Richmond Park News: 6 March 2026

RESPONSE TO THE PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT ON THE MIDDLE EAST

Last Saturday, targeted airstrikes were carried out against Iranian military sites, missile infrastructure and senior leadership. The strikes hit Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office compound in Tehran, resulting in his death and the deaths of several other senior officials. 

Iran has since retaliated, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed Parliament on Monday to provide an update on the UK’s position on the conflict.

The day before, the Prime Minister had consented for the US to use British air force bases for defensive operations, and Keir Starmer reiterated in the Chamber that he would not allow the bases to be used for offensive means. The Prime Minister called for the conflict to be resolved via diplomatic means, as he encouraged all parties to return to the negotiating table.

While I welcome the Prime Minister’s reluctance to involve the UK in another protracted war in the Middle East, I remain unclear on his vision for the region. While I somewhat sympathise with Keir Starmer’s position of having to mediate with an increasingly tyrannical US President, he must have a clear idea of the UK’s own aims to ensure that we do not get drawn further into a conflict which has no clear outcome.

I therefore asked the Prime Minister if he wants regime change, or whether he wishes to negotiate a diplomatic solution with the current regime. Unsurprisingly, the Prime Minister did not announce his intentions. I hope that this is because he wishes to not divulge confidential plans, and not that he does not have one.

You can watch a clip of my question to the Prime Minister by clicking here.

SPRING STATEMENT RESPONSE

On Tuesday, the Chancellor announced her Spring Statement, which laid out the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) economic forecasts. While the Chancellor buoyantly announced the OBR’s projections, I did not believe that her outlook reflected the reality of the challenges that businesses and working people are facing across the UK, especially in the light of the situation in Iran and its impact on energy costs.

In the last quarter of 2025, unemployment reached 5.2%, the highest rate for nearly 5 years, and the Chancellor announced that this figure will rise again later this year. In addition, youth unemployment is shockingly high, at above 16%.

The Chancellor’s maiden budget has contributed significantly towards these rates, as her policies added over £5bn in employment costs on retailers, almost half of which came from her changes to employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs), with the cost of employing a full-time worker in retail job rising by 10%, and by 13% for those working part time.

I have been repeatedly raising the damaging impact that the government’s NICs hike has had on our businesses, and in response to the Spring Statement, I asked her what steps the government is taking to tackle unaffordably high unemployment costs for businesses to bring down youth unemployment rates.

Instead of recognising the serious impact that the levels of youth unemployment levels are having, and will have, on our society, the Chancellor surprisingly decided to challenge my position on opposing a third runway. As the government is yet to provide their economic analysis to support their financial assertions in favour of a third runway, I have followed-up with her to provide data which suggests otherwise, and I have challenged her to provide her evidence to support expansion. You can view this letter by clicking here.

You can watch my question and the Chancellor’s response by clicking here.

BBC RADIO 5 LIVE

On Wednesday, I appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live, alongside Labour MP, Alex Balinger, and Conservative MP, James Wild.

Just over a month ago, President Trump, a draft dodger, disgustingly stated that British troops avoided the front lines in Afghanistan. This week, he took aim at the UK’s Prime Minister, stating that he is ‘no Winston Churchill’ - well, President Trump is certainly no Franklin D. Roosevelt, and I emphasised my disapproval of Trump’s attempts to bully European leaders over refusals to involve their countries in a war which lacks legal justification.

It was also insightful to hear Alex Balinger’s thoughts on the conflict. As someone who served in Afghanistan, I could tell that he was biting his lip on what he really thought about President Trump’s comments.

All panellists agreed that the Iranian regime is brutal and oppressive, and I questioned why the British government is continuing to dither over the proscription of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In the past 4 years, the IRGC has been linked to 20 foiled terror plots on British soil, while some British-Iranians live in fear due to the threat of transnational repression. 

That morning, I also co-signed a Presentation Bill put forward by the Liberal Democrat’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Callum Miller MP, which called on the government to introduce emergency legislation to proscribe the IRGC. 

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

THE READING OF THE PEOPLE’S REPRESENTATION BILL

In December 2024, I presented a 10-Minute Rule Bill to Parliament which proposed for proportional representation to be used for UK General Elections. The Bill was voted on and passed, but the government refused to make time for it to proceed. 

The government’s ‘Representation of the People Bill’ was debated in Parliament at the start of the week, but it lacked any reference to proportional representation being used in our General Elections. This is despite the Labour Party voting overwhelmingly for proportional representation to be implemented at a recent party conference. 

During the debate, I stated that the omission of a change to our voting system in this Bill is a missed opportunity, and does not even reflect the will of the Labour Party!

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

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

International Women’s Day is celebrated next Monday, and I attended an event held at Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club to mark it. 

This week marked the 5-year anniversary of the murder of Sarah Everard - a tragedy which touched and resonated with many women. The Angiolini Inquiry presented shocking revelations regarding the failure of authorities to act upon previous reports made against Wayne Couzens, while the second part of the report underscored the broader issue of police vetting processes which consequently put women in danger.

It is horrific that it took a high profile murder to uncover what many women already knew or suspected, and I hope that future generations of women do not have to be fearful when walking our streets at night.

ENDEMETROSIS FOUNDATION DROP-IN

On Wednesday, I attended The Endometriosis Foundation’s campaign event on endometriosis and fertility awareness.

The Endometriosis Foundation is a patient-led charity built on compassion, collaboration, and lived experiences; bringing together those affected by endometriosis with experts, which aims to create a space for education and meaningful support.

It was difficult to hear people detail their lived realities of the condition and the suffering it causes, but these are important to be had, and I have been pleased to see that topic be raised increasingly in Parliament over the past few months.

HAM AND KINGSTON BATHING WATER CONSULTATION

Ham and Kingston Riverside is one of thirteen bodies of water which are being reviewed by the government to be selected for bathing water designation.

The government’s consultation closes on 23 March, and I would like to call on residents to respond to this consultation, detailing your approval for Ham and Kingston Riverside to be designated bathing water status.

You can submit your views on this matter by emailing bathingwater@defra.gov.uk, or by responding to the survey on the following link.

You can also read my consultation response by clicking here.

COMMUNITY NEWS

RICHMOND GRAND PIANO CONCERT:

On 13 March 2026, between 19:30-21:30pm, Music at St Mary’s will be holding a classical concert titled, “Richmond Piano Series: Joanna MacGregor” which will inaugurate the new Steinway Concert Grand Piano at St Mary Magdalene Church, TW9 1SN. 

Described as “a brilliant light in the music world,” Joanna MacGregor CBE has performed in over eighty countries, appearing as a concert pianist, curator and conductor. 

You can purchase a ticket for this event by clicking here.

EAST SHEEN SPRING HUNT

East Sheen’s yearly Spring Hunt returns on Saturday 11 April. Participants at last year’s event loved the hunt, and the children visibly enjoyed taking part.

The hunt starts at Hare and Hounds, where children, who must be accompanied by an adult at all times, are provided a map which details the places in Sheen that they must visit along the trail. Each checkpoint will provide a clue for a word or phrase.

Tickets are just £8.80, and they usually sell out quickly. You can buy them before they all go by clicking on the following link.