School-based Nurseries are coming to Southgate and Wood Green
Good news for parents in Southgate & Wood Green!
We have just secured investment to open a Best Start school-based nursery at Earlham Primary School and Risley Avenue Primary School, so local families can benefit from accessible, affordable, high-quality early years education.
The Government has already cut childcare costs in half and saved the average family £8,000 per child. This will deliver better life chances for children and better work chances for parents.
You can find out more at www.beststartinlife.gov.uk
Meeting with Home Secretary
Many constituents of Southgate and Wood Green have contacted me about changes to immigration rules.
Following this, I sat down with the Home Secretary for a constructive discussion about these issues and to raise their concerns.
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association visit Haringey
It was my pleasure to host the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Haringey, and welcome such wonderful parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth to our local area.
The CPA works to promote parliamentary democracy and good governance, as well as building relationships across nations. I welcomed the CPA to Alexandra Palace, Hot Milk Café, St Michael at Bowes Primary School, and Studio 306 – just some of the amazing community spaces that Haringey has to offer.
I am always proud to show off our amazing community.
Health Secretary visits Wood Green
I was pleased to welcome the Health Secretary to the Wood Green Community Diagnostic Centre this week. The visit came as new data showed that, despite the busiest winter on record for the NHS, waiting lists have fallen to their lowest level in three years.
Community Diagnostic Centres like the one in Wood Green play an important role in helping patients access tests and scans more quickly, reducing pressure on hospitals and helping people receive diagnoses and treatment sooner. It was a great opportunity to highlight the valuable work being done locally to improve healthcare services for residents.
Read more about the data here: NHS England » NHS waiting list continues to fall despite record winter
Cyprus Statement
Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, please read my statement on the situation in Cyprus.
London Jewish Forum
This week, I invited the London Jewish Forum and local Jewish leaders from our constituency to join a roundtable in Parliament. It was an opportunity to discuss the deeply concerning rise in antisemitism and how this is impacting the community.
I was grateful to hear their perspective and experiences, and to learn what more I can do to support Southgate and Wood Green’s Jewish community. I will be raising all of their concerns with the police, particularly around safety outside schools.
I stand in solidarity with our local Jewish communities and believe that hope, resilience and unity will always be stronger than hate and fear.
New Southgate Coffee Morning
This week, I hosted a coffee morning for residents in New Southgate, to discuss their concerns about crime and antisocial behaviour in the local area. We were joined by the police and local councillors.
It was a lovely opportunity to connect with constituents of Southgate and Wood Green and have a real conversation about the issues they care about. These included:
-repeated parking on double yellow lines
-suspected money laundering
-overflowing public bins
In response to the issues raised at the meeting, I have contacted the relevant public bodies and look forward to updating my constituents on the action taken.
If you live in the New Southgate area and want to raise any similar issues, please email me at bambos.charalambous.mp@parliament.uk.
Cyprus APPG Briefing
In response to the situation in the Middle East, Stephen Doughty MP, the Minister for Europe, sat down with members of the APPG for Cyprus today to brief us on the Government’s action on Cyprus and the UK’s Sovereign Bases.
In response to the situation in the Middle East, Stephen Doughty MP, the Minister for Europe, sat down with members of the APPG for Cyprus today to brief us on the Government’s action on Cyprus and the UK’s Sovereign Bases.
I was grateful for the opportunity to discuss the cooperation and coordination of the UK with the Republic of Cyprus in keeping Cyprus, active British personnel, their families and British nationals safe. I was also pleased to receive confirmation that RAF Akrotiri is not being used for any defensive action and the US is not operating from Akrotiri.
I would like to offer reassurance to my constituents that the Government has taken all necessary measures to protect the security of Cyprus.