Thanking Keir Starmer for His Leadership 

Keir Starmer transformed the Labour Party and led us to victory in 2024, ensuring we were elected on a mandate to change the country.  

As MP for Croydon West, I’ve welcomed the changes brought in under Keir which have improved the lives of people in our borough – from raising the minimum wage and tackling NHS waiting lists, to overhauling renters and workers’ rights and extending Free School Meals. 

As Policing Minister, I’m grateful he supported the biggest reform of policing for hundreds of years and always backed our wonderful officers and staff.  

My son got married at the weekend and I want for him what all mothers want for their children: a chance to excel, be happy, be healthy, and live in a country that is safe and secure. Keir leaves office with the country better prepared to face the future than when he started.  

Keir put country first, and I join all those many thousands of people in thanking him for his service.  

In resigning, Keir has once again demonstrated his deep sense of public duty, putting the interests of the country above all else. I’m proud of all that we have achieved in government, and grateful to Keir for his leadership. 

As we embark on a new chapter, please do get in touch with me with any thoughts you have. We need to use this time to come together as a party, and continue towards building a fairer Britain, as we promised when we were elected. 

Supporting a Ban on Social Media for Under‑16s 

As a mother of teenagers, I welcome this month’s announcement to ban social media for under‑16s. Young people are spending more time online than ever, and we’ve seen mental health issues in this age group rise sharply. There is constant pressure to stay glued to your phone and to look, think and behave a certain way.  

9 in 10 parents support a ban for under‑16s, which reflects what I am hearing from families across Croydon. The ban will be backed by measures such as blocking livestreaming and stranger contact for under‑16s across a wider range of platforms. 

We need a safer digital world for our children, one where they spend less time scrolling and more time being kids. 

Listening to Residents and Taking Action in Selhurst 

It was lovely to meet so many residents at my Selhurst coffee morning. Residents raised serious issues and casework — and I’ll be taking campaigns forward.  

I’m hosting coffee mornings across all wards to listen, support, and help drive local improvements. Thank you to Croydon Healthy Homes, Mind, and the DWP for being there with advice and support. 

Casework Wins in June 

In the last month, I have received over 2,000 casework emails. 43% were housing related enquires, 16% were related to local government, and smaller numbers involved employment and health issues.  

Housing remains the number one casework issue that I see in my office. The enquiries range from housing maintenance and cladding issues to rising service charges. Homelessness continues to be an ongoing concern too. 

Some of the cases I supported in the last month include: 

• Helped a disabled mother with small children who was facing homelessness by working with the Council to arrange a move into temporary accommodation. 

• A child was trying to travel to see his very ill relative, and I helped secure his passport so he could travel to see his grandmother. 

• Stepped in to support a homeless mother with her baby, ensuring they had somewhere safe to stay during a very difficult time. 

• An elderly gentleman was not receiving his pension due to a miscommunication, and I got his pension reinstated within a week. 

Hosting a Youth Jobs & Skills Fair in Croydon with Natasha Irons MP 

Young people are facing a challenging job market. 

Natasha Irons and I are hosting a jobs fair to help young people in Croydon get a foot on the career ladder.  

The event will connect young people directly with employers, apprenticeship providers and careers experts. Expected attendees include Google, Zurich, the Army, HMRC, Gatwick Airport, PA Consulting and more. 

Event Details 

Date: Friday 10 July 2026
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Venue: TBC a few days before the event (Croydon town centre)
Audience: Young people aged 16+ including sixth form students, college students, apprenticeship seekers and young people looking for employment. 

Check out our Eventbrite page to sign up.  

Watch our video here: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18w4nuH6MV/ 

Fixing the NHS and Getting Patients Seen 

The NHS was left under huge pressure by the Conservatives, but real progress is now being delivered: 

✅ 5 million extra appointments delivered 

✅ Waiting lists down by more than 400,000 

✅ 2,000 extra GPs hired, with action on the 8am scramble 

✅ Ambulance response times 3 minutes faster for the most serious conditions 

✅ 8,500 more mental health workers recruited 

These changes are helping residents in Croydon get the care they need more quickly and improving access to local services. 

Great British Railways is on track for Croydon! 

Govia Thameslink Railway – the parent company for Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express – has been renationalised by the Government. 

For Croydon residents, new measures will include: 

• Doubling the number of Gatwick Express trains each hour from December, as well as more early morning services during summer 

• ⁠Recruiting 75 more drivers across Thameslink and Great Northern 

• Setting up direct support for passengers via WhatsApp when there’s disruption to services 

Standing Up for Residents at Raleigh House 

Residents at Raleigh House raised serious concerns about ongoing security problems, including unauthorised access and safety risks.  

I brought together local councillors and Hexagon Housing Association to meet with residents and discuss these issues directly. 

Following the meeting, I have been pressing Hexagon for urgent action, including a new secure gate, CCTV, and improvements to access and security within the building. I will keep pushing until issues are resolved. 

Investment in Croydon West Schools 

Great news for Croydon West — three local schools will benefit from funding from the Labour Government to improve their facilities. 

The schools receiving support are:
• BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology
• Saffron Valley Collegiate
• St Chad’s Catholic Primary School

This investment is part of the government’s £450 million Condition Improvement Fund, supporting improvements to schools across the country. 

New Flexible Courses Coming to Croydon 

Thanks to Croydon College and this Labour government, new flexible courses designed to help working people upskill and retrain while balancing busy lives are coming to Croydon. Find out what it could mean for you: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lifelong-learning-entitlement-lle-overview/lifelong-learning-entitlement-overview 

Croydon’s Creativity on Display 

Croydon’s contemporary art fair ‘Art on Our Doorstep’ saw the Whitgift Centre was transformed into a gallery for the weekend! 

There was a wide range of work from talented local artists – from painting and photography to textiles and ceramics. The creativity in our borough never ceases to amaze! 

Croydon Students Tour Parliament 

Earlier this year I attended the “Loud & Proud” public speaking competition organised by Soroptimist International, where I met some incredibly inspiring young women from Croydon. It was brilliant to welcome them to Parliament for a tour and show them around. 

They are all so talented – Croydon’s future is in good hands. 

Using Technology to Catch More Criminals 

I was really excited to launch Police AI this month with £75 million of funding.  

We will use new technology to:  

• Catch more criminals  

• Put officers back on the beat  

• Tackle tool theft  

• Fight retail crime  

• Free up the equivalent of 3000 police officers.