Yesterday at #Evensong we celebrated the Feast of the Dedication of @westminsterabbey.bsky.social alongside the Lord Mayor of #Westminster and mayors from across London, including our very own Cllr @martinwhelton.bsky.social.
Really enjoyed attending as Mayor of Merton the Merton Connected 10th Civic Pride Volunteer Awards - so many inspiring people and groups contributing so much to the borough and great to reward their achievements and service. All Merton Heroes. #FullofCivicPride
Very honoured to be elected as Merton Council Mayor for 2025-26 and to become only the second person to serve as mayor twice in its 60-year history. Looking forward to the year ahead and having the wonderful Cllr Shulie Syeda as my deputy
Great to watch AFC Wimbledon reach the League Two play-off final after a fantastic victory over Notts County. Looking forward to Wembley.
So pleased to see Crystal Palace finally win the #FACup and a great moment. I know many people in Pollards Hill will be celebrating long into the night seeing them triumph in the cup. Glad all over will be reverberating round Croydon and South London tonight!
Greatly honoured to be given the opportunity to serve as @MayorOfMerton for 2025-26 in Merton Council’s 60th year. Looking forward to engaging with communities across the borough.
orlo.uk/iicEj
It’s Election Day, Canada.
Go vote Canada Strong.
I know many people in Pollards Hill will be delighted to see @CPFC in the #FACup final and hopefully it’s third time lucky and the win this time.
Today I signed the book of condolences in memory of Pope Francis at the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Wimbledon and thanking him for all his work to make the world a better place. May he rest in peace.
Incredible #USMasters and one of the most exciting final rounds I’ve ever seen in 35 years of watching golf, but so delighted that Rory McIlroy has finally completed the career golf grand slam and a phenomenal achievement.
Spending the day at the London Coop conference - many engaging debates and great to meet many fellow cooperators from across London.
Wishing all the great women in my life and in the world a very happy #InternationalWomensDay. Good seeing a packed Pollards Hill library for an event organised by my Merton Council ward colleague Joan Henry on ‘Life after Domestic Abuse’ with many moving testimonies.
Wishing all Ghanaians a very Happy Independence Day - proud to represent Pollards Hill in Merton which has the largest Ghanian population of any UK ward. Hope you all have a wonderful day celebrating.
Engaging conversations at @labouryimby.bsky.social fringe at #Lablocal25 with a real willingness in the room by
Labour councillors from
across the country to build the homes and infrastructure we so desperately need and speeding up the processes involved including the passing of local plans.
Great listening to deputy PM Angela Rayner at #lablocal25 about the work of Labour in local government and the difference they’re making in government including delivering more homes and devolution. Making the real changes needed after 14 years of Tory government.
Great to be attending #Lablocal25 - many engaging sessions on campaigning and the work of a councillor along with sharing experiences with Labour colleagues.
The cold certainly didn’t deter us, but great being back out on the #labourdoorstep in Morden as we are very Sunday all year round with Siobhain McDonagh MP and the Mircham and Morden Labour team talking to residents on the issues which matter to them and listening to their feedback.
Congratulations to Luke Littler on winning the #WorldDartsChampionship at just 17-years-old - incredible performance and a phenomenal player to watch. Suspect many more world championships to come.
Saddened to learn about the passing of Helen Bramstead who served as a Merton Labour councillor for Mitcham East from 1971-74(now part of Pollards Hill ward ). Made a major contribution to inter-faith dialogue in the borough as part of our Jewish community and will be sorely missed.
Thanks to everyone at St Michael’s church in Pollards Hill for putting on a wonderful Christmas party - loved all the celebrating and dancing in the spirit of the season. Thanks to everyone who helped organise the party and providing all the food.
Lovely to be spending time
at the Moat Foundation Christmas celebration at the wellbeing studio in Pollards Hill along with the new chief executive of Moat Housing Gavin Cansfield. Great to hear about its work with the local NHS along with the collaborative work with the Merton voluntary sector.
Thanks to Emily Thornberry MP for making such an uplifting speech at the Mitcham and Morden Christmas dinner along with a tribute to the work of Siobhain McDonagh and a rousing rendition of the twelve days of Christmas emphasising the achievements of the Labour government since July.
Always great attending the Christmas lunch along with my ward colleague Joan Henry at New Horizon Centre in Pollards Hill. Over 150 attending the lunch and lovely to see many in the community enjoying the festivities. Thanks also goes to CommonsideTrust for all their work and providing a lunch club.
Currently at a Met Police New Met for London event at the Baptist church in Pollards Hill. Reporting that Merton had the highest reduction for neighbourhood crime in London and on many different areas of police work in the borough.
Having served Mitcham since its introduction in 1936, the 118 bus route will be withdrawn by @TfL in 2025 and replaced by the 45. Disappointed that the route number has not been retained especially as it’s effectively being renumbered and extended to Camberwell Green.
Top Liverpool performance to go 9 points clear in the Premier League and a massive victory. Great team performance but a long way to go till the end, but today is a time to celebrate and savour this success over Manchester City.
Thanks to everyone at Commonside Trust in Pollards Hill for their Christmas light show at the New Horizon Centre and also to the Mayor of Merton for switching on the lights. Great seeing so many of the children enjoying the festivities including the snow machine and Mitcham Zoo including the snake!
Really sad to hear about the passing of John Prescott. A political giant and formidable campaigner who worked tirelessly to get Labour into government, but also made a significant contribution to our success. Rest in peace John and thank you for everything.
Looking forward to once again chairing the Merton Council Licensing committee. Previously chaired the committee from 2003-6 which included the transferring of decision-making from the magistrates to councillors and the passing of our first licensing policy.
Lovely to be back out with the Mitcham and Morden team and in Lower Morden with over 20 out on the doorstep - no better way to spend a Sunday morning out campaigning. Many great conversations including on the future of St Helier Hospital including the need to modernise and renew its buildings.
