Election – Week 4. Issues on the doorstep

The biggest issues in my mailbox and when I am talking to people on the doorstep or at tube stations and street stalls are the NHS (notably Charing Cross) and Gaza but the housing crisis, green issues, the cost of living (especially foodbanks), school funding and street crime also come up a lot.

Here is the latest on Charing Cross Hospital – Labour will restore the funding for the rebuild cut by the Tories – and my statement on the situation in Israel/Palestine. To allow a more scientific view of the main issues across Hammersmith & Chiswick, please complete this short survey.

https://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/survey

I took part in the first Hammersmith & Chiswick hustings on Monday.  Many thanks to Father Richard at Our Lady of Fatima, White City, for hosting and to Hilda McCafferty for chairing. It was a lively but good-natured debate.  There are two more hustings coming up on Sunday and Monday details are below but the Chiswick Calendar one on Sunday is sold out.

Sunday 23 June, Chiswick Calendar hustings will be held at the George IV pub on Chiswick High Road at 7pm.

Monday 24 June, Saint Paul’s, Grove Park. Doors will open at 7pm and the hustings will begin promptly at 7.30pm. If possible, please reserve you place online. Questions may be submitted in advance via email to sam.hearn@intinternet.com.

For readers in the new Chelsea & Fulham seat there are hustings on Saturday 22 June at 11am at All Saints in Fulham.  Labour candidate Ben Coleman has a narrow lead over ex-Tory Party chairman Greg Hands as many life-long Conservatives switch their vote in response to Hands’ years of putting Party before constituency especially over the future of Charing Cross.

Normal life goes on

Away from the campaign trail, normal life goes on.  In the past week I have:

• Spoken on local community station Portobello Radio about the Irish contribution to life in Hammersmith.

• Taken part in the Silent Walk to mark the seventh anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire

• Visited Mosques in White City and Shepherds Bush at Eid Al-Adha

• Joined the West London Welcome ‘Friendraiser’ to support their work with asylum seekers and refugees

• Celebrated Brackenbury Residents’ Association 25th anniversary at the Glasshouses in Ravenscourt Park

• Met the Trustees and staff of Chiswick House and Gardens

• Attended Ukrainian Open House at the Quaker Meeting House which provides support for Ukrainians taking refuge in west London.

It is a pleasure to see so much life and generosity in our local community.