UKRAINE: Rosena Allin-Khan speaks at gala dinner in Watford

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour MP for Tooting, made it to Watford Labour Party’s annual fundraising event at Jurys Inn in Clarendon Road yesterday (March 17) – the first time the local party has come together since the pandemic.

Just days ago she returned from Lviv where she volunteered as a humanitarian doctor.

The shadow cabinet minister for mental health spoke at the event about her medical aid at the war-stricken country with non-governmental organisation (NGO) MedGlobal.

She told the Watford Observer there is a “real fear” of possible chemical warfare, as other methods such as siege, starvation and kidnapping doctors and nurses play out right now.

As a result, doctors there were taught how to treat victims of chemical use.

“It appears as though nothing is off limits, it’s following the playbook from Syria where 900 doctors and nurses lost their lives.”

Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan tells #Newsnight why she’s decided to travel to Lviv to work as a humanitarian doctor@BBCYaldaHakim pic.twitter.com/v59qwC8leW

— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) March 11, 2022

During her time there, the MP also helped rescue a family from Ukraine who had been shot at by close range and needed medical treatment.

They were rushed to Poland in a seven-hour journey for treatment, with a grandmother bleeding out and children suffering wounds.

Ms Allin-Khan called it “really harrowing”.

She said: “You feel like you experienced the very worst of humanity but also the very best of humanity when you see the kindness of people who want to help.”

I arrived back home safely from Ukraine yesterday. I went on a humanitarian mission with @MedGlobalOrg who were supporting hospitals to prepare for the darkest days of this conflict.

We worked with the most amazing people and met patients with the most heart-breaking stories. pic.twitter.com/zvll2py474

— Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (@DrRosena) March 14, 2022

Now unwinding at the Watford gala, she said the town is a “wonderful place to live and raise a family” and hailed the local Labour party for being “really invested” and “deeply rooted” into the community.

Asif Khan at the event

She said: “They fight for the community like they would their own family, because they are one big Labour family here in Watford.

“We have Asif Khan as candidate for mayor, and we expect him to do incredibly well. He’s local through-and-through and really well respected.”

Asif Khan said Ms Allin-Khan’s experience and “passion for people” was inspiring”.

He added: “I also set out my priorities as Labour mayor, such as tackling poverty, putting an end to ‘Taylor’s Towers’ and making the town more prosperous and fairer.”