I write this column just after Remembrance Sunday, when I laid wreaths at the war memorials in Upminster and Hornchurch. Remembrance Sunday is the most important day in the parliamentary calendar and is especially poignant this year. It is hard for us to accept the disruption to our national way of life, the liberties that people have fought and died for, and the ceremonies through which we remember those sacrifices. We will be thinking not only of the Armed Forces community but those working so tirelessly to get us through the pandemic and the losses of life and livelihood that have been inflicted.

This month, I have been speaking to small businesses about the challenges of the social restrictions, including entrepreneurs like Margaret of Taylor’s Hair Studio and Kerry and her team at the Vanilla Room in Hornchurch. I had hoped to join the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Vanilla Room but these have had to be postponed. The government has reintroduced the furlough scheme and is putting in place other funds to support businesses through these difficult days.

I am pleased that schools will stay open and I know how grateful we are to the teaching and support staff in nurseries, schools and sixth forms for their work. I visited Langtons Infants School in Hornchurch and have had calls with the heads of Nelmes, Broadford, Mead and Benhurst Primaries to talk about the challenges schools have faced since reopening. 

The Mayor of London has been negotiation for a second bailout of Transport for London with Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, and I have had three meetings with Grant to ensure the needs of outer London boroughs were represented in those negotiations. TfL has now received by government up to £1.7bn in bailout funding to make up for fare revenue lost to covid. Despite a lot of hot air from the Mayor, there are no conditions attached at all such as the rumoured extension to the congestion charge zone or over-60s travel.

Before parliament’s vote on lockdown, I attended meetings with the Health Secretary, Number 10’s data team and our hospital trust to understand more about local covid figures, hospital pressures and the government’s plan. We continue to push NHS commissioners for stronger plans dealing with blood testing across Havering, and we keep a close eye on hospital admissions given that Havering was, at that time, recording the highest number of positive cases in London among the over-65s.

Finally, as we approach the end of the EU transition period, the Government is looking at proposals to create freeports to boost investment and regional employment opportunities. I was pleased to attend Ford’s Dagenham plant to meet with other MPs and business representatives to talk about a freeport bid led by London Gateway and Tilbury ports, with input from Ford. I look forward to this developing further and hope we make as much of this opportunity to boost jobs, skill and growth in the Thames Estuary.