people are being dealt a financially unfair hand in the UK following the exponential rise in house prices, growing interest on their tuition fees, all while getting a job is perhaps more difficult than ever before.

On Tuesday, I attended a Westminster Hall Debate to highlight the challenges that young people face socio-economically, and I cited a concerning statistic projecting that in 5 years, one in six young people will not be in education or employment. I am extremely concerned about the future prospects of our young adults, and the government needs to do more to ensure that their policies are inclusive towards young people’s needs.

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

DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS ORAL QUESTION

London boroughs spend £5 million a day on temporary accommodation costs to house their residents who are threatened with homelessness. 1 in 50 Londoners are homeless, which includes 1 in 21 children living in the capital.

The costs of housing residents has grown with the increased demand for housing and the increase of rent costs over the years, but despite this, the Local Housing Allowance rates for temporary accommodation have been frozen for the past 15 years. 

Local Housing Allowance is the maximum amount the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will reimburse Councils for housing homeless residents. If this subsidy does not cover the costs of the rent, then the Council must foot the rest of the bill.

This is increasingly becoming the case as the temporary accommodation subsidy gap has grown since 2011, and I asked the Minister, Sir Stephen Timms MP, if he would urgently review the amount Councils are subsidised for housing residents.

The Minister stated that the government is currently discussing this issue, but provided no further detail. I therefore have followed-up with Sir Stephen Timms to request a more detailed response, and you can view this letter by clicking here.

You can also watch the full clip of my question by clicking here.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

On Monday afternoon, I attended a Public Accounts Committee session on the regulation of water, energy and broadband.

Following the rise of water and energy bills, the regulators have come under increasing scrutiny for failing to adequately hold companies to account. It has also been revealed that Ofwat have only been monitoring the amount that customers owe to water companies since 2023, and despite this, it has already been estimated that customers owe water companies a total of £2.9bn in unpaid bills.

I therefore asked Ofwat’s CEO, Chris Walters, what are the main contributing factors towards this level of consumer debt. Chris responded to state that this was a consequence of the wider cost of living crisis, and surprisingly not to do with water companies hiking their bills significantly over the past few years.

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

TURKISH BUSINESSPERSON COMMUNITY MEETING

Yesterday, I visited a group of Turkish businesspeople who have been impacted by delays to decisions on their applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain through the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) route. The ECAA route aimed to provide a pathway for Turkish nationals to work or run businesses in the UK, but this route ceased to exist for Britain on 31 December 2020. The validity of the visa was granted initially for 5 years after which applicants would be eligible to apply for further leave to remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

A growing number of constituents have reported to me that there have been delays to applications for ILR under the ECAA route. In the meeting, we discussed the impact that this matter is having on Turkish nationals and their businesses, and I was concerned to learn of the scope of this impact. Some have lost jobs, business contracts, educational trips, and opportunities to see vulnerable friends and family. I was particularly alarmed to see figures from the Home Office suggesting that the amount of applications being finalised in Q1 of 2026 had dropped by over 80% for the ECAA route.

I will be writing a detailed letter to current Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to highlight this concerning issue and the impact that it is having on a number of my constituents.

WORK EXPERIENCE STUDENTS

Myself and my team had the pleasure of hosting 5 work experience students this week. One of their tasks was to write-up an excerpt for my newsletter which summarises their week working in my office, and I have copied their piece below:

‘This week, we visited Sarah’s office as part of our work experience, which was an enriching experience giving us a first hand view into the workings of parliament, and enlightened our view of the working world. Some of us had little knowledge of the political world, however, by the end of the week, we had a comprehensive and a full understanding of the political system, and how its run. 

During this week, we were heavily involved with social media marketing. We looked into different videos and engagement techniques, learning how to increase political involvement. Later we produced a script for Sarah to read for social media, discussing her recent win allowing victims a free transcript of their court verdict, which can be viewed by clicking here.

Moreover, we composed emails to constituents, letters to ministers, and drafted questions to be asked in Business & Trade Questions, helping us learn the essential skills involved in drafting emails. As well as this, we watched a debate Sarah was involved in about work and pensions in the House of Commons. This was not only an interesting experience allowing us to witness a debate first hand, but was also a very exciting event, being able to be a part of something we’ve only seen on tv.’

COMMUNITY NEWS

STROLL FROM KINGSTON STATION

On Thursday 16 July, the Community Brain will hold a free evening stroll from Kingston Station to Hampton Wick from 18:30-20:00.

This is a 3 mile walk which will be taken at a leisurely pace and on flat terrain through parkland.

To reserve a spot, please click here.

THE INDEPENDENCE CUP

On Saturday 4 July 2026, between 11:30-19:00, the Independence Cup will take place at Ham Polo Club. The event consists of a USA vs UK polo match, family entertainment, music, activities, food trucks, a mini shopping village, as well as Ham Polo club’s in-house catering and festival vibes.

Saturday brings a full day of polo, USA vs UK transatlantic showdown and the inaugural Field Marshal Lord Guthrie Cup between the Household Cavalry and the Welsh Guards. Another highlight of the day will be a special ceremonial performance from the Band of the Welsh Guards, one of the most prestigious regiments in the British Army. 

Tickets are free for children under 5, £10 for children between the ages of 5-16 years old, £30 for students (must provide a valid student ID) and £45 for general admission (16+). 

To secure tickets, please click here.