Vaisakhi ReceptionAt the beginning of April, Mary was selected as a member of a delegation to India which sought to further emphasize the importance of cooperation between the two countries. The group arrived in India with the goals of developing a further understanding of the workings of the Indian Government, to learn more about poverty reduction strategies in India, and to explore what India is doing to empower women economically.
Mary has always been a strong supporter of women in the economy and public life during her time in Parliament and has been involved in various campaigns and programmes designed to increase womens' representation. She formed the All Party Parliament Group on Women in Parliament in 2010, to look at how we can encourage more women into politics. The group launched its first major report, 'Improving Parliament' in the summer of 2014.
In 2011, I joined local residents to campaign against the closure of Chiswick Day Centre. I believed that the closure of the Day Centre by Hounslow Council was not properly considered and that the loss of this important part of the community would have a serious and detrimental impact on residents in my constituency.
Local MP invites Culture Secretary to Gunnersbury ParkLocal MP Mary Macleod organised for the Rt Hon Maria Miller MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, to tour Gunnersbury Park Museum in January and talk to some of the people involved with its campaign for restoration.Mary organised this visit in support of the campaign to raise funds to restore Gunnersbury Park House and develop and expand the museum, allowing its collections to inspire learning and creativity as well as promoting local heritage.
One of Mary's most important campaigns is making sure that all our children have an excellent school to go to. Over this Parliament, Mary has campaigned strongly for a new primary school, particularly in the Brentford area - where the need is greatest. Mary was able to support Floreat Education's application for a new primary school in Brentford, asking Parliamentary Questions and meeting both the former Secretary of State Michael Gove, and the current Education Secretary Nicky Morgan MP, to lobby them on the need for a new school.
2014 UpdateBrentford FC's planning application for a 20,000 capacity stadium at Lionel Road South was given the green light in February and Kew Bridge station will see changes including better access for the disabled and re-opening of the tunnel from the London platform.Part of the scheme will allow for enhanced pedestrian access direct to Kew Bridge Railway Station and £250,000 towards improvements to the Station, while £175,000 will go towards improved bus services and a minimum of 400 public cycle parking spaces.
