Paul Kohler MP

At the Peace Symposium in Manor Hall Park, I spoke alongside faith and community leaders about the importance of standing together at a time of rising tension.

Nobody in our community should ever feel threatened because of their ethnicity or their faith.

It was joy to meet students from Hall School & answer their questions.

It was also great hearing about their engagement throughout UK Parliament Week!

The response to my letter to the Climate Minister, on behalf of students from the Ursuline School, on the need for action on climate change 👇

Lovely to visit Gardenia florist in Wimbledon Village, which brings so much colour & character to the high street 💐

Wonderful to meet with the founder, Jamie, & see their commitment to sustainable processes & plastic-free packaging.

#smallbusinesssaturday2025

It was fantastic to chat to pupils at Donhead Prep School about how they’ve been getting involved with UK Parliament Week.

Thoroughly enjoyed answering their questions & the impromptu debate about the price of plastic bags!

Paul Kohler: Wimbledon Park expansion mired in legal challenges The All England Lawn Tennis Club faces renewed legal challenges over its Wimbledon Park expansion, with campaigners winning the right to appeal, a…

My latest column on Wimbledon Park expansion, and the All England Club's legal stalemate 👇

www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/2565002...

Munira Wilson speaking to guests

Paul Kohler speaking to guests

A wonderful evening at the National Liberal Club for the @mertonlibdems.bsky.social annual dinner. Fabulous to hear from two out of the 72 @libdems.org.uk MPs @paulkohlersw19.bsky.social and @munirawilson.bsky.social

Disappointing U-turn from Labour on introducing a Tourist Tax today.

In Sept, the former Tourism Minister dismissed the idea, rightly saying many already feel taxed enough 👇

Now, Brits could face £518M in additional tax.

Hospitality & tourism are strongly opposed.

The Treasury also refused Stormont’s £119M funding request to cover compensation for the PSNI data breach, which exposed over 9,000 officers and staff.

With officers already facing real security risks, the Government must address this as a priority.

The Chancellor’s £370M for NI barely scratches the surface.

Stormont is already £400M over budget, with public services under immense pressure. 🧵

Without any serious attempt to re-engage with Europe, the Chancellor has passed up the single biggest tool at her disposal to improve the economy & confront the £90bn Brexit deficit.

Ed Davey is spot on, higher taxes won’t deliver the growth we need.

Community Crime-Fighting: Merton Join your local policing team and the Met Police senior leadership to hear about crime-fighting in Merton.

The Met is hosting a Community Crime-Fighting event for Merton residents on 2nd Dec, where you can meet our local policing team & the Met Police senior leadership and raise any questions or concerns.

Please find tickets & details here: url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/RMnOCXL8Ei...

I asked the Minister why, given the Home Office was briefed in advance it was likely visiting fans would be banned from the Villa-Macabi match, that the government failed to offer additional support until after the ban was announced.

Thank you to staff & pupils at Rutlish School for welcoming me last week.

It was concerning hearing from the Headteacher about funding pressures schools face, but a real highlight to speak with the Year 12 & 13 Politics classes & answer their fantastic questions.

It was wonderful visiting Malden Manor Primary and meeting the student ambassadors & councillors.

I loved hearing their thoughtful questions & sharing what life is really like as an MP. It was brilliant to see so much engagement from such a young age.

Police ‘used fake claims’ to ban Maccabi fans from Aston Villa game Dutch officers dismiss as untrue accusations the Israeli team’s supporters included ‘highly organised, skilled fighters’ who threw people into a river

This is a disturbing report, the veracity of which I will, as a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, do all I can to assess, during our dialogue with the West Midlands’ Chief Constable, Craig Guildford on the Maccabi fans’ ban.

www.thetimes.com/article/80e1...

Rail fares to be frozen in England next year Regulated fares, which include season tickets and off-peak returns, will not see annual price rises for the first time in 30 years, the government announces.

Delighted the Transport Sec listened to my arguments, when I called on her this summer (in my previous shadow transport role) to freeze rail fares next year.

Rail needs to become more affordable as passenger numbers have flatlined for over a decade.

bbc.com/news/articles/cwygx71g3n7o

Farage’s views on Russia likely to be further tested after jailing of Nathan Gill It would be expedient for Reform to take Labour’s advice and disavow ‘Putin talking points’

Whilst Russia had to bribe one of Farage’s senior lieutenants, to push Putin’s propaganda, the Reform leader still seems happy to do so for free ☠️

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

The response from the Health Minister to my letter, raising constituents' concerns about prostate cancer screening

The minister's response to my letter on District Line disruption, asking for an urgent meeting👇

Looking forward to sitting down with SWR & TfL soon to push for action on this long-standing issue.

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to congratulate Stephen Hammond on becoming an Honorary Freeman of the Borough this week, recognising his many years of service to Merton as a Councillor from 2002–2006 & as Wimbledon’s MP for nearly two decades after.

Merton doesn’t have a Women’s Health Strategy.

Merton’s Local Health & Care Plan 2022–24 doesn’t mention women at all.

Tonight, we’re asking Merton Labour & Merton Tories to back our plan to make women’s health a priority.

Reporting back from last week 📝

Insightful meeting with Dr Marek Jarzembowski, Chair of Merton Local Medical Committee.

We discussed key health challenges, including GP capacity, continuity of care & tackling low take-up of NHS health checks in the borough.

The car park remains closed for the day but the shopping centre has now reopened.

Huge 'van explosion' near UK train station 'rocks entire shopping centre' This is a breaking news story - please refresh for updates.

Thank you to emergency services for the rapid response to the van explosion on Queens Road this morning, believed to be accidental. Wishing the driver a swift recovery.

I’m in touch with Wimbledon Quarter owners who will share more details when able 🧵

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...

I spoke to BBC Radio London about Restorative Justice & my journey into politics.

We also discussed the challenges Labour are facing, the upcoming budget & more...

Hear the full interview here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEWa...

'I heat my Essex home with a data centre in the shed'

It is with imaginative solutions such as this that we should move towards Net Zero with ordinary people benefitting from, rather than paying the costs of, the transition.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Here’s the AELTC’s letter justifying, and my response refuting, their attempt to retrospectively change the law in their favour, by removing protection from public trusts of land like Wimbledon Park.

I’m disappointed by their tactics but remain committed to finding a solution.

Lib Dems call for 5% VAT cut for pubs and restaurants The party also wants to axe the renewables levy from bills, funded by a windfall tax on big banks.

As Chair of the Night Time Economy APPG & owner of Covent Garden speakeasy CellarDoor, I’m delighted my party is listening to the hospitality sector, with a fully costed plan to help us through a crisis worse than the 2008 Financial Crash, Brexit or Covid.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...