Today in Parliament, I highlighted Fay Bond, who took up athletics at 90 & at 101 won 🥇🥇🥇 at the US Senior Olympics, the oldest of 12k+ competitors.
💪Staying active later in life has huge benefits. So I asked the Minister: When will we see a 🇬🇧 UK Senior Olympics?
🎥👇
Britain has huge potential to grow community lenders, CDFIs and credit unions — but major banks must step up and invest in left-behind communities. 📊
Fair Banking legislation can help make that happen — unlocking opportunity and supporting businesses where it matters most.
In government, I initiated a drive to grow community and mutual banks in the UK, and I’m delighted that Peter Kyle MP and @blairmcdougall.com have taken this work forward through a new taskforce. 🤝
Community banks unlock funding for small businesses & provide affordable loans when people need them most.
They’re a powerful force in the US but still far too limited here in the UK. That needs to change.
@responsiblefinance.bsky.social
@thefinancelab.bsky.social
@coopparty.party.coop
🧵1/3
Today is Holocaust Memorial Day. West Harrow resident, Cathy Singer-Gwillym tells us about her earliest years in Harrow - shaped by displacement, hope, resilience, and community.
In her words you’ll hear the challenges they faced, and the strength it took to rebuild their lives here in Harrow.
Today is Holocaust Memorial Day - a day to remember every life lost and every journey of survival.
I was joined by Nower Hill student Lisa and local resident Cathy Singer-Gwillym.
Cathy shared with us her parents’ escape from Nazi Germany and how they made a new life in Harrow.
Pleased to coordinate this letter to Rachel Reeves calling for a significant expansion of credit unions to help boost access to cheap, ethical credit - a vital step in tackling financial exclusion and supporting communities across the UK. 💬💷
Read more here 👉 www.theguardian.com/money/2026/j...
🚨 @gareththomasmp.bsky.social's Fair Banking Bill has just been introduced in the House of Commons.
Access to finance is about more than just fairness - small businesses are being held back by legislation that doesn't work for them.
1/ 🧵High-cost credit is holding people & #SMEs back.
@gareththomasmp.bsky.social calls for government action to expand #AffordableCredit - tackling the cost of living crisis & supporting economic growth through a #FairBankingAct.
@politicshome.bsky.social
#FairBankingForAll
bit.ly/3Nk0v9G
Affordable credit is critical for households and businesses. A #FairBankingAct would make banks accountable for expanding fair, affordable lending where it’s needed most. @fbfacampaign.bsky.social @gareththomasmp.bsky.social
#FairBankingForAll
🚨 NEW: Labour and Co-operative MP Gareth Thomas is bringing forward a Bill to make big banks serve local communities again.
Too many communities are being left behind by banks, with many forced to rely on loan sharks and payday loans.
If you think banks should actually serve those who need it, share this video.
youtu.be/mzIW_nWisDg
Labour and Co-operative MP Gareth Thomas is in LabourList today, making the case for a Fair Banking Act to support our neighbours, friends and family members who are being locked out of access to banking.
We're backing Gareth Thomas' Fair Banking Act to help transform communities using credit unions and community finance.
It's time the banks helped out the communities they're supposed to serve.
• St Mary’s Christmas cards & artwork
• Birdboxes, scented candles, vases and more
Lunch and brunch are available too.
All proceeds go towards the ongoing work at St Mary’s - your support means so much. Thank you! 🎄 (2/2)
Always a pleasure to pop along to the St Mary’s Christmas Fayre, my first of the festive season! Running until 3pm today 🎅🏻🤶🏻
🎄 Entry just £1
Discover a fantastic range of unique, handcrafted Christmas gifts, including:
• Wreaths & table decorations
• Hampers, cakes, jams and relishes (1/2)
This week, I’m proud the Renters’ Rights Bill has finally received Royal Assent. Here’s what it means for 88,000 renters in Harrow.
Read more: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Every child in Harrow deserves the best start in life. 👶
Working with @bphillipsonMP, I’ve secured £152,188 to open a Best Start Family Hub in Harrow - opening April 2026! 🌹
We’re rebuilding the proud legacy of Sure Start & supporting families.
👉 beststartinlife.gov.uk
Great to join celebrations at Wealdstone Baptist Church - 120 years since it opened on this site and 150 since the congregation first gathered in Wealdstone. From humble beginnings to a true community landmark, its story is part of Wealdstone’s own. ⛪️🎉
Homelessness nearly doubled under Tories - a disgrace.
On #WorldHomelessDay, our Government will tackle this in Harrow, directing £122,899 to help prevent rough sleeping & support children in temp housing with food, travel & laundry to stay at school. Part of £84m national boost
🎉 Fantastic news for Harrow! Headstone Manor & Museum has been awarded £419,420 - one of the UK’s largest Museum Renewal Fund grants - to preserve our heritage, boost events, and improve digital access. A brilliant investment in Harrow’s culture and community. 🏛️✨
Cheering you on from Harrow! Good luck to England’s Red Roses 🏴 🌹 @redrosesrugby in the #RWC2025 final.
Here’s hoping the girls bring the title home as they take on Canada in front of 82,000 fans at Twickenham! 🏆🏉
Day 5 of Navratri ✨Another joyful evening of dance and celebration at Harrow Leisure Centre! 💃🪔
Sending my warmest wishes of joy and prosperity to everyone celebrating this vibrant festival in our Hindu community.
It’s been an honour to serve in govt delivering a new SME strategy & securing justice for subpostmasters with over £1bn paid to Horizon victims. There’s more to do, I wish my successor every success
Harrow remains my priority & I look forward to continuing to serve our community.
🚨 I’ve written to Sir Mark Rowley to urgently raise my concerns over the proposed closure of the public counter at Harrow Police Station.
At a time when trust in policing matters more than ever, we must protect face-to-face services in South Harrow.
Great meeting @TimcoMucunski to discuss next steps for the UK-North Macedonia Government-to-Government agreement signed earlier this year, that will ease the delivery of critical infrastructure projects, strengthen bilateral trade & drive economic growth for both our nations.
The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry's comprehensive report marks an important milestone. We are committed to ensuring victims are given full and fair redress.
My statement 👇
www.gov.uk/government/s...
From keeping our streets clean, to running food banks, checking in on neighbours, supporting local events, & so much more - volunteers are the quiet force that keeps Harrow going & I, alongside many others, remain incredibly grateful to you!
Thank you to you all. #VolunteersWeek
Wishing a Happy Eid al-Adha to Muslim friends, neighbours and constituents celebrating in Harrow and across the world ☪️
