Proud to join constituents Tanya & Nadim - founders of the Natasha Allergy Foundation - in Parliament for launch of National Allergy Strategy: recognising allergy as a serious long-term condition, improving healthcare training & tackling the postcode lottery in access to allergy clinics.
Italians are woven into British life. Proud to host the Italian community at Parliament for 'Gocce d'Italia' - celebrating their contribution to the UK. Thanks to the Italian Consul, Italian Cultural Institute and COMITES - and to my constituent Mirko for making it happen. 🇮🇹🇬🇧
The Schools White Paper is the most significant attempt to improve lives for children with SEND in a decade – and I welcome it. But questions remain on enforcement, role of health services & backing for parents. I'm determined to make reforms deliver for SEND children & families in Chelsea & Fulham.
UPDATE 17/4/26: Progress - but the real test is still to come. The owner has been told to act - again. He ignored the same order in 2016 and @rbkc.gov.uk did nothing. If he ignores it this time, will the council finally do the work itself and send him the bill? We'll all be watching.
School food shapes kids' health for life. One in five leave primary school with obesity and dental decay is the leading cause of hospital admissions for under-10s. Government is consulting on a major overhaul of food standards. Have your say by 12 June: consult.education.gov.uk/school-food-...
Neighbours of this Chelsea house have dealt with knotweed, rats & rotting corpse. The owner was convicted in 2017 & told to fix it. He hasn't. @rbkc.gov.uk claims it's powerless - it isn't. On Thursday I'm urging the Planning Committee to challenge the facts, listen to residents & act.
Good news to start your week! Charing Cross Hospital is getting new govt funding to expand same-day emergency care centre. It means more people will be seen, treated & sent home the same day. Lots more to do to end corridor care in our NHS but we’re making a start here in Fulham.
After Conservative austerity cut funding for youth centres & opportunities for our young people, Labour are investing again. Great to see @london.gov.uk announce plans for at least one new late-night youth club in every London borough - including @hfcouncil.bsky.social & @rbkc.gov.uk.
More optimistic for our country now PM says he wants greater ambition at next EU-UK summit on economic & security ties. Expect tough negotiations ahead but we have prospect of a deeper alliance that is concretely good for British & European jobs & growth.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
Poland is a vital UK ally. My thanks to Jerzy Boczkowski for hosting me & fellow MPs at Polish Embassy last week. Good to discuss Poland's thriving economy, new UK-Poland defence treaty & our future relationship with the EU. In uncertain times, these bonds matter more than ever.
Cost of living is top doorstep issue in Chelsea & Fulham. So good news: today, National Living Wage up 4.1% to £12.71, under-21s up 8.5% to £10.85. Then 6 April: pensions up £574, Universal Credit rises and 1,340 local children lifted out of poverty. More to do but real help now.
With global uncertainty, Britain needs closer ties with Europe. And here at home, I'm on your side – protecting children online, getting social housing residents heard, stopping McDonald's 3am bid and fighting to save Kings Road shops. Newsletter out now👇
bencoleman.uk/navigating-u...
Honoured to speak at Imperial UPF Policy Forum alongside Baroness Walmsley. The evidence of harm from ultra-processed food is growing. Healthy food must be affordable and accessible. Shaping policy means getting into mindset of supermarkets, who are pouring money into that.
Parents in Chelsea and Fulham say it can be tough to raise small children in today’s digital world. Hope govt’s new, evidence-based guidance on screen time for under 5s will help. Non-judgemental, practical advice developed with parents for parents.
beststartinlife.gov.uk/screen-time-...
Community centres like SEACC built by @hfcouncil.bsky.social enrich lives – but too many are threatened. Last summer @rbkc.gov.uk locked SMART & its vulnerable users out of its premises without warning. This is part of a wider problem. Government must act. My remarks in Parliament.
The EU gets a better trade deal with Australia than Britain did. Of course, the EU negotiates with the clout and leverage of being the world’s largest market. It gets better deals for its members than they’d get negotiating separately. Britain now misses out on that.
Building on our strong alliance with the EU is imperative in ensuring regional stability.
Watch @chelfulhamben.bsky.social set out why mutual defence cooperation is so vital at the UK-EU PPA in Brussels last week.
The young men and boys of Chelsea and Fulham deserve better than what the worst corners of the internet push at them. So I'm calling on Ofcom to issue guidance on online harms targeting men and boys - gambling ads, manosphere influencers, sextortion. Will help women and girls, too.
As the UK's Trade Envoy for Morocco and francophone West Africa, I see real potential in combining Japanese tech expertise, UK financial leadership and African entrepreneurialism. Watch this space.
The UK, Japan and Africa have so much to offer each other in fintech, AI and digital innovation – and I was proud to open last week's UK-Japan-Africa Tech & Innovation Summit 🇬🇧🇯🇵🌍, brought together by the Labour African Network and the Embassy of Japan.
Sitting down with MEPs to dig into economic security, mobility and youth opportunities, and defence cooperation was a reminder of just how much we all gain from these conversations. An important part of building a safer, more prosperous future for all our countries.
Stronger UK growth and a more secure defence depend on working more closely with our European partners – which is why I was pleased to join the latest Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in Brussels this week.
Closer UK-EU alignment benefits us all.
- @chelfulhamben.bsky.social sets out the next steps of the UK-EU reset and the benefits close cooperation can bring.
After joining King's Road businesses for a recent meeting with RBKC council, I can report they're now discussing options on rent hikes. A step forward - but the fight isn't over. 1,500 petition signatures helped get the council to the table. Add yours below: bencoleman.uk/kings-road/
Three things top my agenda: defence collaboration as the US steps back and Russia's threat grows; protecting British manufacturers being locked out of Europe's new 'Made in Europe' industrial scheme; & reopening doors for young people through an ambitious youth experience scheme.
🇬🇧🇪🇺 People in Chelsea and Fulham are clear: Brexit has been a disaster.
I'm determined to play my part in putting things right.
Next week I'll be back in Brussels, meeting Members of the European Parliament as momentum builds on the UK-EU reset.
📉 Wait lists have fallen again by 43k in January - 374k in 18 months.
🚑 Fastest ambulance response in 5 years, down to less than 29 mins for heart attacks and stroke
🏥 A&E waits the shortest for four years despite a hugely demanding winter
Lots done, lots more to do.
I'm pleased this is on the government's radar, and I’ll keep on their case so every child and their family feel supported.
In Parliament I've argued for five changes to fix NHS children's palliative care. Access to 24/7 care. Filling workforce gaps. Good neonatal support. Involving patient groups. And protecting England's 80 highly specialist services.
If you're one of the 99,000 children in the UK living with life-limiting conditions, it's shocking you may not get the palliative care you need. While children's hospices are irreplaceable, they aren’t everywhere - so most people turn to the NHS for support, which can be patchy.
