Much to Be Positive About in John Healy's Budget
Report back from Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick
Left: Andy Slaughter at Pro Bono Week with Sue James, former Director of H&F Law Centre who now runs Legal Action Group.Right: With members of the Black Crown Prosecution Association
October 31, 2026
A Lot to Be Positive About in John Healy’s Budget
This week I went to a public meeting called by West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society about issues in the area. Chiswick Cllr Amy Croft also attended to discuss the areas she is responsible for as Cabinet Member: highways, parking, waste, recycling, street cleaning and fly-tipping. There was plenty to discuss and I will be following up on the Gunnersbury Station issues raised – both its current poor condition and the plans for redevelopment. The committee, especially the chair Marie-Louise, are on top of all the planning and amenity issues locally.
On Wednesday the Chancellor John Healy gave his first Budget and there is a lot to be positive about in Hammersmith and Chiswick. Businesses locally have been keeping me informed of the difficulties they are facing and hopefully there will be some relief with a real terms business rates freeze for eligible retail hospitality and leisure properties in England for 2027/2028 and 2028/2029. This measure is estimated to benefit around 1,546 businesses in Hammersmith and Fulham.
More businesses will now be better off with the increasing of Small Business Rates Relief thresholds for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. The new thresholds are estimated to mean that around 33% of all RHL properties in London will pay no business rates at all.
In my role as Solicitor General I launched Pro Bono Week at the House of Commons. This was a chance to advertise all the free legal services available around the country and thank the thousands of lawyers who give their time and expertise for free.
I travelled to Birmingham for the 25th anniversary conference of the Black Crown Prosecution Association. I was delighted to make a speech to the senior black prosecutors from across the country who have battled discrimination in their own jobs and the wider criminal justice system and risen to some of the most senior positions in the CPS.
I am very pleased that local charity The Upper Room, of which I am Patron, received a grant to employ a support worker from the HS2 community fund. It ’s an advantage of having HS2 at Old Oak – perhaps one day we will also get some trains. The Upper Room works with people who are isolated and in need, including ex-offenders and they always need more funds. If you ’d like to donate to The Upper Room, the link to their donations page is here.
In further positive news, our Law Centre has just received a grant of £357,000 from the government - one of the largest from a £16m legal support grant that has been awarded to 48 frontline organisations.
On Friday I had the pleasure of attending the Flute Theatre production of King Lear, performed by autistic adults in Hammersmith. It was a brilliant performance, and I was very grateful to have been invited.
Best wishes,
Andy
andy@andyslaughter.com
P.S. I send a regular email newsletter to residents about local and national issues. If you would like to receive it then please email me at andy@andyslaughter.com, click this link.
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