Welcome to my first update back in Parliament after the General Election. I’m honoured to have been re-elected to represent the new Luton South & South Bedfordshire constituency under a new Labour Government.

I was honoured to have been sworn in this month, prior to the State Opening of Parliament. Before MPs are allowed to speak or vote in Parliament, the law requires that we ‘swear in’ or affirm, taking an oath of allegiance to the crown. You can find out more about this here.

The King’s Speech
At the State Opening of Parliament, we heard the King’s Speech, which laid out all the proposed laws of the new Labour Government over the coming session. The new legislation set out at the King’s Speech will build on the momentum of the first days in office and make a difference to the lives of working people, with new laws to deliver Labour’s missions.

These new laws set out a strong agenda for our country,  growing the economy through better transport, more jobs and turbocharging building of houses and infrastructure – helping to make every part of the country better off.

New laws tabled in the King’s Speech include:

• Planning and Infrastructure Bill which will build the new homes required to make housing more affordable and the infrastructure to support sustained economic growth.
• Passenger Railways Service and Railways Bills to bring rail services back into public ownership to make our railways reliable, affordable and accessible.
• Great British Energy Bill to make our country energy independent and so ensure British taxpayers, bill payers and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, home-grown energy and lower bills for families.
• Crime and Policing Bill (England and Wales) will put neighbourhood police and Police Community Support Officers back on the beat.
• Better Buses Bill will introduce new powers for local leaders to take control of bus services.
• Employment Rights Bill will ban zero-hours contracts and fire and rehire, alongside ensuring rights to sick pay and parental leave from day one of employment.
• Renters’ Rights Bill which will put renters’ rights reform back on the agenda, including banning Section 21 evictions.

Read more on my website, and read the full King’s Speech here.

Situation in Bangladesh
I know many constituents across Luton South & South Bedfordshire have concerns about the troubling situation in Bangladesh in recent weeks. the violence we have seen in Bangladesh in recent days is unacceptable. We have seen a crackdown on protestors, with alarming reports that nearly 200 people have been killed and thousands more injured. Alongside this, there is a media and internet blackout, with many concerned that they haven’t been able to contact family in Bangladesh.

I recently attended a briefing with the FCDO Minister regarding this issue. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is urging an end to the violence and the loss of life, calling on all sides to find ways to restore calm across Bangladesh. Following this briefing, I have also written to the Minister, you can read my letter here. 

Meeting with CAABU and the Palestinian Ambassador
In one of my first meetings back in Parliament, I had a powerful meeting with CAABU to discuss addressing the catastrophe in Gaza.

In an important statement last week, I was pleased to hear the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP, confirm the Labour Government will pursue an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a full diplomatic peace process, overturn the suspension of UNRWA funding, and work towards a viable Palestinian state. The Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s policy regarding the conflict in Gaza this week.

I will continue to press the new Labour government on this issue.

I also had the privilege of hearing from Palestinian filmmaker Yousuf Hammash. He shared his impactful experiences of reporting from inside Gaza and emphasised the importance of eyewitness testimony by allowing international journalists to report. You can watch Yousef’s powerful reports from April 2024 on marking Ramadan in Rafah here.

Alongside this, I attended a briefing with with the Palestinian Ambassador, Husam Zolmot, on Gaza and the West Bank, and have received updates from Medical Aid for Palestinians, Christian Aid, and Action for Humanity.

Local Bus Services
From Caddington and villages in the west to Wigmore in the east, people from across our constituency have told me they feel let down by local bus services. I raised this in Parliament this week.

I welcome the Labour government’s plan to give local leaders new powers to franchise bus services and lift the ban on municipal ownership with the Better Buses Bill. I look forward to seeing this important Bill progress through Parliament.

Attending Desi Fest
I had a lovely time attending this year’s Desi Fest, an excellent community event with good music, great food and lots of stalls. It was lovely to join the Mayor, Councillor Tahmina Saleem, in speaking to so many wonderful local businesses and organisations.

Conference on Kashmir
This month, I attended a conference on Kashmir. the event marked five years since India unilaterally removed special status granted to occupied Kashmir under Articles 370 and 35A. At the meeting, we spoke about Kashmir’s right to self-determination, promised to them 75 years ago.

Luton Turk Fest
I was delighted to be invited to our join the festivities at Luton Turk Fest, a wonderful celebration of Luton’s Turkish community and Turkish culture with wonderful food and performances.

30 years of Democracy in South Africa
It was a privilege to attend a moving special thanksgiving service celebrating the struggle to end apartheid and 30 years of democracy in South Africa in Westminster Abbey. At the event, we heard from Lord Boateng, Christina McAnea, Lord Roy Kennedy an South African politician Ronald Lamola.

Speaking at Pride in Luton
It was a privilege to speak at this year’s Pride in Luton, alongside Sarah Owen MP, to show my commitment to representing all communities across Luton South & South Bedfordshire. Tolerance, acceptance and respect are vital to an inclusive community.