MP Greg Hands Wishes Constituents a Happy New Year

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And shares the details of his frantic festive season

Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands has wished his constituents a Happy New Year - and opened his diary to reveal the details of his frantic festive activities.

In recent weeks, Greg has:

Led a Westminster Hall Debate in which Greg praised the fantastic free schools and academies in Chelsea and Fulham, and highlighted the threats they face to continued success.

Visited Chelsea Harbour-based Heylo Housing, the country’s leading provider of part-rent, part-buy housing, where he had an interesting discussion about the prospective benefits of shared ownership, and its great potential to become the UK’s ‘third tenure’.

Took a class at école Marie d'Orliac Holy Cross Anglo-French bilingual school in Fulham, on the important issue of curbing single-use plastics.

Wrote to the National Audit Office urging an investigation into Sadiq Khan and the delays in delivering Crossrail.

Was honoured to be guest speaker at the annual Christmas lunch at Kensington and Chelsea Chamber of Commerce.

Visited Royal Mail’s Fulham delivery office, where Greg saw their day-to-day operations and praised staff for their hard work both particularly at Christmas, but also all year round.

Welcomed the news that Government is enabling an increase in funding for the police system of up to £970 million, the biggest increase since 2010, and have increased core local government spending power in real terms by £1.3 billion between 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Received a welcome response from Government in the Commons to his call to extend voting rights for overseas voters. Greg is pleased that the Government remains committed to scrapping the 15-year rule which applies to British expats voting in UK elections.

Visited the treasured Royal Court Theatre at Sloane Square, and learnt more about their Dynamic Participation Department which do an excellent job getting young people into acting and the theatre industry.

Attended an event in Parliament to mark World AIDS Day, and heard a moving speech from the Health Minister Steve Brine MP.

Met with CSM, the organisers of Adidas City Run in Fulham, and reiterated the need for better consultation around the event. Greg was disappointed to discover after the meeting that CSM and Adidas have already set the date of another run in 2019, on 17th November.

Welcomed a group of students from St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Chelsea, to Parliament and enjoyed answering their questions on parliamentary procedure!

Heard from the hugely talented choirs of All Saints Fulham church and Lady Margaret School at All Saints Fulham’s community carol service. The service included great readings from community representatives including the Headmaster of Fulham Boys School, Alun Ebenezer, and raised an impressive amount of funds for Glass Door, a charity working to provide support and shelter to those affected by homelessness.

Welcomed the news that the Secretary of State for the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (James Brokenshire MP) has rejected the appeal to redevelop the Sutton Estate in Chelsea.

Congratulated the Foreign Secretary on news of the UK’s accession to the WTO’s Government Procurement Agreement.

Raised with the Prime Minister his concerns regarding hostile comments made recently by EU officials.

Was interviewed on Austrian national radio Österreichischer Rundfunk on Brexit.

Appeared in the China Times where he discussed Brexit for a Taiwanese readership.

Was interviewed by German broadcaster n-TV on Brexit.

Met with constituent Dr Sarah Rutherford, to hear her concerns about girls’ and women’s rights and the consultation on the Gender Equality Act.

Attended the Party Conference of the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Hamburg, and witnessed the election of Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer as the new leader and successor to Angela Merkel.

Welcomed Peru’s new Ambassador, H.E. Juan Carlos Gamarra, to Parliament, and discussed the importance of UK-Peru cooperation – not least for the 2019 Pan American games in Lima, for which the UK is a key delivery partner.

Enjoyed the Festival of Carols at Holy Trinity church on Sloane Street in Chelsea, where funds were raised for the three excellent hospitals in Chelsea & Fulham: The Royal Marsden, Royal Brompton and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

Asked the Prime Minister what new action the Government has taken in preparation for a possible no-deal Brexit outcome– an outcome which nobody wants to see.

Attended and addressed the Courtfield Ward Conservatives, held at Janet’s Bar in South Kensington.

Held regular constituency advice surgeries in Metro Bank branches on Kings Road, Chelsea and at Fulham Broadway.

There are four ways to contact Greg Hands M.P.:

By Phone: 020 7219 5448

By email: mail@greghands.com

By post:
Greg Hands M.P.
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA

In person:
To make an appointment at Greg’s surgeries, complete his website's contact form or telephone 020 7219 5448.

January 16, 2019