This week I had the privilege of visiting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the UK Trade Envoy. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the British Embassy team for their invaluable support and dedication throughout my visit, the DRC is a country of remarkable resilience, though it remains a complex environment in which to operate.

It was lovely to visit Snaresbrook Primary School in Wanstead last week, meeting bright young minds and dedicated staff who make this school so special.

I recently met with the Foreign Secretary to address the urgent situation in Palestine. During our discussion, I conveyed the serious concerns of constituents regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the Israeli blockade restricting aid access to Gaza.

Over the past days, it’s becoming ever harder to find the words to describe how appalling Israel’s actions have become. I have engaged so frequently with the government about this issue, and I know the efforts of the Minister and diplomats are genuine and heartfelt.

I recently had the privilege of speaking in a parliamentary debate on the urgent need for more social housing in outer London boroughs like Waltham Forest and Redbridge.

Calvin Bailey MP is working with residents across Leyton & Wanstead to address serious concerns about housing management by FirstPort. If you live in one of the developments listed below and have experienced problems, we want to hear from you.

May has been a busy and rewarding month, from international engagements to local community events. I had the privilege of leading my first Trade Envoy delegation to Angola, visiting more of our wonderful local schools and supporting important campaigns in both Parliament and the constituency.

It was a pleasure to meet with Father Neil again and see first-hand the great work that the team at St Margaret with St Columba, Leytonstone are doing for our local community with their foodbank. Thank you for having me!

This week, I visited Noor ul Islam Mosque in Leyton for a meeting hosted by the Waltham Forest Council of Mosques. I’m always grateful for the opportunity to listen, reflect, and engage with local perspectives. Thank you to WFCOM for hosting and for the important work you continue to do in our community.

Last week, I joined the House of Commons Defence Select Committee on a visit to the U.S. Our agenda included discussions with NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, RAND, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State. We spoke with members of Congress, industry, and academia - all focused on the future of defence and transatlantic cooperation.

Thank you to Connaught School for Girls for the warm welcome last week. It was great to sit down with the school leadership team and of course Teddy the school dog to hear more about the school’s priorities and the support they need to continue delivering for their students.

I recently had the privilege of hosting a Defence-Space Industry Roundtable in Parliament, bringing together leaders from across government and industry to address the future of the UK’s space sector with Maria Eagle MP, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry.

I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s strong condemnation of Israel’s actions, the suspension of trade talks and sanctions on the extremist settler movement. I hope that our joint statement with France and Canada, issued last night, will further step up pressure on Israel.

For three months now, Israel has blocked aid from reaching people in utterly dire need in Gaza. UN agencies and charities still operating...

Last week I led my first delegation of businesses as the UK’s Trade Envoy to southern Africa. We had a very productive and promising few days in Angola, which has massive potential for growth and for increased trade and investment links with the UK. 30+ UK business leaders and many more from Angola came together to identify the opportunities.