Katherine said:

“As MP for Twickenham I will stand up for the issues local people care about: good quality schools, homes they can afford, a clean environment and protection from the Tory’s hard Brexit.

“Schools in Twickenham are facing the largest real term cut in a generation because of the Tory Government’s decision not to increase funding per pupil in line with inflation, just as inflation is viciously rising due to uncertainty over Tory hard Brexit plans. We are seeing a massive loss in teaching and support staff, with some local schools even being forced to consider a shorter week to cope with cost pressures.

“Serving as Cabinet Member for Housing has given me first-hand experience of the housing crisis in South West London, with social housing in short supply and many people unable to afford their own home. Twickenham has a particularly poor record in building homes. Labour is committing to build a million new homes across the UK over the next five years; this investment is desperately needed.

“I will also fight to ensure the environmental protections afforded by the EU are not lost, and work in conjunction with London Mayor Sadiq Khan to improve air quality.”

“Voters in Twickenham need a better choice than the Tories and their former coalition partners the Lib Dems. Labour offers a real alternative. I will be campaigning on the issues that matter most to local people.”