Holocaust Memorial Day at POSK and Fault Lines at the Irish Cultural Centre

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Report back from Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick

Andy Slaughter MP

February 9, 2026

We have had another positive announcement from the government with ground rents being capped at £250, banning new leaseholds and replacing them with commonhold, and ending forfeiture - though this will take some time to pass the legislation.  Taking control from freeholders and giving it to flat owners – along with renters’ rights and social home building - is the biggest shake up of housing for 50 years. Protecting renters was big on the list of priorities for this government, and they are delivering.

In justice matters, I responded to the annual statement on prison numbers in the House of Commons and continued work on the Committee’s inquiry into rehabilitation and resettlement of prison leavers. The evidence session two weeks ago week focussed on employment after being released from prison and we were joined by several expert witnesses.

Last week I spoke on the proposed changes to jury trials. I recently wrote a guest blog for the Chiswick Calendar on the proposals on jury trials.

Part two of Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts was published last week and my comments as chair of the Justice Committee can be seen there.

I attended a moving event at the Polish Centre to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Both Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham held their own events, but this year I attended the one organised by Cllr Laura Janes at the Polish Social and Cultural Centre (POSK). I also attended POSK’s screening of Triumph of the Heart which is about the treatment of Polish prisoners in Auschwitz.

I went along to the press night of ‘Fault Lines’ at the Irish Cultural Centre. The exhibition is about male suicide and mental health and is supporting local charity, Mind. The event opened on 5th February, and if you can go along, please do. You can find more information and buy tickets on the Irish Cultural Centre’s website.

I also had the pleasure of meeting with Hammersmith and Fulham Member of Youth Parliament recently. Ealaf attended the evidence session of the Committee and then we met afterward to discuss Parliament, politics and the role of an MP.

This year is the National Year of Reading to raise awareness and combat the decline in reading in children. The children at Wendell Park have been working in collaboration with MBE Laura Henry Allain, MC Grammar and acclaimed musician DJ AG and produced a song called Pick up a Book, recorded at the Rhythm Studios in Hammersmith and Fulham. This week I was delighted to attend the launch at Latymer Upper School. It was a great event to celebrate the launch of the song, and I hope it will inspire all young people to enjoy reading.

The Hammersmith Police Station counter new opening hours are coming in at the beginning of next month. Many will remember that the counter was threatened with closure but thankfully, the counter remains open. The new opening hours will be Monday to Friday, 10am-10pm, and weekends 9am-7pm from Tuesday 3rd of March.

I was delighted to attend the London GP awards at the Commons hosted by Ben Coleman MP. It was a great event made even better by Hammersmith and Chiswick getting more awards than any other constituency. Holly Road surgery in Chiswick got 2 awards, including London General Practice Safety Award and the London General Practice Non-Clinical Team Award for outstanding contribution to patient care and practice team collaboration,which Hammersmith and Fulham Partnership health coaching team were also commended.

A positive update on transport - from the 31 st of January, the 272 bus, operating between Shepherd’s Bush and Chiswick (Grove Park), has increased its evening frequency. Buses will  now operate every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes after 20:00 on weekdays, after 19:30 on Saturdays and after 18:30 on Sundays.

In Justice news, the Justice Committee visited an immigration tribunal last week instead of holding an evidence session. As part of the visit, we met with HM Courts and Tribunals Service operations team and spoke with a resident Judge of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber and the acting Chamber President. We were also there to observe part of an immigration hearing. Members of the committee met with Sir Brian Leveson to discuss his landmark review of criminal justice. The most recent report published by Sir Brian is part 2 of his independent review of the criminal courts. Following this, I raised the matter of jury trials twice in the Commons, once at Justice Questions and again at Solicitor General Questions. The Justice Committee has now launched an inquiry into youth offending and I asked the Lord Chancellor about violence in Young Offender Institutions like Feltham.

I recently wrote a guest blog for The Chiswick Calendar on the case for water reform. Many constituents write to me unhappy with the service they receive from Thames Water, and in the face of rising water bills and the recent burst mains people experienced in Hammersmith and Chiswick, it is time for change. I also raised the possibility of a social tariff in the commons at DEFRA questions.

In other parliamentary news, I voted to support the two-child benefit Bill which will bring hundreds of local children out of poverty by removing the two-child benefit cap. I also spoke on the Palestine debate on the risk of genocide under international law.

Best wishes,

Andy

andy@andyslaughter.com

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