Barry attended a Brent Council reception to receive the bronze bust of the late Rolling Stones drummer and Wembley lad Charlie Watts from a group of fans who commissioned the sculpture.
Barry was proud to have his picture taken with the “Wembley Whammer” and the artist Sissy Piana during the ceremony.
You can read more about the Charlie Watts bust here
Barry marked the annual Globe Legislators Student-MP Climate Surgery, part of the London Schools Climate Summit week, with a trip to Alperton Community School.
He took part in a Q&A session with students and both they and staff members described it as an interesting and stimulating discussion about climate change and its impact on all our lives.
Find out more about the London Schools Climate Summit and London Climate Action Week.
Barry was in attendance for Brent Labour’s local manifesto launch at the weekend. The manifesto was launched at the Lexi Cinema and featured speeches from Barry, Tulip Siddiq, David Lammy and a virtual appearance from Brent Central’s very own Dawn Butler.
The local elections are on 5th May 2022 and you can read Brent Labour’s manifesto in full here
EMERGENCY AFGHANISTAN SURGERY THIS SATURDAY- Over the past week I have been contacted by hundreds of constituents who have family in Afghanistan and are desperately looking to bring them over to the UK. I have therefore decided to hold a special surgery so people can bring their cases to me in person. Please note that this is exclusively for cases related to Afghanistan and not general immigration queries. I will be resuming my regular advice surgeries in September.
The surgery will be held at Brent Civic Centre from 9am on Saturday 28th August. If you wish to attend please report to the reception area at Brent Civic Centre on the ground floor. Cases will be seen on a first come-first served basis. Please note that this is only for Brent North constituents and I will not be able to take cases on behalf of residents of other constituencies. To see which constituency you belong to please type your postcode here.
Please also bring with you relevant copies of documents pertaining to your case.
Barry has submitted a letter objecting to a proposed planning application in Barham Park, Sudbury. The application seeks to demolish the former park keepers’ dwellings and erect a four storey residential building.
You can see his letter below.
We have all seen the heart breaking scenes from India over the past few weeks, and Barry was greatly privileged to take part in a fundraising effort set up at the temple.
By the time Barry had left, BAPS had already raised over £500,000 — no thanks to his meagre efforts — but because of the incredible community spirit that Mahant Swami Maharaj has inspired. You can give to their JustGiving page below.
Barry joined fellow Brent MP’s Dawn Butler and Tulip Siddiq as well as councillors and leaseholders in a meeting on the ongoing Leasehold scandal.
Barry would like to extend his thanks to all that attended, and especially Lucie Gutfreund of Brent and Camden Cladding Action Group for organising and hosting the meeting.
Barry outlines where he thinks the system is breaking down- at the level of building control. He provides the example of the Capitol Way developments in Brent North, and says the most important thing leaseholders can do is continue to make noise so the Government can recognise what is needed.
Unfortunately, as is often the way with virtual meetings there was a technical issue which affected the end of Barry’s speech. You can watch the whole zoom meeting here and Barry’s contribution below.
The Brent Surplus Food Market is open EVERY Saturday from 11am-1pm. They operate at Alperton Baptist Church and provide food to anyone that needs it. The market relies on the generosity of the community and the incredible work of Sewa volunteers.
Barry visited and recorded this message.
Barry visited Kingsbury High School where he was taken on a tour of the Lower School and introduced to KHS’s new Article 28 project. He was shown around the classrooms that will become the home for those students needing the extra support.
Barry then met a group of student school council speakers, who did a number of presentations for him (whilst always maintaining appropriate social distance, as you can see in the above picture). These included an introduction to UNICEF Rights Respecting School, their students’ travel plans and the importance of their safety while doing so, as well as talking to Barry about what lockdown meant for them.”
The visit was concluded by a Q&A where Barry took on questions from the students.
Barry attended the commemoration of VJ Day’s 75th Anniversary in which it passed with what he described as dignity and solemnity at Brent’s Barham Park.
Barry attended the commemoration with the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, the Mayor, the Royal British Legion and the Gurkhas — the Bravest of the Brave.
Today our community came together in an act of grief, of tribute and of unity.
We gathered at the top of Gotfords Hill in Fryent Country Park. For many of the 200 or so people who attended, this was the first time they had felt able to visit the park since the ghastly murder of the two sisters, Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman.
Their mother Wilhelmina, had written a moving tribute to her two beautiful and talented daughters and gave even those of us who did not know them, a window into the joy of their lives. Prayers, cleansing and reclaiming the park, were led by the Bishop of Willesden, Pete Broadbent. The local vicar Natasha Woodward, who had convened the event, conducted the service; and I spoke of the way that the murders had defiled two full and love-filled lives, the Smallman family, and our whole community. And as we laid our flowers in silent tribute, all of us there expressed our solidarity with the family against the evil that has struck them and our determination not to let the horror of the murders infect our love of that ancient and beautiful space at the heart of our Borough.
The family members themselves had come to visit the park two days earlier to pay their respects and they had specifically asked that the Park should not be remembered as a place of horror, but as a place of peace and beauty.
There are serious concerns about the initial police response and the ghoulish release of photographs which I have raised with the Borough Commander and these are now subject to separate investigation by the Independent Office of Police Conduct. Today was not the occasion to dwell upon those. But all of us present felt a real sense of relief that a man had earlier been arrested in connection with the murders.
We pray that justice is served and that Bibaa and Nicole may rest in peace.
Cannot praise the Alperton COVID Relief Kitchen highly enough. Everyone involved is a hero. Over 130,000 meals already distributed with support from SEWA, Desi Dhaba restaurant, Jalaram Sweet Mart, St James Church & Shree Jalaram Temple. A great visit with Cllr Trupti & Mr Mayor
Last week Barry took part in the Tamil Harvest Festival of Thai Pongal both locally and in Parliament with colleagues. Barry joined local Tamils in traditional celebrations involving musical performances, speeches and generous servings of sweet pongal
Speaking at the parliamentary reception Barry said
“It is a great occasion to come together to celebrate but also remember the injustice that has been done.”
This week Barry Stood Together as part of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust with his constituent Vera Schaufeld — who came aged 9 on the Kindertransport. She is still campaigning for refugee children 80 years later. Vera’s moving story is available to read at the following link https://www.hmd.org.uk/resource/hmd-2016-vera-schaufeld/
On an immensely disappointing night nationally for the party, Barry was returned as the Member of Parliament for Brent North with a majority of 8,079.
Barry outlined the cause for concern the national result would have for many vulnerable people across the country and how devastating a result it was for those wishing to find somewhere to live and for those hoping for a brighter future.
Barry added that it was an immense honour to represent the community he lives in and loves.
Barry received a great response from parents and children alike at Kingsbury Green Primary School, lots of parents are happy to hear of how our childcare policies will benefit them and their families and of course there was a lot of love for our Barry Gardiner balloons and stickers!
Barry was in Preston Park yesterday afternoon and Wembley Central this morning. Both with such warm welcomes in the cold weather and a great reception to Labour’s ideas for a fairer society from both young and old.
Barry was out today with his outstanding and hardworking team of volunteers in both Queensbury and Kingsbury, chatting to local residents and meeting with local traders to explain how Labour’s policies can enhance their lives as well as listening to how he can help them locally.
(Always time for a quick picture too!)
Today, Barry and the team were out once more in Alperton. They spoke to residents and businesses around Mount Pleasant and Sunleigh Road about the real change a Labour Government could make for them and their families.
For the last two evenings, Barry and the team have been out canvassing in Fryent. Our team were knocking on doors and speaking to residents around Coniston Gardens, Springfield Gardens and all surrounding roads. Thank you to all who gave us a warm reception on such cold nights!
