I spoke to Andrew Marr at the New Statesman about politics within the Labour Party, its current economic policies and my own position and role in the party.

Since November 2023 with other MPs I’ve been pressing for seriously injured children to be evacuated from Gaza for urgent medical treatment. The Israelis are still blocking large numbers of children they’ve injured, maimed & starved from accessing the treatment they need. Inhuman.

It is heartening that the Labour Party’s Environment group has come out against the Chancellor’s plans for a 3rd runway at Heathrow. Letter from Labour's Environment Campaign - SERA Co-Chairs to Keir Starmer on growth - Labour's Environment Campaign - SERA

I tried to sum up here just some of the consequences of Rachel Reeves’ decision to force through a 3rd runway at Heathrow & what a mistake it was to taint her economic policy announcement with such a politically, economically & environmentally disastrous policy.

I’ve listened to many of the Chancellor’s interviews on her 3rd runway & of the Prime Minister & ministers & I’ve struggled to hear a single word of sympathy for my constituents, who face being forced out of their homes & having their villages demolished. More than disappointing.

The Chancellor has totally underestimated the scale of the opposition to her plans to force through a 3rd runway at Heathrow. It’s decisions like this that so conflict with our environmental, social & economic aims they undermine the trust & confidence people have in a government.

RT @AliMilaniUK: The inescapable reality is that a third runway at Heathrow would shred our government’s green credibility. Only 1% of the….

Just to let my constituents know, just as I’ve always done when announcements have been made about Heathrow, I’ll be convening a public meeting in the Heathrow Villages for us to discuss the situation. Notices will go to peoples homes about time & venue as soon as we can arrange.

This is such a huge political, economic & especially environmental mistake that sadly I fear it will inflict an irreparable scale of damage on the government. “Rachel Reeves confirms backing for third runway at Heathrow – UK politics live”

The Chancellor is backing 3rd runway at Heathrow which will destroy the Government’s green credentials, mobilise huge opposition & put at risk numerous Labour seats for an assessment of economic benefits, which has been effectively rubbished. It begs question who is advising her.

RT @FisherAndrew79: There are overwhelming environmental arguments against Heathrow expansion. But there is also a strong case that we ne….

I’ve written to the Egyptian ambassador to request that I and a delegation of MPs are given permission to visit British Egyptian Human Rights campaigner, Alaa Abd El Fattah in prison. He should have been released in September. His mother has now been on hunger strike for 115 days.

RT @PatMillsUK: Extreme wealth is extreme control. Never has this been so clear. We don’t have to settle for it. In our letter to Davos lea….

Yesterday, a group of MPs &I. met Laila Soueif, the mother of Alaa Abd el-Fattah. She is today on the 115th day of her hunger strike.The Foreign Secretary needs to give Laila a reason to reconsider her hunger strike. He must visit Alaa, a British citizen, when he travels to Egypt

RT @BenJamalpsc: My statement on the charges brought against me, and the extraordinarily repressive actions of @metpoliceuk on Saturday. Th….

Keir Starmer recognised significance of threat of 3rd Runway to achieving our climate change targets. I can’t believe having seen the recent floods, fires & melting ice caps that he could credibly justify such a change of policy as to back a 3rd Runway now. It’s also about trust.

Great news that the rebuild of Hillingdon Hospital is in the first wave of new hospitals for construction to start between 2025-2030. Our community has been campaigning for decades for this.This is a project government should be backing not a 3rd Runway.

Backing a 3rd Runway at Heathrow would shred government’s credibility in one fell swoop & potentially launch greatest single environmental campaign this country has seen. Can’t believe that the Cabinet would make this mistake & put do many seats at risk.

RT @PSCupdates: The police has mislead the public about events in Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, claiming the Palestine coalition attempte….

Desperate to see the ceasefire coming into force & the release of hostages & prisoners, followed by the flooding of Gaza with humanitarian aid.