Supporting the Diverse Local Community

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 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. 

I continue to engage closely with Jewish leaders and remain a staunch friend and ally of the community. 

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. 

News

Oliver's Column for My News - October 2024

This month marks the first anniversary of the barbaric 7 October attacks, when Israel suffered her worst terror attack in history. While we grieve for the victims of 7 October, I am very concerned by the Labour Government’s decision to suspend some arms export licences to Israel just days after

Oliver Visits Gratitude Charity

Sir Oliver Dowden MP recently visited Gratitude Charity. Gratitude are a charity that take food that is good to eat but cannot be sold in shops because of packaging errors or overproduction and then redistribute it to the community through various free meals projects, community pantry and our netwo

Oliver Gets up to Speed with Hertsmere’s Citizens Advice Bureau  

Oliver recently visited Citizens Advice Hertsmere.   Oliver met with Chief Executive, Carolyn Bullen, staff and volunteers to receive an update on local statistics and issues facing residents.   It was also an opportunity for staff and volunteers to raise questions with Oliver, which i

Oliver Receives Update on SEND Improvement Plan

Oliver recently met with the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service following an inspection report on the Hertfordshire area partnership. In November an inspection report published by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission found ‘widespread and/or systemic failings’ in the provis

Oliver Joins Commemorations Ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day

This week Oliver joined commemorations marking Holocaust Memorial Day. This included signing the Holocaust Educational Trust’s book of commitment to remember the lives of 6 million Jewish people who were killed during the Second World War. The 27 January is the anniversary of the liberation of the

Oliver Holds Last Local Surgery of 2023!

Oliver recently held the final local advice surgery of this year in Radlett. Held at the Radlett Centre, Oliver met with a number of local residents to discuss pressing local and national issues. Oliver said: ‘It was great to be in Radlett today hosting my final local advice surgery of 2023!

Oliver's Column for My News - December 2023

As I write this column, we have just commemorated Remembrance weekend. This is a moment of great significance in our society where we remember the previous generations who have fought and laid down their lives for us and the world we now live in. They have helped form the values we now hold dear.

Oliver Receives Warm Welcome from the Oshwal Jain Community

Oliver was recently invited to the Oshwal Centre in Northaw, Hertfordshire.   Oliver met with the executive members of the Oshwal Association of the UK (OAUK), which represents the largest Jain community in the UK.   Following a short tour of the Temple, Oliver met with the President o