A Brilliant Performance of Beethoven's 9th at Chiswick School

Report back from Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick

Chiswick School students performing at a recent concert

November 22, 2024

This week there has been a big focus on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which will have its second reading next week. For many years I have been a supporter of the campaign for assisted dying and I am pleased to support Kim Leadbeater’s Bill.

I chaired a meeting with senior lawyers to discuss how leaving the current law as it stands isn’t an option as it is both cruel and has no safeguards to prevent abuse. If the new Bill is passed, it will allow adults with mental capacity, who are expected to die within 6 months, to choose how their life ends. I have received many emails from constituents on the subject, some against, but many are for giving people this choice at the end of their life. I am hoping to speak in the debate Friday 29 th November and interested constituents will be able to watch this through Parliament TV.

On Tuesday evening I attended a wonderful performance of Beethoven’s 9th at Chiswick School. All involved in the production were brilliant from the soloists and the choirs to Kew Sinfonia and Zac Moxon, Head of Music at the school. A successful and enjoyable evening was had by all in attendance.

This week was another busy week for the Justice Committee. We visited Central London County Court to witness the busy working of an inner London court. We also had our first public evidence session with Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation. We heard from the Minister and officials about their plans to improve the prison estate and give more support and training to probation officers. The Minister told us about his plans to utilise technology to make the system more up to date and how rehabilitation of prisoners will be at forefront of the plans to reduce reoffending. The Committee look forward to hearing about progress on plans in future evidence sessions with the Minister.

Finally, Parliament Week was in full swing this week with Parliament Fairs in Westminster and many local schools attending the Palace of Westminster for tours and Q&A’s. I visited schools this Friday to attend assemblies and talk to the students about my role as a local MP and how students can be more involved in politics and Parliament.

Best wishes,

Andy

andy@andyslaughter.com

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