Jagdish Sharma, Registering to Vote and National Politics

Chiswick Homefields councillor Gerald McGregor reports back

Cllr Gerald McGregor

April 6, 2026

Firstly, before I continue with my blog, I would like to pay a heartfelt tribute to Cllr Jagdish Sharma (Hounslow West ward) for his 50 Years plus of public service as a teacher, as a magistrate (JP), as a local Labour party Leader and as Leader of the Council some 16 years ago.

He was always supportive of his community and had many firsts to his name. His death will leave a massive gap in the Borough of Hounslow due to this long and wide service. He will be missed and remembered. My wife and I both send our condolences and sympathies to his family.

THE FUTURE THURSDAY MAY 7TH X

The election to Local Councils across England takes place soon on May 7th 2026. In a recent report back, I indicated that both the administration in Hounslow, and the government in Westminster were ‘driving our community and the country to the brink’: everybody in the Borough has realised, seen and noted firsthand how the Labour Administration is failing our borough when dealing with past failed budgets, which were overspent and never managed, and why we need change with hopes for a better future. We desperately need renewal and we need change in Hounslow. May 2026 is the electorates’ chance to show Labour enough is enough.

If you are not sure that you are on the electoral register and you are entitled to vote,contact the electoral officers via the internet

Register to vote

You normally only need to register to vote once. You don't need to register for every election. You need to register again if you change your name, address or nationality.

The easiest way to register to vote is online. You will need to provide your:

• address
• date of birth
• National Insurance number

You can get more information about finding your National Insurance number on GOV.UK

Who can register

You can register to vote if you're:

• aged 16 or over (but you can only vote after you turn 18)
• living at an address in Hounslow or in Ealing
• are either:
• a British citizen
• an Irish citizen
• have permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man - or you do not need permission - and you’re a citizen of either:
• a  Commonwealth member country (The Commonwealth website)
• Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain 
• another EU country (GOV.UK) , if you have had permission to enter or stay - or not needed permission - since 31 December 2020, and this has continued without a break

NATIONAL POLITICS

Administration

Buffeted by the woes office No 10 has continued to throw away the remaining goodwill that led to the victory of the Labour Party in 2024 (with two out of every three voters not going anywhere near them, but voting for other parties)

Finance and economics

The National budget forecast and supporting plans for the 2026/27 Budget have come to grief already. The local government support grant was ungenerous, with limits for local authorities, quango, trusts and agencies across England. The call to the IMF is now getting closer as the government fails to reverse overspends across the board and yet the treasury fails to target efficiencies and cost saving measures with any vigour.

The continued pressure imposed by the United States on world trade and the global economy will be seen currently in the shops and filling stations; UK energy policy has been shown up to be risky and somewhat threadbare.

Justice and Security

Our courts, youth offending institutions, prisons and the police and probation services are under all increasing pressure and the justice system is buckling, unable to provide full scale jury trials, prompt hearings and protecting the public at large

Looking at the wider picture where is the defence money to be spent on the security of our realm and of Europe, and the budget promised by Keir Starmer to meet the needs of the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy and above all the army?

LOCAL POLITICS and ELECTIONS

No more main council meetings scheduled although some committees stagger on. However, the key Cabinet meeting scheduled for April 21 st has not staggered on. It has been summarily cancelled amidst commotions and changes in allegiance. The 52 out of 62 councillors who formed the majority party on the Borough Council have, as I have mentioned before, continued the tales of woe and wilful mismanagement right up to recent times. Shedding members (councillors) to the Greens, to Independents and of course to the Conservatives and Cabinet unable to cope with budget concerns about welfare spending.

LOCAL Security and Policing

As long ago as 2024 The Chiswick News reported that the Chiswick Police Station had been subject to a planning application which was now approved. The article gave some background “Situated at the junction of Chiswick High Road and Linden Gardens, the site has remained dormant since 2021 when it was sold by the Metropolitan Police to Birchgrove, a reputable provider of rented retirement homes. Birchgrove, in collaboration with local authorities, embarked on a thorough consultation process, seeking input from the community to ensure that the proposed redevelopment aligns with the area's needs and aspirations.

"Despite encountering some resistance from local residents, particularly those residing in the vicinity of Linden Gardens, regarding concerns such as building height and potential disturbances during construction, the plans ultimately received approval during a meeting held on Monday, February 5th.”

It is now five years since the Metropolitan Police gave up the local station following a new delivery plan and divisional level policing which meant that our local “Nick” was now in Hounslow (7 miles away) and arrested persons would be lodged there. Discussions about Local policing included plans to access Acton police station in Ealing, although this involved a divisional boundary!

Suffice it to say that this vacuum of police support has led to professional dissatisfaction among police rank and file, who have the task of supporting Residents in Chiswick. On 27th March ChiswickW4.com provided a full report on the recent stabbing in Sutton Court Road, and the consequences of this vacuum were fully spelled out by Cllr Peter Thompson, Leader of the Conservative Councillors Group and by Cllr Gabriella Giles, both Councillors in Chiswick Riverside Ward. The Conservative group (in particular Cllr John Todd and Cllr Jo Biddolph) has raised concerns about the lack of police presence in Chiswick High Road and the problems with “beat policing” and offences committed in shops and premises in the immediate area of Homefields and Gunnersbury Park wards

LOCAL ELECTIONS

You have the opportunity to vote in the forthcoming Local Government Election to determine your local priorities, your own working needs, and the services that you feel contribute towards a better life for you and your families. Having seen the council change its loyalties (to reflect the growing number of councillors no longer associating with the Labour Party) you have a real choice to put things right.

The three Chiswick Wards in the Borough of Hounslow are each represented by three councillors, so when you vote you have the chance to deliver a triple whammy, with an X for three candidates. Don’t Miss Out, use your right to vote, it is very precious.

Cllr Gerald McGregor 

gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk 

07866 784821

DEMOCRACY: DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Council Meeting – Next Borough Council Not Till

26 May 2026 7:30 pm  – The Annual Meeting of the Council !!!!!!

Anyone can attend public meetings of the council. Most meetings take place on the 6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, TW3 3EB. Hounslow House is fully accessible. The nearest tube is Hounslow Central which does not have step-free access. Parking in local roads is limited.

Principal meetings are broadcast live on the Council’s YouTube channel

Emergencies

You can report emergencies outside office hours by ringing the council on: 020 8583 2222.

CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR SURGERIES

Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick Library (the seven Conservative councillors take this surgery in turn).

Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Gunnersbury Triangle Club, Triangle Way, off The Ridgeway, W3 8LU (at least one of the Chiswick Gunnersbury ward councillors takes this surgery). 

CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLORS and CONTACTS

Chiswick Gunnersbury ward

Cllr Joanna Biddolph joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 703446

Cllr Ron Mushiso ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702887

Chiswick Homefields ward

Cllr Jack Emsley jack.emsley@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 396017

Cllr Gerald McGregor gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784821

Cllr John Todd john.todd@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784651

Chiswick Riverside ward

Cllr Gabriella Giles gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk 07966 270823

Cllr Peter Thompson peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 395810