Getting on with the job
21 February 2025
Dear resident
I hope all is well with you. After seven months as your MP, I’m still in awe of the number and range of issues that people from every part of Chelsea and Fulham are contacting me about. I’ve helped with almost 2,000 casework enquiries since the election.
I promised in my maiden speech in July to be on the side of all my constituents and I’m determined to deliver on this.
Locally, I’m pleased that Charing Cross Hospital is now back in the New Hospital Programme, with its future funding secured, albeit very delayed. Progress is being made on Hammersmith Bridge after years of the Conservatives ducking a decision.
Meanwhile, I’m also campaigning to save the King’s Road Post Office and to stop leaseholders being ripped off by managing agents. Talk of a third runway at Heathrow presents a new challenge.
Nationally, we’re getting with the job. I’m glad the government has delivered two million extra NHS appointments as promised, given hospices £126m (their largest funding boost ever), found a further £350m for building affordable homes and opened up £400bn of public contracts to small and medium-sized firms.
Those renting in Chelsea and Fulham will also benefit from the Renters’ Reform Bill – ending no-fault evictions and blanket “no pets” policies, and allowing landlords to ask for just one month’s rent upfront.
Please do get in touch if I can help in any way.
Best wishes
Ben
Better news for Charing Cross Hospital
The government has confirmed it has put Charing Cross Hospital back in the New Hospital Programme for modernisation and rebuilding.
Sadly, the Conservatives repeatedly lied about the funding and timetable for rebuilding Charing Cross, St Mary’s and Hammersmith Hospitals, all run by the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. They took them out of the New Hospital Programme – and then left the cupboard for the programme bare.
As a result, the major work at Charing Cross isn’t now expected before 2035. This is disappointing and I’m working to bring it forward.
Since my last update, I’m pleased the government has released £50m to bring St Mary’s Hospital – which has the most urgent need for repairs – up to planning consent by 2027-28 for a new hospital within a new life sciences campus.
Down the line, I want to see similar opportunities for Charing Cross Hospital. Working with H&F Council’s Upstream London industrial strategy, the vision is of a life sciences corridor across all three hospital sites running from Fulham Riverside to Paddington.
This could unlock new alternative funding for work to begin sooner than 2035. I’ll keep working for Charing Cross Hospital and this major boost to growth in our part of London.
The fight continues for the King’s Road Post Office
I met senior Post Office managers again this month in Parliament as part of the ongoing fight to stop them closing the popular and well-used King’s Road branch.
The fact that more than 1,000 people have signed my petition to keep the branch open definitely focused their minds. I asked for more details of their claim that the branch is losing money and for their analysis of the impact of any closure on residents. We’ve fixed a further meeting for next month.
As I said in Parliament recently, this busy branch is the only one left on the King’s Road. Older and Disabled people in particular rely on it for bill payments and access to cash. I’ll continue working with the local community to fight the closure and ensure that nobody is left behind.
Please help me keep up the pressure by signing my petition – and by saying how the closure would affect you and your family and friends.
Hammersmith Bridge back on the agenda
It was encouraging to sit down earlier this month with the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce, which was reconvened by the new Labour government after the Conservatives ditched it three years ago and ducked making a decision.
We talked through options and the need for clear traffic data. There is a lot of work ahead but at last we have a government that is giving the bridge genuine consideration.
Taking on rip-off managing agents
Leaseholders across Chelsea, Fulham and the country are being ripped off by managing agents ramping up unexplained charges for poor service, doing shoddy work and refusing to act transparently.
I’m working with an ever-growing group of Labour MPs to change this. In January, we met the biggest managing agent, FirstPort, in Parliament to demand they improve. Now we’ve asked RMG to come in. I’m also talking to these two and other local managing agents about the way they’re treating Chelsea & Fulham residents.
Other managing agents are in our sights, including Rendell & Rittner. If we don’t get voluntary improvements, we’ll look at further action.
Have you experienced problems with FirstPort, RMG, Rendall & Rittner or any other managing agent? If so, please share your story with me here to help us get meaningful change.
Heathrow’s renewed push for a third runway
Many residents have told me of their concerns about the possibility of a third runway and other expansion at Heathrow.
I have a record of opposing this when a Fulham councillor. Residents already have problems with the noise and air pollution from Heathrow.
The government has set four tests for any third runway proposal. As well as growing the economy across the country, it would need to address noise pollution, protect air quality and meet UK climate change obligations.
There is a driving need to grow the economy so we have the much-needed resources to improve healthcare and schools, increase police on the beat and boost other essential services.
It makes sense to focus on what will deliver growth most rapidly. There may be quicker, easier options for airport expansion elsewhere in London and beyond.
Once Heathrow tables its plan, I’ll work through it with them in detail and discuss it with organisations such as the No 3rd Runway Coalition, which I met recently.
I’ll make sure residents’ voices are heard and will keep you updated.
Tackling gambling harm
Through the charity Gambling with Lives, I had a very moving meeting last month with a constituent whose son, aged only 19, had tragically taken his own life, having become addicted to online gambling in just six months.
As I said in Parliament, it’s time to acknowledge that problem gambling has become a public health emergency – we need to take action across government. The whole of the new gambling levy should go to independent bodies answerable to Parliament not to organisations run by gambling operators.
Gambling with Lives is campaigning for action against gambling harm. You can learn more and support them here.
Here is what I’ve been doing as your MP for Chelsea and Fulham
Around the constituency…
Welcomed pupils from the wonderful St Joseph’s and Fulham Bilingual primary schools to Parliament… Was quizzed by Chelsea’s Academy’s engaged ‘A’ level Politics students… Congratulated star resident Alexandra on her local pub apprenticeship… Supported World’s End residents at a community meeting about long overdue works on the estate … Dropped into a Q&A with Stoll veterans about their new homes… Did a walk ‘n’ talk around Chelseawith the Lots Road Neighbourhood Forum and Cheyne Walk Trust… Had a joyful visit to the Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital… Talked to Chelsea FC’s Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo at the Barons Court Project about helping homeless people… Visited Ashburnham Community School to hear about AllChild’s great work… Discussed dentistry challenges with NHS Dentists in Fulham… Popped into the London Winter Walk’s rest stop at the Sands End Arts and Community Centre… Joined 400 older residents for H&F Council’s Big Christmas Day Lunch
Around Westminster…
Privileged to represent C&F residents and talk to HM The Queen at Buckingham Palace… Welcomed Lord Cashman’s support in protecting the Chelsea Reach houseboat communityfrom a predatory landlord… Honoured to be made UK Trade Envoy for Morocco and West Africa… Visited the Isle of Wight with the Health and Social Care Committee as part of our social care inquiry… Flattered to be named General Practice Parliamentary Champion by theLondonwide Local Medical Councils… Argued for step-free access to Putney Bridge station and bus improvements in C&F with TfL Commissioner Andy Lord… With tenants, launched report about social housing stigma… Backed the Safer Phones Bill to help children’s mental health and learning… Supported pet-friendly housing… With families, launched report into the additional costs of raising a disabled child… Celebrated the UK’s life sciences excellence with Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty.
Please sign my Post Office petition to help save the King’s Road Post Office
If you’ve had problems with a managing agent, please help my campaign by sharing your story
