Ben Coleman

For years, Thames Water has got away with treating Chelsea & Fulham residents with contempt, pumping raw sewage into our river and paying out big dividends & bonuses rather than investing. So I welcome replacing Ofwat with a new regulator w. real teeth. My remarks in Parliament.

Parents at @DCPcampaign & @letuslearntoo event tell me EHCPs are a nightmare to navigate & fight for – but often only way to get children with SEND the support they need. V encouraging that getting better outcomes is likely to underpin the govt's new SEND strategy this autumn.

Many thx to British Expertise International for inviting me as Trade Envoy to Morocco to exchange views with dozens of businesses, incl our @WestLdnChambers, on seizing opportunity to deliver Morocco's ambitious vision. Useful discussion about entry barriers & how UK can help.

The first wave of sanctions on smuggling gangs will be imposed on Wednesday. @kategarraway asks Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy who these will be targeting specifically.

Cheering to hear from Lauren & Lavina from @Earnt_Official how they reward volunteers for local good causes, incl. Chelsea primary school, with top experiences & VIP treatment from leading brands. Would-be volunteers, brands or good causes, see here: earnt.co.uk

Good news: @trinityhospice & @SSChospices, who provide excellent care for Chelsea & Fulham residents, among those to benefit from £75m govt funding to upgrade facilities in hospices. This follows £25m in Feb & delivers £100m promised in Dec, their largest ever funding boost.

Families have watched their local rivers, coastlines and lakes suffer from record levels of pollution. The Conservatives let it happen. Labour will clean it up.

Nudification apps are a tool of digital sexual assault - and yet they remain legal, cheap, and easy to use. As I argue in @LabourList, it's time we ban them.

Enjoyed hosting a lively public meeting with World's End Estate residents yesterday, talking about safety, ASB, repairs & housing. My thx to them - and to council staff & police for listening and committing to any improvements needed. We'll follow up on progress later this year.

For more security, easier trade and smoother travel, we need better European links. So hooray for today's UK-Germany deal on defence, illegal migration, trade, research, e-gates, school trips, train links and more. Hot on the heels of UK-France deal. Vorsprung durch Politik!

I know from talking to local firms in Chelsea and Fulham how damaging Brexit has been to their business. The UK-EU deal holds out hope. Implementation can't come soon enough so today I asked ministers for an update.

I took seriously the concerns being raised with me about physician associate roles and commissioned Gillian Leng to do a proper review that followed the evidence. Now I will act - starting immediately. theguardian.com/society/2025/j…

Encouraging thread on trainee doctors' satisfaction. Lots more to do but things are improving.

Following a great week for deepening UK-French relations, a pleasure to celebrate Bastille Day (le 14 juillet) with French constituents, the French Ambassador @AmbDuchene and EU Ambassador @PedroSerranoEU. Stronger with France, stronger with Europe, all in the common interest.

A great time was had by all at the North End Road Summer Festival on Saturday. It’s always nice to bump into familiar faces and enjoy the food, music and buzz. This Xmas will see 10th anniversary of 1st North End Road traffic-free market. Brilliant that it’s still going strong.

Our up to £1bn Better Futures Fund will help tackle the structural causes of poverty. Bringing together public funds with social impact investments, it will open up opportunities for training and work across the country. My interview with the @guardian theguardian.com/politics/2025/…

It's buzzing in Fulham today. See you there!

🎉 What an amazing day at the Parsons Green Fair 2025! 🙏 Big thanks to our generous sponsors @Marstons1895 , @HandelsbankenUK , Riverstone London & @johndwoodandco! 📸 Photo credits: H&F Council — thank you for capturing the spirit of the day so beautifully!

At the end of a day in Parliament, it was good to take a stroll through St James’s Park to see the British and French flags lining the Mall. After the damage of Brexit, we're rebuilding Britain's place in Europe step by step, country by country, and getting results for the UK.

From Storm Shadow to next-gen cruise missiles, the UK and France are strengthening defence ties, supporting British jobs and our shared security. Yesterday at @MBDA_UK Stevenage, @JohnHealey_MP and French Minister @SebLecornu saw this vital industrial partnership in action.