The tragic passing of Sir David Amess has left a void in the world of politics, but his legacy of dedication and service will remain an inspiration forever.

As we take a moment to honour his memory, it is also important to acknowledge the tireless efforts of others who work diligently behind the scenes to keep our democratic systems functioning.

During this parliamentary year, I was delighted to secure full funding for a new Watford General Hospital. The persistent reminders to Ministers played a pivotal role in achieving the funding necessary for the hospital's growth and development.

When I entered Parliament, I committed to tackling the stigma surrounding mental health. Through initiatives like training 1,000 people in mental health first aid awareness, a positive change has been brought about. Thanks go to the team at Watford and West Herts Chamber of Commerce, whose unwavering dedication has contributed to hitting this goal in Watford.

I also wanted to see an end to homelessness in Watford, and homelessness has now been dramatically reduced. Collaboration with local charities like New Hope UK and One YMCA, as well as the engagement with Hand on Heart, has been invaluable. I was pleased to help secure a substantial amount of funding from the UK Government to ensure we could make and sustain progress.

I am proud to work closely with all the religious groups in Watford, and recently welcomed the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly MP, to Watford to meet with nearly 20 religious leaders. This was such a powerful discussion, and I know moving forward we will keep the discussions ongoing to further promote the interfaith work in Watford.

  • Dean Russell is Conservative MP for Watford