I hope everyone is doing well and has been enjoying the sunshine in the last couple of weeks.
Conflict in the Middle East
I know another conflict in the Middle East is unsettling, and many will have bad memories of previous conflicts. But as the Prime Minister said in the Chamber when making his statement, this government remembers the mistakes of Iraq and pledges to avoid them.
The Iranian regime is abhorrent, its nuclear regime is dangerous, and its foreign policy is destabilising. However, I agree with the Prime Minister that the best way forward for the region and the world is for a negotiated settlement. I also share the Prime Minister’s desire that any military action by Britain needs to be legal and in the national interest. That is why I support the Prime Minister’s decision not to join the initial strikes by the US and Israel, nor to allow the US to use British military and bases for non-defensive strikes.
There are an estimated 300,000 British citizens in the region. Those who are on holiday, who live there or are travelling through the area. Many Gulf states have been allies for decades. British energy prices are heavily influenced by the transit of oil and gas through the Straits of Hormuz. It is clear Britain has longstanding and important interests in the region, which need to be protected.
Iran’s response to the attacks has been to escalate and widen the conflict. Unprovoked, they have attacked all the Arab Gulf states. Their proxy Hezbollah has widened the conflict by attacking Israel directly and destabilising Iran. Iranian-supplied drones fired by Hezbollah were launched at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, even though the UK was not a party to the attacks.
In light of this, Britain has a duty to defend its citizens, its interests and its allies in the region. Britain’s action is rooted in the legal principle of collective self-defence and will act against missiles and drones which Iran and its proxies launch, as well as the launch sites they use. I welcome the Prime Minister’s clear assertion that there will be a vote in Parliament if the government deems offensive action.
If you know anyone in the region, I encourage them to register with the FCDO to ensure that they receive updates. They can do this here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-office-travel-advice-updates
Department of Works and Pensions – Removal of the Two Child Benefit Cap
At the last budget, the Chancellor committed to lifting the two-child benefit cap. At the start of February, I was proud to take part in the second reading debate, where I spoke in favour of removing the cap.
I have long campaigned for the removal of the cruel cap. Removing the cap will help an estimated 3,530 children out of poverty in Lewisham East alone. This, along with the recently published Child Poverty Strategy, will help reverse the poverty-increasing policies of the previous governments.
As I said in my speech, I know parents want to provide for their children, but some simply do not have the means to do so. In Lewisham East, 65% of children living in poverty have at least one parent in work, so this is absolutely not about parents who do not want to work.
This is a very welcome step toward reducing child poverty. More needs to be done, and I will continue to ensure that it remains high on the government’s agenda.
Chancellor Visit and the Spring Forecast
During February, Lewisham East welcomed the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, for a visit to the Bell Green Sainsbury’s. There, we celebrated the low inflation figures announced that day.
In February, the Chancellor also delivered her Spring Forecast, outlining her economic plan. We are cutting the cost of living and putting more money in people’s pockets:
- Taking levies off energy bills to save the average family £150 a year, rising to £300 for many poorer households.
- Freezing prescription charges for the second year in a row and rail fares for the first time in 30 years.
- Presiding over six interest rate cuts, saving families over £1,300 on a typical new fixed-rate mortgage.
The government is cutting the deficit.
- We have reduced borrowing by nearly £18 billion compared to the Autumn, with borrowing this year set to be the lowest in six years and falling below the G7 average, which in fourteen years the Conservative government never achieved.
- We have strengthened the public finances, with headroom increased to £24 billion
- We will now spend £3 billion a year less on debt interest by 2030-31 than the OBR forecast at the Budget – money that can now be spent on the British people’s priorities.
The Chancellor has the right plan to grow our economy:
- Delivering the highest levels of public investment in national infrastructure for four decades.
- Taking on the vested interests to back the builders, not the blockers.
- Giving people in all parts of our country a fair hearing by reforming the Green Book to unlock investment in all of Britain’s urban, rural and coastal communities.
- Breaking down trade barriers with our closest partners, including the European Union.
International Development Committee and International Updates
Gaza
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic, and whilst the UK government is doing what it can to alleviate further suffering, much more is needed. I continue to call on all parties to respect the ceasefire that came into effect on 10 October 2025 and to fully implement the 20-point peace plan endorsed by the UN Security Council on 17 November, including the full opening of border crossings so that urgently needed aid, to which the UK is contributing £116 million in 2026, the second highest yearly amount since 2009, can reach those who need it most.
As a member of the International Development Select Committee, I work to scrutinise the Government’s aid efforts and ensure their effectiveness. I also call on all parties to comply with their international humanitarian law obligations, and where concerns about Israel’s compliance have arisen, the UK has acted by suspending free trade agreement negotiations and revoking arms export licences where items might be used in military operations in Gaza.
Ukraine
Four years after Putin’s full-scale invasion, a war he thought he would win in a week, the UK is leading the way in supporting Ukraine, and our commitment remains ironclad. This year, we have increased military support to its highest-ever level, providing £4.5 billion in financial and military aid, including half a billion pounds of air defence support and 1,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles announced at the Munich Security Conference, as well as over 85,000 drones delivered in just six months through the International Fund for Ukraine, to which over £2.6 billion has been pledged to date. We have signed an industrial treaty worth £3.5 billion to boost weapons production, extended our INTERFLEX training programme, and trained over 62,000 Ukrainian troops, whilst co-leading the Ukraine Defence Contact Group with Germany and co-chairing the Coalition of the Willing with France.
Beyond the battlefield, the UK is committed to Ukraine’s long-term recovery: our £3.5 billion in export finance has supported reconstruction projects including six key bridges in the Kyiv region, we have contributed £11.5 million to support Ukraine’s war crimes investigations, and we are helping to trace and reintegrate children kidnapped by Russia. We have also intensified pressure on Moscow through targeted sanctions on Russia’s biggest oil and gas companies, with our allies swiftly following suit. Supporting Ukraine is not just the right thing to do, it is vital to deterring future aggression and ensuring a safer Europe and a safer Britain.
Sudan
The UK is stepping up its response to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where over 30 million people need lifesaving assistance and up to 7 million face famine. The Government has committed £146 million to support over 800,000 people this year, and has announced a new £20 million programme to support survivors of rape and sexual violence. Fresh sanctions have been imposed on senior figures in both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, as well as those procuring weapons and recruiting mercenaries. The UK is using its March presidency of the UN Security Council to press for humanitarian access and a ceasefire, and will co-host a major international conference on Sudan with Germany in Berlin ahead of the conflict’s third anniversary in April.
BBC Visit
During February, I had the privilege of visiting BBC Studios, where I met the BBC Verify team and the CBBC commissioning team.
There, I heard about all the fantastic work the BBC does, whether verifying facts in an age of chaos and misinformation or creating educational and entertaining programmes for children.
As parents will know, Bitesize is a fantastic resource for children and young people, and I was excited to hear about the work the BBC is doing to bring this to YouTube.
Castle Catford
Many people reading this newsletter will have positive memories of Catford Mews, a beloved cinema which unfortunately had to close due to mismanagement.
In an exciting development, the Council recently announced that it had found a replacement operator for the site, Castle Cinema.
Castle Cinema has a brilliant track record of restoring historic venues; they brought back a much-loved Hackney cinema and recently reopened a community cinema in Sidcup, too.
The venue will feature three cinema screens, a community space, a bar, and a café, and is due to open this summer.
I recently met the new operators, and they are excited to bring this wonderful community cinema back to life.
Ramadan
Ramadan Mubarak to all those who celebrate.
17 February was the start of Ramadan this year, a month of fasting, communal prayer and reflection. It is one of the most important months of the Islamic Calendar, and it is the month when the Quran was revealed to Muhammad.
It is an important time to reflect and recognise the contributions of Muslims in Lewisham and beyond. Lewisham is a diverse borough, and Muslims are an important part of this. I am proud to leader where many faiths and people can live together in harmony.