Parliamentary Update – September 2026

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

One of the most significant issues debated in Parliament this month was the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, often referred to as the Assisted Dying Bill. I know there are strong and sincerely held views on this issue across Bexleyheath and Crayford, and I am grateful to the many constituents who took the time to contact me.

The Bill ultimately fell at its latest stage in Parliament and will not progress further during this session. I voted against the Bill because I did not believe it contained sufficient safeguards to protect vulnerable people. While I support the principle that people facing terminal illness should be treated with dignity and compassion, I remained concerned that important protections were missing from the legislation.

In particular, I believed stronger safeguards were needed for people with learning disabilities and others who may be especially vulnerable. Throughout the Bill’s passage, I argued that further amendments were required and continued to raise concerns about whether the Mental Capacity Act was an appropriate framework for decisions relating to assisted dying.

I was also concerned by suggestions that the normal parliamentary scrutiny process could be curtailed. On an issue of such significance, I believe legislation should be subject to the fullest possible examination, debate and amendment. Thorough scrutiny is often what makes legislation safer and more effective.

I recognise that many people will take a different view to mine and I respect those opinions. However, my position remained consistent throughout the Bill’s passage: while I support the principles behind assisted dying, I did not believe the safeguards in this Bill went far enough to protect vulnerable people, and for that reason I could not support it.

Gaza and the West Bank

As the Prime Minister has said, our Labour Government must do more to address the situation on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank. The Israeli government’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank are putting the two-state solution in peril, with increased illegal settlement expansion driving thousands of Palestinians from their home. That is why, earlier in the summer I signed a cross-party letter calling for urgent, concrete action to counter the escalation of violations against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, in particular by ending trade with illegal Israeli settlements. I was one of over 130 Labour MPs, who wrote to the Foreign Secretary to call on a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements earlier this year.

At the same time, progress requires security for all. The trauma of Hamas’ terrorist atrocity on 7 October is felt deeply by the people of Israel and by Jews across the world. That is why we will call out, in no uncertain terms, those who question Israel’s right to exist.

We are making clear that we believe the occupation is illegal. Our Government along with a number of international partners will ban trade in goods from illegal settlements, take action against services that facilitate or support illegal settlements, extend out sanctions regime so that we have power to act against those who break international humanitarian law, and take action against Iran and its proxies, which threaten Israel’s very existence.

We are taking these steps because we believe that a two-state solution is the only route to a viable and lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.

The Health Bill

One of my priorities in Parliament is improving access to healthcare and support services for disabled people, including wheelchair users and those who rely on community equipment to maintain their independence and quality of life.

During the Report Stage of the Health Bill, I spoke to amendments I had tabled which would have required Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to ensure that community equipment and wheelchair services are provided within 18 weeks of a person’s assessment. The amendments would also have required ICBs to publish annual reports detailing their performance against these standards.

As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Access to Disability Equipment and for Wheelchair Users, I have heard directly from constituents and organisations across the country about the long waits many people face when trying to access essential equipment and wheelchair services. Delays can have a significant impact on independence, wellbeing and health outcomes, while also creating additional pressures elsewhere in the healthcare system.

My amendments sought to establish clearer expectations around waiting times and improve accountability for service delivery. They would also have helped provide greater transparency for patients and families by ensuring that performance information is published regularly.

Alongside this work, I attended a parliamentary event organised by the Disabled Children’s Partnership to support Amendment NC85, tabled by Jen Craft MP. The amendment sought to strengthen the accountability of Integrated Care Boards for delivering health services for disabled children, helping to ensure that children receive the support they need at the right time.

The Health Bill’s passage through the House of Commons provides an important opportunity to improve the way healthcare services are delivered. I will continue working with colleagues across Parliament, disability organisations and service users to champion better access to equipment, wheelchair services and wider support for disabled people and their families.

This month I spoke during the Report Stage of the Health Bill to the amendments which I had tabled. The aim of them was to ask the Government to make regulations which would require integrated care boards to ensure that community equipment and wheelchair services are provided within 18 weeks of the date on which a person is assessed, and for integrated care boards to publish an annual report on their adherence to these standards.

Royal Mail services across Bexleyheath and Crayford

Postal services are something many people rely on every day, whether for receiving important documents, managing bills, accessing public services or staying in touch with family and friends. That is why I have continued to press Royal Mail over ongoing delivery problems affecting residents across Bexleyheath and Crayford.

Over recent months, I have been contacted by a significant number of constituents reporting delayed letters, missed deliveries, important documents arriving late and concerns about postal votes reaching voters in time. While these issues have been reported across different parts of the constituency, I have received a particularly high volume of complaints from residents served by the Bexleyheath delivery office.

In response, I have raised residents’ concerns directly with Royal Mail, Ofcom and Government ministers, urging action to address the problems and improve service reliability. Residents should be able to depend on receiving their post promptly and consistently, particularly when it includes time-sensitive information such as medical appointments, financial correspondence or official documents.

This issue is also a personal one for me. My father and grandfather both worked as postmen, so I understand the important role postal workers play in our communities and the dedication with which many carry out their jobs. I also recognise the pressures and challenges that frontline staff can face.

However, residents rightly expect a reliable postal service, and where standards fall short, Royal Mail must be held accountable. While the company has outlined a number of local improvements, I will continue monitoring performance closely and pressing for further action where necessary.

I will keep working on behalf of residents to ensure their concerns are heard and to push for the dependable postal service that communities across Bexleyheath and Crayford deserve.