Weekly Update
This week in Parliament, significant developments unfolded that highlight our commitment to tackling the most pressing challenges facing the country. On Monday, the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary marked the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reaffirming Britain’s unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and its people. On Tuesday, the Home Secretary introduced the landmark Crime and Policing Bill in the House of Commons, a robust piece of legislation aimed at combating crime and anti-social behaviour, with a particular focus on cracking down on phone-snatching. On Wednesday, the government launched the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, a key initiative designed to ensure older and vulnerable citizens can access critical online services more easily.
Delivering on NHS Promises
This Labour government promised to fix the NHS, and we are delivering ahead of schedule. The Prime Minister pledged to provide two million extra NHS appointments within the year, and we’ve already exceeded that target, months before the deadline and I hope our constituents in Enfield North are feeling the positive impacts of this. Our Plan for Change is making a tangible difference in easing the strain on the NHS and addressing the frustrations of the British public. Finally on NHS, an announcement that will be music to our ears all accsoss Enfield north, patients should be able to book GP appointments easily, in their preferred way, and see their regular doctor if they choose.
Today, we are taking the first step to fix the NHS’s front door—bringing back the family doctor and ending the 8am scramble.
Over the past decade, GP funding has fallen behind while bureaucratic targets have increased, making it harder for patients to get appointments.
This government is cutting red tape and today announced £889 million investment for primary care next year to free up GP time. In return, more patients will be able to book online and see their regular doctor. Through the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, we will rebuild the NHS for the future.
Breakfast Clubs
Labour is delivering on its promise to support families and give children the best start in life. Through the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill, we are rolling out free breakfast clubs in primary schools, cutting the costs of sending children to school.
This week, we announced the first 750 schools to introduce free breakfast clubs, including Carterhatch Infant School and St. Matthews C of E Primary School in our constituency. These clubs will save parents £450 annually, empowering them to balance work and family life while boosting children’s chances of success. Under the Conservatives, just 1 in 10 primary schools had access to such facilities; Labour is changing that, ensuring every child, regardless of background, can thrive.
Water Bill
On Monday the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 received Royal Assent.
The Bill delivers on the manifesto pledges to clean up the water sector, including significantly increasing the ability of the Environment Agency to bring forward criminal charges against lawbreaking water executives. It creates new tougher penalties, including imprisonment, for water executives when companies fail to co-operate or obstruct investigations.
The new legislation also bans the payment of bonuses to water bosses if they fail to meet high standards to protect the environment, their consumers and their company’s finances.
Other measures in the Bill include severe and automatic fines for a range of offences, including allowing regulators to issue penalties more quickly, without having to direct resources to lengthy investigations. It also introduces independent monitoring of every sewage outlet, with water companies required to publish real-time data for all emergency overflows. Discharges will have to be reported within an hour of the initial spill.
Westminster Hall Debate
On Wednesday, I had the privilege of representing the government in a Westminster Hall Debate on the implementation of the Online Safety Act. The legislation sets a precedent for strong protections against harmful content online. While it addresses the scope of online harm—not just explicit content but also the design and functionality of platforms—it is clear that there’s more to be done.
The Government is committed to ensuring that our children are safe online. Of course our mission is to get on with implementing the Online safety act as soon as possible, but we are well aware more needs to be done hence we will keep the regulations under review so that we can take swift action where needed to protect the public from harm.
Enfield Library Closures
As you will be aware the council consulted on the closure of four libraries across Enfield North. I made representations opposing the plans during the consultation stage and have been engaging with the council through out. Today I held a further meeting with the chief executive and other officials to question their recent announcement and raise my concerns. I will continue to call on the council to review and reconsider their decision.
Kebab Awards
This week, I had the pleasure of attending the 13th Annual Kebab Awards. The British kebab industry is a cornerstone of our food economy, contributing over £2.8 billion annually and supporting 200,000 jobs. The event celebrated the growth and resilience of this vibrant sector, highlighting the significant role it plays in our communities and economy.
Enfield Playing Fields
I am fully aware of the ongoing concerns surrounding Donkey Lane and Enfield Playing Fields. The safety and wellbeing of residents remain my top priority. I am currently engaged in discussions with the Board of Enfield Town FC and will meet with them shortly. Following this, I will be coordinating with the Police to explore additional measures to improve safety in the area. Please feel free to reach out to my office with any concerns, and I will ensure that residents are kept fully updated on any developments.
This Labour government is delivering meaningful change and tackling the issues that matter most to working families. Whether it’s improving NHS access, ensuring every child has an equal opportunity, or holding corporations accountable for their actions, we are focused on building a fairer, safer, and more prosperous future for all.