I’m grateful to local GP Dr Vineet Thapar for his work providing nutrition & healthy eating advice in our community. Wonderful to visit the free course he runs at St Mary’s University in Twickenham. So pleased to hear he has received National Lottery funding for more courses!

Thank you @andyburnham.bsky.social for your words this morning. Now let’s get to work fixing social care!

Ambition on technical education is welcome, but there are still major questions about Andy Burnham's proposals - let me know your thoughts in the comments below 👇

This year’s High Tide Festival was bigger and better than ever! From the dance party at Club Tropicana to the jazz stage at Orleans Gardens & the Ukrainian troupe who kicked off the show….so proud that Twickenham is home to this incredible music festival. Well done Kevin, Leila, Simon & Co! 🎤🎼🎹

A resounding NO to a third runway at Heathrow from the 200+ people who joined Richmond Council's community conversation last week. I and other panellists spoke about how a third runway could impact people’s health, our precious environment & taxpayers’ pockets.

Are you worried about the impact of Heathrow expansion on noise & pollution in our area (not to mention on people’s health & taxpayers’ pockets?). Don't forget to have your say at the Community Conversation this Thursday 23 July. More info here:

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The new PM is right to highlight the importance of young people's mental health. If he's serious about addressing the crisis, he should back our call for a mental health expert in every school.

Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham is absolutely right that economic growth & investment should be spread across the regions – not concentrated in London & the Southeast. Just one more reason (among many!) why Heathrow expansion should be scrapped once and for all.

A glorious day for both the St Margarets Fair and the Teddington Village Fair! Wonderful to see lots of familiar faces & meet new ones, including Saskia and Aaron, who were selling products they made through Young Founders House Children’s Market. 😎🌞

Remembering my dear friend, and former councillor, Robin Brown.

Communities’ voices must not be ignored! Make sure to have your say on Heathrow expansion. Register for the Heathrow expansion Community Conversation at tinyurl.com/5wcnvhm4 & respond to the consultation at tinyurl.com/5d98vf8w.

Antisemitism has no place in our schools or our society. Proud to support the launch of the new Tackling Antisemitism in Education programme—a free four-part online course available to all schools from 1 November.

Changes to SEND tribunals are causing real concern for families who have fought hard to secure their children's rights. The Government must ensure reforms improve—not weaken—the system. Thank you to the SEND Matters Coalition and Rory Bremner for hosting this important event.

Happy 70th Birthday to @dofe.org ! 🎉 Huge congratulations to everyone who’s completed their Bronze, Silver or Gold Award, and an even bigger congratulations to the teachers who willingly spend nights in tents and weekends on expeditions. Couldn’t be me! 😅

Half of children in kinship care have special needs, yet many carers step in during crisis with little information & schools often lack understanding of kinship care and trauma. As Vice Chair of @appgkinshipcare.bsky.social we’ve looked at how the SEND system can work better for these children.

A thought provoking discussion @IPPR's panel on children's health. A clear reminder that if we’re serious about tackling health inequalities, we need to start with early intervention to give every child the best possible start in life.

Grateful to meet nurses, physios, psychologists, dieticians & speech therapists from the Richmond Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team. They provide incredible, holistic support to residents in our borough with stroke, MS, motor neurone disease and other neurological conditions.

Thanks to the Y6 head boys and girls at Trafalgar Junior for showing me around, and to the Y5 Pupil Parliament reps for their speeches for & against AI – a topical & complex issue! Lovely to present pupils from the Infant School with some very well-deserved awards, too.

The first 1001 days, from pregnancy to age two, of a baby's life are crucial in laying the foundations for lifelong health and wellbeing. Parents and carers should be able to get trusted support early, before difficulties become crises. #BackTheBabiesBill

Score for Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson @maxwilkinson.bsky.social The Government is now letting pubs stay open for this weekend’s game after he raised the issue in Parliament today! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Today’s apology is a long-overdue recognition of the injustice suffered by mothers and children affected by historic forced adoptions. It must be the start, not the end, of meaningful support for survivors.

Munira responds to the Prime Minister's apology for historic forced adoptions

On the 2nd July 2026, Munira responded to the Prime Minister's apology for historic forced adoptions.

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Where's the action, Andy?

If you're a young person over 18, or the parent of a young person who's accessed mental health support, the Health and Education Select Committees want to hear about your experience as part of their inquiry into mental health services. Link to the survey here 👉 shorturl.at/a4xID

Capita have just 5 days to get the Civil Service Pension Scheme in working order, and then Government must act fast to hold them to account and end these outrageous delays! Our civil servants deserve so much better.

Issuing guidance that silences SEND parents is outrageous, refusing to acknowledge that decision is alarming. When it comes to SEND reform we need to hear from those who will be impacted the most.

90% — that's how much the Chancellor's own growth predictions for Heathrow expansion have been downgraded. And that’s the Government's own analysis. This scheme must be stopped now.

Heat-related news to be aware of: SWR services will have an amended timetable this week & advise only essential travel on Wed & Thurs. Local waste & recycling collection will start earlier (5am) to protect crews from heat.

Heatwave: how to cope in hot weather

Find out how to keep cool and safe in a heatwave, and who is most at risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

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Proud to support #NSSW2026! 🎉 6–12 July 2026 @YouthSportTrust invites schools, families & orgs to get every child active—60 mins a day through sport & play. Let’s build healthy habits & find the joy in movement 🙌 Sign up: www.youthsporttrust.org/school-suppo...

Fantastic to join pupils @HeathfieldJnr for their #BeInternetLegends assembly! It's so important we teach our kids media literacy and how to stay safe online. Thanks to @TheParentsZone and @GoogleUK for putting on a great assembly.

100 years ago, John Frith opened an opticians on Heath Road in Twickenham. Later taken over by his nephew Robert, Robert Frith Optometrist is still going strong. So lovely to join Robert’s daughter Zara, the branch's employees & opticians, and local residents & customers to celebrate!