On Saturday, July 12, the community of Hayes and Harlington stood up to be counted and we won. Despite all the attempts by Hillingdon Council to kill off the Hayes carnival, large numbers of local people and local community groups came together and made this year's carnival a success.
This month I am using my column to congratulate and thank all those who attended and helped organise the demonstration against the expansion of Heathrow Airport on Saturday. It was a fantastic turnout that demonstrated the strength of feeling against Heathrow expansion.
I am writing this month to urge all local residents to join the demonstration on May 31 against proposals for the third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow.
Last week in Parliament I tabled an Early Day Motion calling for an independent, public inquiry into the Government's consultation on the proposal for a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow.
THE iconic battleground on which the struggle for the future of our planet will be fought is at Heathrow airport. The Government's consultation on whether to allow Heathrow to virtually double in size by constructing a third runway and sixth terminal ended on February 27.
ON Thursday, January 31, Parliament debated the Government's National Insurance Bill, which will set the earnings limits for paying National Insurance contributions. Sounds like a dry bureaucratic issue but actually this is a key decision on whether the Government is serious about tackling poverty and inequality in today's Britain.
I'M back into Parliament with a bang this week after a great Christmas break with my family. Last week I listened to Gordon Brown's new year message with a lot of concern.
LAST Saturday I convened a community conference to hear about the history of Hayes town centre, to examine the current state of the centre and then to launch a campaign for a new Hayes town centre.
PARLIAMENT returns next week after the recess. By the time you read this Gordon Brown may have called a general election and Parliament will be suspended until the election is over.
I HAVE just come back from a visit to the Climate Change Camp site in Sipson.
