I was delighted to host another successful Apprenticeships and Skills Fair last month at Hornchurch’s Queen’s Theatre to celebrate National Apprenticeships Week. This event was held once again in partnership with the Romford Jobcentre and gave local people of all ages the chance to find new work opportunities, including students from several local schools, who listened to presentations by young people already in paid apprenticeships. The Jobcentre’s Armed Forces and Disability Champions were also on hand to support and advise veterans and those who may have additional needs in the workplace. 

I am seeking residents’ support in my long-running campaign to stop the sale of Hornchurch Police Station by Mayor Sadiq Khan and have launched a petition with Hornchurch & Upminster Conservative Association to help demonstrate the strength of local feeling. The new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley QPM, is currently conducting a Neighbourhood Policing Review that will include looking at the Met’s estate and whether station sell-offs should be stopped. We think a clear show of public support will help make the case to him that Hornchurch Police Station’s disposal should be stopped.

I also continue to work with Cllr Keith Prince as our GLA member, along with residents and MPs across outer London to oppose the Mayor of London’s plan to extend his ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ), charging certain vehicles £12.50 a day to drive in and around Havering and other boroughs. I am particularly concerned that once the Mayor has the charging infrastructure in place, he will look to change the goal posts and charge different types of vehicles over time, as with the Congestion Charge. 

We have been pressing Havering Council to join Bexley, Hillingdon, Bromley and Harrow in resisting the ULEZ expansion. I met the Leader and Chief Executive of Havering Council who confirmed that Havering had not signed ‘Section 8’ agreements with Transport for London to permit the installation of the cameras required to implement the scheme. I have also met the Roads Minister with other London Conservative MPs as we work together to increase public pressure on the Mayor to change course. Most recently, we have been building a coalition of Home Counties councils who are also vigorously opposing the ULEZ expansion. There is a lot of concern that workers in the police, health and other services who drive into London for work will be heavily penalised for doing so, and I am pleased to say that Essex County Council has confirmed that they will not permit ULEZ infrastructure on county land. 

I have carried out some really positive school visits recently, including to Gaynes School and Oakfield Preparatory School, and will shortly be hosting a group of students in parliament to discuss our democratic system and the role of an MP in it.