“I was honoured this month to visit Ukraine to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation on behalf of the Government. We are committed to supporting Ukraine in their fight for freedom and peace.”
Dear Resident,
I hope you are well and enjoying the sunshine that May has to offer. Community events certainly have a different flavour as we emerge from the winter months – from street parties to community gardens – the spaces we share are thriving in the sunshine.
Our pocket of North London
As ever I have been meeting with local residents during my regular surgeries as well as holding my first ever street surgery on the Fallowfields Estate. In the last month we have assisted residents with 282 cases including:
- Securing the lease for Bishopswood Bowls Club in Hampstead Garden Suburb.
- Helping residents move in to more suitable accommodation in the area.
- Ensuring patrols of an area affected by frequent dog fouling in Temple Fortune.
Potholes, street cleanliness and litter were frequently mentioned in my ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ survey. As a result, we have been in contact with Barnet Council and I am pleased to say that significant improvements have been made in areas such as East End Road, Hendon Lane and Winnington Road. Please do get in touch if you have any specific roads or pavements to bring to my attention and I’ll gladly write to the Council to flag any issues. You can also read more about our local and national effort to fix potholes and pavements here.
We also launched our campaign for a ‘Step-Free Cricklewood’ this month. Councillors Anne Clarke, Alan Schneiderman and I are campaigning for both Brent Cross and Cricklewood stations to have step-free access so that residents across Cricklewood and Golders Green can have safe, accessible journeys. The previous Government promised Cricklewood station would have step-free access by March 2024. Work has not yet started.
We are gathering the testimonies of local residents in order to push for the change with the relevant authorities.
I know that residents want to see North Finchley High Road improved. So last week, the team and I conducted a street survey to ask people what they specifically wanted to see in the area. We will be using the responses to form a local campaign for a better High Road – watch this space!
Alongside campaigns and casework, I have visited many of the wonderful community groups and organisations that this constituency has to offer. For example, I spent a lovely afternoon at the BeLifted Warm Hub in East Finchley, which offers women over 55, many of whom are widows, a place to make connections. I joined a yoga session with them and enjoyed a lovely chat over some tea and biscuits.
I was also thrilled to be able to attend the fantastic VE Day event at Stephen’s House over the early May bank holiday. The Finchley Society had an incredible archive collection about the Finchley experience during the war, which I leafed through with some live swing music as an accompaniment. It was great to see so many of you there – including some in the proper 1940s get-up!
The view from the River (Thames)
This month included an historic day in Parliament. For only the sixth time in its history the House sat on a Saturday. This meant that MPs from across the country made their way back from their constituencies to London to be in Parliament (I was very grateful to be able to simply hop on the Northern line!) to pass through legislation to save British steel and thousands of jobs.
MPs have been voting on the Employment Rights Bill as it makes its way through Parliament. Working people deserve proper rights at work and this Bill guarantees sick pay and paid parental leave from day one, as well as new protections against dismissal for pregnant women. It also legislates against exploitative practices such as zero-hour contracts and ‘fire and rehire’ schemes. This Labour Government is ensuring that workers’ rights are at the forefront of its agenda.
As well as better rights at work, our Government is ensuring that parents can get to work earlier with its introduction of a free breakfast club in every state primary school. I was delighted to be able to attend the early rollout of the clubs in two local schools. Children at Tudor Primary School in West Finchley and Claremont Primary School in Cricklewood can now enjoy the the best start to the day with a free breakfast.
Putting the ‘justice’ in social justice…
As Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services I hear first hand the experience of those working in the courts across the country. From County Courts in Telford to Crown Courts in Southwark, the last Government left a mess in every corner of our justice system.
With rising numbers of victims waiting for their day in court, our current system is not fit for the future. I am preparing to make the radical changes needed to achieve swifter justice for victims. This includes looking carefully at recommendations from Sir Brian Leveson’s review into our criminal justice system to reduce the Crown Court backlog.
As a justice minister, I was honoured this month to visit Ukraine to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation on behalf of the Government. We are committed to supporting Ukraine in their fight for freedom and peace. This includes military packages to the tune of £13 billion but also an ironclad commitment from my department’s to support the restoration of justice in Ukraine. Slava Ukraini!
The fun bit …
Photo of the month
One of our brilliant caseworkers helping a feline constituent!
The F&GG Fuel prize goes to…
Tasties Cafe in Finchley Central, which has become a regular treat for Friday lunch! We recommend the tables in the sun!
Community Spotlight
East Finchley Festival is looking for volunteers for this spectacular annual festival in June – [email protected] to be part of this brilliant event.
Up and coming …
Our Yard at Clitterhouse Farm has their lovely plant sale on for all those with green fingers : Our Events and Our Workshops — Our Yard at Clitterhouse Farm
Find out a bit more about Finchley with the Finchley Society walk on the 14th of May: Finchley Church End Town Centre, Past, Present and Future Tickets, Wed, May 14, 2025 at 10:30 AM | Eventbrite
Antiques Roadshow is coming to St Stephen’s House in June – unfortunately tickets have sold out but definitely one to watch on the telly!
Tickets are also now on sale for Prom at St Judes!Music | Proms At St Jude’s
(Please send nominations for next month to [email protected])
Enjoy the sunshine!
Best wishes,
Sarah Sackman MP