One of our great strengths in Hertsmere is the diversity of our community locally, and one of the great joys of being Hertsmere’s MP has been making a huge range of informative and enjoyable visits with the different communities in the borough. 

I am proud to represent one of the largest Jewish communities in the country. As former chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for British Jews and officer of the Conservative Friends of Israel, I have always been a strong voice in standing up for the community locally and nationally.  I have had the pleasure of making great friends and enjoying a variety of events, including Mitzvah days, Friday night dinners and Menorah lighting. I continue to engage closely with Jewish leaders and remain a staunch friend and ally of the community.    

I also stand firm against the scourge of antisemitism and have made key achievements in this respect, including successfully lobbying ministers to fully ban Hezbollah and Hamas and making key progress in my campaign to ban public bodies from imposing divisive Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaigns against foreign countries, which invariably target the state of Israel. 

The events we have seen unfolding in the Middle East since Hamas’s barbaric terror attack on 7 October 2023 are truly horrific. Israel suffered the worst terror attack in its history at the hands of Hamas where innocent civilians were brutally murdered and hundreds taken hostage. This is a difficult and fragile moment for the Middle East. The release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas since the atrocities of 7 October is key to a sustainable end to the conflict in Gaza and to building a better future. I believe the onus is on Hamas, who could agree to release those hostages now and avert an escalation.

We also have a growing Hindu population and a leading Hare Krishna Temple at Bhaktivedanta Manor in Radlett. I have had an excellent time over the years celebrating a range of festivals in Hertsmere, including Diwali, Janmashtami and Ramanavami at the Manor - joyous occasions where I have been generously welcomed. 

I am committed to defending and enhancing community safety and cohesion and ensuring everybody’s voices are heard. From charities and schools to our wonderful local churches, mosques, synagogues and temples, it is a key priority of mine to engage with and listen to the different communities across Hertsmere.