I was honoured to attend the Speaker’s Black History Month Reception and welcome service personnel to Parliament.

Our Armed Forces personnel dedicate so much in service to our country. When they leave service, support should be straightforward and accessible.

I was proud to support GMB London Region’s Black History Month reception in Parliament and launch their new race activist toolkit. It was great to catch up with so many wonderful friends fighting for equality in their workplaces!

Last month I visited Connaught School for an assembly and Q&A with the whole school. We talked through my own career and the path into politics️, and the pupils' questions ranged from work and careers to a debate on social media - always good to see young people engaging so sharply with these issues!

It’s was a privilege to celebrate the first-ever National Cadets Week last week and shine a light on the people who make the Cadet Forces so special. Meeting cadets, hearing their stories and seeing first-hand how the Cadet Forces build confidence, create opportunities and develop skills for life has been fantastic.

The Green Party motion is simply unacceptable. There is nothing pro-Palestine about seeking to impose a one-state fantasy from afar in place of the state, alongside Israel, that the Palestinian Authority are struggling to build with our support.

Access to international services through Stratford would be hugely welcome for Leyton and Wanstead. This is something I've supported over the last two years through my engagement with rail operators and public bodies on expanding our vital Leyton Temple Mills depot.

I visited the East London Boxing Academy recently to get an update on their fundraising campaign. The academy is committed to making boxing accessible to everyone and is currently raising funds to build a new girls' toilet and improve facilities for all users.

I helped build my first Sukkah last Friday, marking the start of the week-long celebration of Sukkot. I was warmly welcomed by Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue and it was wonderful to meet members of the community, learn more about the significance of the festival, and hear about the issues affecting local Jewish residents.

What a whirlwind Labour Conference! It was wonderful to catch up with so many excellent colleagues and friends at Labour Conference, including too many inspiring conversations to count! My diary highlights included:

I have long been a big advocate for youth hubs in our area because every young person deserves a welcoming place to spend their time. I’m delighted to see this Labour Government investing in a Young Futures Hub in Waltham Forest, in addition to the Youth Hub scheme from the Mayor of London - giving local young people somewhere to

Last Friday, I was invited to Father Neil's Supper Club. It was lovely to catch up with local residents over dinner, with plenty of good food and good company. Thank you to Father Neil and everyone involved for such a warm welcome!

Snaresbrook station’s westbound platform exit has been closed for a while now, so I went down to meet the engineers working on it. Good news — once the handrail’s finished, it’ll be back open within a couple of weeks

Great to meet with residents of South Woodford last week at my drop-in event at Sainsbury's: thank you to everyone who took the time to come and meet with me then!

Epping Forest is one of our area's greatest treasures, connecting East London to Essex through ancient woodland and centuries of history. A huge thank you to the Epping Forest Heritage Trust and all the volunteers who make this annual event possible.

LASC is giving young people the skills they need to succeed through apprenticeships and training in scaffolding and roofing. These careers offer great opportunities to build secure futures and even start their own businesses. As we work to deliver 1.5 million new homes, we need a skilled workforce to make it happen. That's why organisations like LASC, started with the support of the GLA, are so important.

Great to run into the Iron Men on Wanstead Flats. They run a free boot camp there every Sunday at 09.20, aimed at 18-25 Black men in our local area, offering mentorship, brotherhood and community building through exercise. Come down and get involved

Since I was elected, I have been campaigning on behalf of local residents to improve conditions on of the Avenue Road Estate. Today, I met with the Council to discuss the redevelopment plans and to seek further information about the improvements for the area.

I joined Aisha and the North East London Peabody team, giving residents the chance to raise repairs and estate issues directly with the people who can act on them.

Had a great time at The Duke Street Party the other week with Councillor Jo Blackman (Wanstead Village), catching up with Ronnie from the East London Brewing Company & the iconic Creative Biscuit of South Woodford!