Dear Friends,

Thank you for taking the time to look at my monthly newsletter for September 2025.

I hope you enjoy this update on some of the work I have been doing in Erith and Thamesmead and in Parliament over the last month.

As ever, if you want to get in touch, don’t hesitate to contact me using the email address: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk

Abena

Government’s Plan for Change delivering for Erith & Thamesmead

This autumn, I continue to be focused on delivering for Erith and Thamesmead and making sure the Government’s Plan for Change improves the lives of residents here in our community. Here are some of the key achievements already making a difference:

• Health: Millions more NHS appointments – including thousands at local Trusts – to cut waiting times, keep residents healthy and build an NHS fit for the future.
• Families: Parents now get 30 hours of funded childcare, worth up to £7,500 a year, with new nurseries and breakfast clubs also up and running. Also, from next year, half a million more pupils will receive free school meals, helping families with the cost of living and raising 100,000 children out of poverty.
• Cost of living: We’ve raised the minimum wage for 3 million workers, reduced mortgage costs through interest rate cuts, extended the Warm Homes Discount, and ensured millions more pensioners qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment.
• Homes: A £39 billion Affordable Homes Programme will deliver more safe, secure housing locally as part of Labour’s plan for 1.5 million new homes.
• Other local priorities: We’re holding Thames Water to account, tackling fly-tipping, investing millions to fix potholes, and boosting local policing to crack down on anti-social behaviour.

As your MP, I assure you I will keep listening and working hard to deliver for residents.

Visit to Oscar Mayer Factory in Erith

Delighted to return to the Oscar Mayer site in Erith this month. We discussed the latest developments at the factory, including new equipment, upgraded flooring, and their ESG commitments. I toured the site and had the pleasure to speak with their welcoming staff, whose service ranged from just one month to 35 years.

Also pleased to welcome members of the Oscar Mayer team to Parliament to watch the passage of the Employment Rights Bill in the House of Commons.

Erith Made Festival

Lovely to be at the Erith Made Festival and to see fantastic energy from local people and organisations that make Erith such a special place. Thanks to the Erith Town Partnership for all their hard work bringing the community together.

Plumstead Gardens Parkfest

Great to pop into Plumstead Gardens Parkfest with Cllr Jit Ranabhat last month. The volunteers and organisers did a great job to make it such a success.  

Thamesmead Festival

Also had a lovely time at Thamesmead’s Annual Summer Festival. It was great to see so many people enjoying themselves. Big thank you to all the event organisers, local businesses and charities involved in the festival.

Nigerian Cultural Festival at Eaglesfield Park

Over the summer, I was also delighted to join the Nigerian Cultural Festival at Eaglesfield Park, part of the Royal Greenwich Festivals.

It was a vibrant and inspiring celebration of our community’s diversity and spirit, and a wonderful opportunity to meet so many residents. My thanks go to the ARC and YOU team for organising such a fantastic event.

Tackling Wildlife Crime Meeting with Greenwich Wildlife Network

Thank you to everyone who has contacted me or raised concerns online about wildlife crime in our constituency and the wider area. Sadly, incidents appear to be on the rise and it’s vital we tackle this together.

On 17^th September, my team attended a meeting at Greenwich Town Hall with Council officers, the police, the Greenwich Wildlife Network, and Cabinet Members Cllr Rachel Taggart-Ryan and Cllr Sandra Bauer. Birchmere and Southmere Lakes in Thamesmead were highlighted as hotspots, and also discussed was closer engagement with Peabody’s team to strengthen surveillance and awareness.

I want to assure residents that I’m committed to working with local residents and authorities to tackle this issue. If you witness any incidents, please report it to the police as well as groups like the Greenwich Wildlife Network, with evidence if possible.

Recognition of the State of Palestine

This month, I also welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement recognising the State of Palestine. This is an important step towards a credible two-state solution – the only lasting path to peace.

I know how deeply many residents care about this issue and the devastating situation in Gaza. I’m pleased to see progress after years of calls for recognition as well as the UK being joined in this recognition by other countries such as Canada, Australia and France.

I remain committed to a future where a safe and secure Israel exists alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, and I continue to join the Prime Minister in pressing for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a renewed path to peace.

Christmas Card Competition 2025 Launch

Excited to launch my Christmas Card Competition 2025 this September! The competition is a great chance for local young people to showcase their creativity.

The winning design will be sent to 1,000+ local people, as well as to the Prime Minister, Speaker and the King. You can find out more details on my website if you are interested.

Girls Who Talk Politics Event

Lovely to speak at a Girls Who Talk Politics event in Parliament this September. I met so many enthusiastic young women and shared my journey into politics and as an MP.

Constituency Surgeries

This month I also held advice surgeries, meeting constituents who needed support and guidance during challenging times.

If you live in Erith and Thamesmead and think I can help, please contact me at: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk

Appointment at PPS to the Prime Minister and Emergency Alert Test

At the start of this month, I was delighted to be appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Prime Minister – supporting him and the Government in delivering their priorities backed by MPs. I’ll work hard to help deliver the Plan for Change, to help those most in need and drive the change our community and country voted for last year.

It has also been a privilege to serve as a minister in the Cabinet Office since last July. Over the past year, I’ve been proud to help strengthen our resilience and security through the UK Government Resilience Plan, the National Security Strategy 2025, alongside other important work.

I’m particularly proud of the successful second emergency alert test, which went out on Sunday 7 September at 3pm. I worked closely with the then Cabinet Secretary, Pat McFadden MP, to ensure everything ran smoothly and that the government is ready to act in a real emergency. I was also pleased to visit the charity Refuge to discuss how victims of domestic abuse with concealed phones were made aware of the alert and given the guidance they needed to disable it.

Furthermore:

• St Margaret Clitherow Primary School visit to Parliament – So pleased that the pupils enjoyed their visit and that my team were able to join them on the day to share more about my work as their local MP.
• Woodland Festival at Lesnes Abbey – Well done to all those who organised and joined the Woodland Festival at Lesnes Abbey, celebrating 500 years of heritage!
• Women’s Lobby Reception – Great to join this important reception in the Speaker’s State Rooms in Parliament to recognise the vital work of women political journalists.
• Happy Rosh Hashanah – Wishing a joyful new year to everyone in our community celebrating Rosh Hashanah.
• National Fitness Day – Great to catch up with ukactive in Parliament and promote the vital role physical activity plays in our communities on National Fitness Day 2025.
• Government’s Leaseholders Consultation – Have been pleased to highlight the Leaseholders Reform Consultation on my website and social media in the last couple of months to make sure residents’ views are heard on delivering these vital reforms. You can find out more on my website.
• Connect to Work Funding boost – Pleased to welcome a £47.1m funding boost to help residents in Erith and Thamesmead into work. Everyone deserves the chance to fulfil their potential, and this will provide support for those facing long-term barriers.
• Hillsborough Law – Proud to support the Prime Minister as he delivers on his election promise to bring the Hillsborough Law to Parliament.
• Employment Rights Bill – Pleased to continue to support the passage of this Government’s groundbreaking Employment Rights Bill in Parliament this month.

Stay updated on social media

For regular updates on my activities, follow me on Twitter (@abenaopp), Facebook (Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Erith and Thamesmead), and Instagram (abena.oppongasare.mp).

You can also sign up to my digital newsletter at www.abenaoppongasare.com/get_in_touch