Barry Gardiner MP joins ward councillors in opposing the loss of Samovar Space and Market Square to hotel development

 

England fans on Market Square ahead of the 2020 Euro Cup Final - July 11th 2021 

(Credit & Copyright Alamy)

 

Barry Gardiner MP (Brent North) has joined Wembley Park ward councillors Cllr Ahamadi Moghaddam and Cllr Najib Warsame in opposing the building of a  hotel on Market Square and Samovar Space, currently in use as a public open space.

Barry Gardiner writes:

   

Planning Team

Brent Council

 

29 July 2026

 

To whom it may concern,

 

Objection to planning application 26/1351 for Plot NW04

 

I write to object to the above-referenced planning application for the erection of a hotel between two and 17 storeys tall on what is currently the Market Square/Samovar Space.

 

You may be aware that I do not normally intervene in planning matters except in exceptional circumstances, including if the planning application is a major infrastructural development. These developments have knock-on effects with wider political ramifications within the local community such as traffic generation, overcrowding of doctors’ surgeries, and inadequate number of spaces in local schools.

 

This application is one such exception. I have been alerted to it by my constituents and I agree with their concerns that these proposals would have severe detrimental impacts on Wembley Park, visitors, and most importantly, residents.

 

At the time of writing, the application has attracted 131 comments on your planning portal. Every single one of them objects. I note from these comments that residents have not been properly notified or consulted by the applicant. I am also aware of a Change.Org petition against the application which has almost 700 signatures to date.

 

Benefit of the Samovar Space

 

The Market Square/Samovar Space is one of the few free, open spaces in Wembley Park that people can spend time in. It hosts markets and community events and is one of the most attractive spaces in an area which is increasingly dominated by high-rise blocks. Samovar provides a free play area for local children, many of whom live in high rise flats that lack outdoor space. The plot is currently a much needed ‘third space’ in which people socialise and form community without having to patronize a business.

 

I understand that the proposals include plans for a new square. This does not afford the same community benefit as the existing space. It would likely suffer from wind tunnelling, and would effectively be the courtyard of commercial premises rather than a genuine public space. The space would also be completely lost with no alternative provision during multiple years of construction.

 

Supposed benefit of the development

 

There is already a plethora of hotels in the immediate vicinity. In Wembley Park we have two Premier Inns, a Holiday Inn, Best Western, Novotel, Hilton Hotel, Wembley International, St George’s Hotel, ARK Wembley, CityLiveIn, and the Ibis which is being refurbished. There are also a number of smaller establishments and further options in neighbouring wards.

 

A new hotel is of very little benefit to the residents who live here and does nothing to diversify the area. Residents actually benefit from community services such as the social and leisure space that already exists on the plot.

 

This is already an intensely developed area. Regeneration projects, commercial services, and the custom and footfall they create need to be balanced across Wembley and Brent, rather than further concentrated in Wembley Park.

 

Harms of the development

 

While the benefits of the proposals are extremely limited, this development would cause a range of active harms to the area, residents and visitors. On top of the loss of the community space, these harms include:

 

·     Years’ long construction causing noise and physical disruption as well as dust and debris;

 

·      Reduced sightlines and sunlight due to the huge scale of the proposed building;

 

·      Exacerbation of the Olympic Way wind-tunnel and echo effects;

 

·      Traffic from construction, hotel guests and ongoing servicing will exacerbate road congestion;

 

·      Trees are unlikely to survive relocation or, if retained, to survive the nearby construction;

 

·      Reduced attractiveness and vibrancy of the area.

 

Many of the consultation’s respondents have quite rightly raised critical safety concerns about the development.

 

Baroness Casey’s review into the disorder in and around Wembley Stadium during the Euro 2020 Final concludes that there was a series of ‘near misses’ in which serious injuries or fatalities were only narrowly avoided. She highlights issues with crowd control specifically on Olympic Way and Engineers Way, and notes that ‘excess crowds overloaded in confined spaces’ were ‘deemed to be one of the highest risk scenarios’ that day.

 

The existing plot provides much needed open space for event day crowds to gather and dissipate, as well as potential space for evacuation of the high volume of visitors we often welcome to Wembley Park. The proposals would remove the Wembley Splay route, which eases pedestrian congestion. Without this, event day crowds will be even further concentrated.

 

The Casey Review quotes a FA/Wembley official: ‘the outer perimeter [of Wembley Stadium] is hard to manage because of the residential blocks’. Constructing a further block so close to the Stadium and Arena can only exacerbate this concern.

 

Planning compliance

 

I understand that outline permission for this development was granted in 2011 under decision 10/3032. Since then, the Market Square and Samovar Space has become a well- established community facility, and Wembley Park has seen the proliferation of similar high-rise blocks. The Planning Committee must consider the site’s current use and setting rather than rely on 15 year-old proposals and assessments.

 

 

I understand that in 2018, Brent Council contributed £12.1 million to improve the site on the condition that the developer would not pursue the full outline parameters. However, I understand that this proposal of a 17 storey building does reach the full parameters. The planning committee must consider whether the approving this application would default on this agreement involving public funds.

 

The outline permission was granted ahead of various new policies such as the National Planning Policy Framework 2012, the Brent Local Plan 2019 – 2041 and the London Plan 2021. Application 26/1351 must be assessed against current requirements. Particular attention should be paid to the following:

 

The National Policy Planning Framework 2012

 

Section 8: Promoting Healthy and Safe Communities

 

102. Planning policies and decisions should promote public safety and take into account wider security and defence requirements by:

 

a. anticipating and addressing possible malicious threats and other hazards (whether natural or man-made), especially in locations where large numbers of people are expected to congregate…

 

103. Access to a network of high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity is important for the health and well-being of communities,

104. Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields and formal play spaces, should not be built on unless:

 

a. an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements; or

 

b. the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or

 

c. the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.

 

105. Planning policies and decisions should protect and enhance public rights of way and access including taking opportunities to provide better facilities for users, for example by adding links to existing rights of way networks including National Trails.

 

Brent Local Plan 2019 – 2041

 

Policy DMP1: Development Management General Policy

 

Development will be acceptable provided it is:

 

a. of a location, use, concentration, siting, layout, scale, type, density, materials, detailing and design that provides high levels of internal and external amenity and complements the locality;

b. satisfactory in terms of means of access for all, parking, manoeuvring, servicing and does not have an adverse impact on the movement network;

i. resulting in no loss of, and where possible enhancing, community facilities or other land/buildings for which there is an identified need.

 

Policy BD1: Leading the Way in Good Urban Design

 

6.1.12 The policy seeks to create buildings and places of high quality that will be appreciated by future generations. High quality design is both visually interesting and attractive and should enhance local character. Good design is not just about what things look like, it is also about how places function and how individual buildings and the spaces around them contribute to the public realm and community well-being... Good design makes places that put people first, promote health and are welcoming, feel safe, are enjoyable and easy to use for everyone.

 

London Plan 2021

 

Policy G4 Open space

 

B. Development proposals should:

1. Not result in the loss of protected open space

 

Policy S4: Play and informal recreation

 

B. Development proposals should:

1. Increase opportunities for play and informal recreation and enable children and young people to be independently mobile

5. Not result in the net loss of play provision, unless it can be demonstrated that there is no ongoing or future demand.

 

Policy S5 Sports and recreation facilities

 

C. Existing sports and recreational land (including playing fields) and facilities for sports and recreation should be retained unless:

1. An assessment has been undertaken which clearly shows the sports and recreational land or facilities to be surplus to requirements…

2. The loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or

3. The development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.

 

Concluding remarks

 

It is my view that this application offers very little benefit to residents and in fact risks damaging the community, whereas the existing use of the plot as the Market Square/Samovar Space has visible and proven benefits.

Permission should not be granted without wider consultation of residents. I  support my constituents’ calls for the application to be heard at the Planning Committee with public speaking rights for local residents, and for a public explanation of how the developer has met the conditions to benefit from £12.1 million of public funds in submitting this application.

 

Nor should permission be granted prior to the publication of independent reviews on matters including wind, daylight, trees and construction impact as well as assessments from the Metropolitan Police, Wembley Stadium/the FA, the Safety Advisory Group, and any other relevant authorities.

 

I would be grateful if you could please register my objection and ultimately reject this application.

 

Yours faithfully,

Barry Gardiner

Member of Parliament for Brent West

 

To make your own comment follow this LINK Ref 26/1351 

LETTER: Hunger strikers are being subjected to cruel injustice - at least Barry Gardiner has been willing to speak out.

 

The Hunger Strikers

Dear Editor, 

With the ongoing situation of dangerous inaction, and criminal neglect from the British government in response to the hunger strike, it was refreshing to see Heba Muraisi's MP, Barry Gardiner, speak up for his constituent Heba, in the Houses of Parliament on 7th January 2026.

Heba Muraisi has been on hunger strike since 3 November 2025. Today, she has been on hunger strike for a staggering 73 days, which raises extremely grave and immediate concerns for her life, concerns of the utmost seriousness. She was among the first to go on hunger strike. She has vowed to continue with her hunger strike, and hasn't paused it, even temporarily. This means that, out of the group, she has been on hunger strike for the longest duration. She is at risk of dying suddenly at any given moment. After her prolonged hunger strike, she is at high risk of irreversible physical effects, such as organ failure, neurological damage, hearing loss and sight loss. The UN has issued serious warnings about the hunger strike, confirming what's already known: that the Prisoners for Palestine on hunger strike are at risk of immediate, serious and irreversible physical effects, and sudden death. 

Qesser Zuhrah paused her hunger strike, after severe health complications and hospitalisation, as did Amu Gib, who was also hospitalised, with the risk of organ failure and other acute complications. Umer Khalid, who has muscular dystrophy, paused his hunger strike due to life-threatening effects, but recently restarted his hunger strike, leading to renewed fears for his life and health. Lewie Chiaramello has type 1 diabetes, and is on hunger strike on alternate days, which still carries a very real risk of death. Even when a hunger strike is stopped, the refeeding process can be deadly, if not approached correctly with medical supervision. This means the prisoners who paused their hunger strikes are still not out of the danger zone.

It's been the biggest coordinated hunger strike in prison since 1981. Bobby Sands died after 66 days of hunger strike, in Northern Ireland's Maze Prison, and nine other deaths followed. 

Heba Muraisi began her hunger strike after being moved from HMP Bronzefield, to New Hall Prison in Wakefield, Northern England, without justification or explanation. She is hundreds of miles away from her constituency of Brent, her family and support system. As Barry Gardiner stated in Parliament, Heba's disabled mother can't make the journey to visit her.

Now New Hall has agreed to transfer Heba back to HMP Bronzefield, but the decision remains with Bronzefield as to whether they will accept her transfer. This has led to further, unnecessary delays, as Heba is fighting for her life with every hour that passes, and time is of the essence.

Along with the other individuals known as the Filton24, Heba's demands are as follows:

Immediate bail 

End to all Censorship of Communications in Prison  

Right to a Fair Trial, including disclosure of relevant documents that have so far been kept hidden 

Deproscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation  

Shut Elbit Systems down and all its subsidiaries in the UK 

So far, Secretary of State for Justice, David Lammy, has refused to meet with any of the hunger strikers' family members or legal representatives, despite widespread calls that he does so. Shockingly, he's chosen to ignore the hunger strike. He has failed in his duty of care to these prisoners of conscience, and his actions have been nothing short of wreckless, showing arrogant disregard for the lives of the hunger strikers. 

The deterioration of Heba's health, and that of the others currently on hunger strike - Kamran Ahmed, Teuta Hoxha, Lewie Chiaramello, and Umer Khalid, who recently restarted his hunger strike after a brief pause - was fully preventable, had David Lammy and Keir Starmer intervened early on.

Their deaths now seem imminent. But the circumstances leading to their continued hunger strike could have been addressed by the British government, whose actions, or rather inaction, indicate that they would prefer these brave activists to die. These prisoners of conscience have not been convicted of anything. Their loved ones and supporters wake with dread every day, scared that they'll hear the bad news they have died. 

Going on hunger strike must be regarded as the very last resort of prisoners of conscience, whose rights have been denied repeatedly. They have exhausted every avenue available to them, and been met only with discrimination and unlawful treatment. By denying them their fundamental human rights and subjecting them to such cruel injustice, the actions of the British government are tantamount to inflicting murder upon them. The government has had ample opportunity to act, and must be held to account. They are answerable to the public, and their response to this emergency is not simply optional, but a requirement of their roles. 

The hunger strikers ask only for their basic human rights and the government must be compelled to grant them, as the government itself is shamefully breaking the law with regard to these young people, whose lives are hanging by a thread. In a broader sense, the active complicity and participation of the British state in the genocide of Palestinians, is the underlying cause of the avoidable tragedy unfolding with the hunger strikers in UK prisons. 

Barry Gardiner has shown himself to be one of the few MPs of conscience who's willing to speak up. We call on him to continue to exert pressure on Keir Starmer and David Lammy, to grant the hunger strikers immediate bail and their other legitimate demands, and uphold their human rights, and the rule of law. David Lammy must meet with the hunger strikers' family members and legal representatives. We request in the strongest terms that Barry Gardiner uses his influence as an MP to raise the concerns that the hunger strikers are at immediate risk of death, and immediate action must be taken by the UK Government to prevent their deaths.

We also call on all people of conscience to write to their local MPs, even if they've already done so, to highlight the urgent need to take action to save the lives of the hunger strikers, before it's too late.

Saba Chaudry

(Address supplied)

Formal investigation and a move requested after vulnerable dementia resident goes missing from Care Home for a second time, resulting in his hospitalisation

 

Beechwood Court

 

The partner and primary carer of an elderly man, Glen Atkins has written to Brent Council Leader, Muhammed Butt, and local MP, Barry Gardiner, following what she terms a 'profound breach of care' at Sovereign Network Group's Beechwood Court care home in Wembley.

She wrote: 

I am writing to you as an elderly carer, deeply distressed and frightened by the repeated safeguarding failures at Beechwood Court that have now endangered my partners life for a second time. 

My Partner, Glen Atkins, who has dementia and significant health needs, went missing again on Saturday 22nd of November, due to  what appears to be the lack of security and supervision from the carers.
 

On this occasion, the consequences have been even more severe: he was found in a deteriorated condition and is now in hospital receiving treatment. 

This is not only unacceptable but it is a profound breach of care. 

Following the first incident, I was assured that measures would be taken to prevent this from ever happening again. Those assurances were clearly not upheld. As his main carer, and as an elderly woman myself, I rely on the council’s systems to keep him safe. Instead, we are now living through the trauma of repeated failures that could have cost him his life. 

I am requesting the following immediate actions: 

1. A formal investigation into how my partner was able to leave the premises again despite previous alerts and assurances. 

2. An urgent review of Beechwood Court’s safeguarding procedures, including door security, staff monitoring, incident reporting, and emergency escalation processes. 

3.Immediate support in securing a safer and more appropriate placement for my partner, as I no longer have confidence in the facility’s ability to protect him. 

4. A direct meeting or call with a senior safeguarding officer within the council, within the next 7 days. 

No family should ever have to go through this once, let alone twice. The physical, emotional and psychological impact on my  Partner and on the family is immeasurable. I am asking you personally to intervene, as this situation now represents a systemic and dangerous failure affecting vulnerable adults in your borough. 

I look forward to your urgent response. 

Patricia Bryan 

 

Barry Gardiner has not yet responded and Muhammed Butt's office has just sent an acknowledgement,

 

Asif Zamir has written to Cllr Neal Nerva and Brent CEO Kim Wright in support of Patricia Bryan calling for a firmal investigation

 

My name is Asif Zamir, and I am writing to you formally to request an urgent investigation into the care and safety of Mr. Glen Atkins, currently a resident at Beechwood Court.

 

I am supporting Mr. Atkins’ partner and primary carer, Patricia Bryan, who has expressed profound distress regarding repeated safeguarding failures. On Saturday, 22nd November, Mr. Atkins—who lives with dementia—went missing from the facility for a second time. He was later found in a severely deteriorated state and is currently hospitalised.

 

Despite previous assurances following a similar incident, it is clear that the security and supervision protocols at Beechwood Court are insufficient.

 

I am formally requesting that you initiate a senior-level investigation into this case, specifically addressing:

 

The systemic failure of security measures that allowed a vulnerable resident to go missing twice.

 

The breach of previous safeguarding agreements made with the family.

 

An immediate review of the facility's fitness to provide care for residents with complex dementia.

 

To the Ward Councillors (Cc’d): I am copying you into this correspondence to formally request that you raise Member Enquiries on behalf of Patricia Bryan and Glen Atkins. We require your support to ensure transparency, accountability, and an urgent resolution to ensure Mr. Atkins is moved to a safer, more appropriate placement upon his discharge from the hospital.

 

 Given the severity of this situation and the fact that a vulnerable resident’s life has been endangered, I look forward to your acknowledgment of this email within 24 hours and a detailed response regarding the investigation steps.

 

Wembley Matters sough further information about the context of Mr Atkins'  going missing from the care home. Asif Zamir said:

 

It's alleged that CCTV was not working at  Beechwood house. Mr Atkins had been missing for approx 7.5 hrs. A contributing factor on the delay in finding him was that the staff  allegedly could not pin an exact time of when he had disappeared or the events leading up to his disappearance. 

 Mr Atkins had been taken by a members of staff to the communal area for his lunch and left unsupervised and that is when he disappeared.

When he wasreturned he had been out in bad weather and returned with wet clothes. 

Had the staff carried out their duty and provided accurate statements, there is a chance Mr Atkins could have been found earlier and prevented harm to him. There is a chain of failings.

He is in poor health in hospital; Beechwood Court have effectively evicted him whilst he is in hospital as they cannot meet his needs. The local authority must carry out their duty in helping find him a new home that meets his needs.

 

Patricia Bryan said that Mr Atkins had been found by police and returned to the Care Home who phoned to inform her.  When she arrived at the care home she was told the he'd had his medication and was in bed. When she went upstairs to his room she found him shivering and called 999. He was blue-lighted to Northwick Park Hospital where he remains. He has swollen feet with high blood sugar levels and is being treated with drugs for his diabetes and a course of insulin. Patricia said she she doesnlt know what trauma this incodent has caused and is seeking information from the consultant about his discharge.

She is looking at alternative care homes but was told that her preference would require an additional contribution of around £800 a week when that is how much pension Mr Atkins gets in a month.

 

A complicating factor is the triple involvement at the care home. It is run by Sovereign Network Group (SNG), the caring service is provided  by Westminster Homecare Limited  who have several recently renewed contracts with Brent Council, and Brent Council deals with allocations via the Adult Care Service and provides oversight.

 

A Stage 1 complaint was made to SNG on behalf of Mr Atkins and an investigation undertaken. The report on the investigation consists of a catalogue of many issues over time with the electronics and mechanism of the entrance door and a suggestion that he exited after the door was made insecure during a power outage. The conclusion has a sting in the tail: 

 

My Decision 

I am not upholding the complaint on the grounds of service failure. However, I want to be clear that this does not diminish the seriousness of the incident or the distress it caused. I fully acknowledge the impact this has had on Mr Atkins, including the deterioration in his condition and the concerns raised by Beechwood staff and social workers.

I would like to extend a further apology to you for the delay with your response. I wanted to ensure I had full scope of the situation at hand as well as tangible information/ updates to provide before responding to you. With that being said, I understand how important timely communication is and regret any additional frustration this may have caused. To compensate for this delay and in line with our policy, I will be awarding you £20 for delayed response. In line with our policy this will be credited to your rent/service charge account and visible on your statement within the next 28 days.

 

UPDATE: I emailed Cllr Nerva, Cabinet Lead Member for Adult Social Care, yesterday offering him the opportunity to make a published comment on this issue. I have only had a standard holding reply so far:  

Thank you for your email

I will respond to you as soon as possible

Frustrated Barry Gardiner MP calls on David Lammy to answer 'reasonable questions' on hunger strikers

There have been numerous calls for Barry Gardiner, Brent West MP to take up the case of constituents who are on hunger strike in the Palestine Action case.

Today on Twitter he vented his frustration and and said, ' My constituents are on hunger strike, yet ministers are failing to answer reasonable questions about their imprisonment and medical care or to meet their lawyers.'

 This is the letter he appended:

Help residents asking Barry Gardiner to urge David Lammy to act on weakening Brent hunger striker Heba Muraisi

 

Noreen and Alan Scott are Brent residents very concerned about the condition of the Palestine Action  hunger strikers. They have written to their MP, Barry Gardiner to ask him to urge Justice Minister, David Lammy, to act to prevent loss of life.

They invite residents to sign the letter by emailing  noreenscott@hotmail.co.uk or copying her into their email to Barry Gardiner. Add comments and requests in comments section below this article. Barry Gardiner's email address: barry.gardiner.mp@parliament.uk

Remember to put your address  on your email so that Barry Gardiner knows you are a constituent.

 Dear Barry,

We understand that one of your constituents, Heba Muraisi (one of the Filton 24) has been on hunger strike for since 3rd November, which is now 41 days and rising.

This is a very serious, life and death, situation and I/we are increasingly concerned that the government and its associated institutions are failing in their duty of care to this young woman, as well as seven others’ who are on hunger strike, protesting against their conditions in prison as well as the tainted political shenanigans associated with their incarceration, all of which appears to be a blatant disregard for their human and legal rights.

“After 41 days of a hunger strike, the body undergoes severe physical changes, including significant muscle loss, weakness, and a high risk of organ failure. Prolonged fasting can lead to serious health complications, including infections and neurological issues, and may ultimately result in death if not addressed.”

Heba is now reported to be in HMP New Hall in Wakefield, Yorks. From Brent this is a 3.5 hour journey by car and almost 9 hours by public transport. 

Her family, friends and thousands within our community are deeply worried about her.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the government’s failure to respond to emails and requests for meetings.

Sadly it’s become evident that the government doesn’t care as it appears to be showing a contemptuous disregard for Heba’s human and legal rights - something that’s particularly worrying as her health, as well as the health of the seven others’ on hunger strike, is rapidly deteriorating.

In the circumstances, I/we implore you to visit Heba and do all you can to raise this serious matter with David Lammy, the Minister of Justice, and other associate government departments.

As we are rapidly approaching Christmas, the season of goodwill, please acknowledge the historic struggle and suffering of the Palestinians as well as the reason Heba took the action she did, along with other members of the Filton 24: an act in protest of the Israeli government’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza and cruel treatment of the Palestinians, which has left over 70,000 dead, including women and children, with tens of thousands homeless and bereaved at Christmas. “A plausible genocide” according to the ICJ.

In relation to genocide ministers should also be reminded that: ‘Governments have a clear, binding legal duty to prevent genocide under international law, stemming from the 1948 Genocide Convention (Article I) and customary international law, obligating all states to act to stop it, even outside their borders if they have the capacity to influence events, with this duty reinforced by the UN's "Responsibility to Protect" (R2P) doctrine. This obligation requires states to take measures to prevent and punish genocide, not just react to it, with failure to do so potentially leading to state responsibility and even complicity.’

We should therefore remember, had the government honoured their responsibilities the Filton 24 would not have taken the action they did. 

Enough is enough! It’s time to acknowledge what’s going on. We must honour our duty and responsibilities as a nation to speak out and end the unnecessary suffering and complicity.

Please call for the immediate bail of Heba and the other seven hunger strikers. Address all their concerns in compliance with the law and their human rights.

Signed:

Noreen Scott

Alan Scott

Saba Qureshi

Martin Francis 

 Fitzroy Lee 

Carol Madeleine Foster

Sheila Novak

Soodi Balali

Nushzad Nazemi 

Erika Shipley

Chris Griffen

Sohail Ahmed 

Gaynor Lloyd

Keith Perrin 

Add your name by emailing Noreen Scott:   noreenscott@hotmail.co.uk include your address.

 

 

Ask Barry Gardiner & Dawn Butler to intervene on behalf of their constituents on hunger strike

 

 

From Prisoners4Palestine

 

Sign Early Day Motion to help your constituent on a hunger strike in British prison

 

Dear [MP NAME], 

My name is [X] (Y address). I am writing as your constituent to call on you to immediately sign the Early Day Motion ‘Palestine Action hunger strike’ to respond to the ongoing hunger strikes of seven prisoners held on remand for alleged actions in solidarity with Palestine. Qesser Zuhrah, Heba Muraisi (Barry Gardiner) and Lewie Chiaramello (Dawn Butler) are your constituent/s - you have a duty to their health.

 

The hunger strike began on 2nd November and is now entering its second month.

 

5 prisoners have already been hospitalised. During their hospitalisations, they were prevented from contacting their next of kin and legal team, which is a breach of their fundamental rights.

 

We support all of the hunger striking prisoners’ demands. We call on you to grant them immediate bail and the right to a fair trial, and we express grave concern for their rapidly deteriorating health and their reported mistreatment in prison. We also ask for the full disclosure of documentation surrounding their legal case which has so far been censored. 

 

As Member of Parliament you have a duty to your constituent, to ensure their safety and upholding their fundamental rights, and we demand you act without delay.

 

Kind regards, [Name, address - need your residential address or it will not get processed]

 

There is also an e-action on the prisoners from the Palestine Solidarity Camapaign HERE

Write to your MP: Sign the EDM on prisoners on hunger strike in Britain

Seven prisoners associated with Palestine Action are currently on hunger strike in protest over the repressive and inhumane conditions of their detention in British prisons. Their health is deteriorating quickly, so they need urgent intervention.

These prisoners are facing trial for allegedly taking action to prevent arms manufacturers from shipping weapons to Israel, used in its genocide against the Palestinian people. It is the perpetrators of genocide, and the British politicians and companies arming them, who should be facing trial.  

John McDonnell MP has tabled Early Day Motion (EDM) 2386 calling on the Secretary of State for Justice to intervene and make sure the prisoners' conditions are improved and their rights are upheld. 

Please take two minutes to email your MP to ask them to sign EDM 2386.

Brent West MP Barry Gardiner pulls no punches over Starmer inadequacies

 

The people's Gardiner going in on Keir Starmer is👌🏼pic.twitter.com/cseRyMYGBU

— Cllr Martin Abrams 🕊️🍉 (@Martin_Abrams) November 12, 2025

Barry Gardiner calls on 'supine' Government to demand release of constituent Aaron White, 'kidnapped' my Israeli forces from m.v. Alma on its way to deliver food and medical aid to Gaza

 

See Aaron's Instagram post LINK
 

After an Instagram campaign calling for him to act on the abduction of his Brent West constituent Aaron White, by the Israeli forces, Barry Gardiner has written to  Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, calling on her to secure his release.

Aaron White was sailing with the Global Sumud Flotilla to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver food and medical aid.

Gardiner called the Israeli interception a 'kidnapping' and an 'act of piracy' on the high seas. 

Accusing the Government of being 'mute' in the face of the Israeli imposed famine, he concluded:

When future generations look back on the role British politicians played in the destruction of Gaza and its people, let them not say 'Just like politicians in all the genocides before.they stood by and said nothing.'

All the nuance and fine scholarly arguments that government lawyers provide to excuse our current complicity will count for nothing.  People will look back and condemn us as supine.

 

 

LETTER: Why I will stand against Barry Gardiner at the next General Election

 

Graham and Barry 

 

 Dear Editor,

 

On Saturday 6 September I was one of 890  people arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for holding a cardboard sign. I was held for 12 hours and released at 

4.30 am on Sunday morning from Ilford police station, 18 miles from my home in Brent.

Barry Gardiner MP or Brent West voted for the proscribing of the non-violent group Palestine Action under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and is therefore personally responsible for the arrests of peaceful protestors in Parliament Square including blind people,many very elderly people and many people there from religious groups like the Quakers. The police were rough with anyone who refused to give their names before seeing a solicitor - I am a 71 year old grandad and was double handcuffed and thrown on the floor of a police van for an hour.

Today I announce that I will be standing against Barry Gardiner at the next General Election as I hold him personally responsible for the arrests and police brutality, but mine is not a revenge mission.

Gardiner is now a media favourite and regular on the BBC and Nigel Farages GBNews. His role is to defend the Starmer government when they cut Winter Fuel payments, attack disabled people,privatise the  NHS, allow further fossil fuel drilling and above all continue to sell arms to the Israeli Defence Force which is committing genocide in Gaza.

This latter role is no surprise for Gardiner is a big supporter of Israel, a former vice -chair of Labour Friends of Israel, who fully supports Zionism and its horrors against defenceless Palestinians.

Gardiner is a rich man who has drawn a big salary for his 28 years in Parliament - he currently receives £94k a year. He has lost touch with the working people of Brent and  when I am elected I will only  accept an average workers wage.

I stand for a better public NHS, green energy, nationalisation of the water companies, expansion of rail travel, a wealth tax on the richest and much else. Above all I oppose the genocide in Gaza and the West Bank.

Contact me : grahamdurham@hotmail.com