Last night, in the IPU Room at the Palace of Westminster, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sudan and South Sudan formally launched the new report, Rivers of Blood: Escaping from Darfur. The PDF is too large to upload here. If you would like a copy of the report, please leave your email address in the comments and I will send it directly. My remarks are below.

I welcome this report and the powerful testimonies it brings from Darfur. These accounts are devastating, and they must be heard.

But Sudan’s war is not confined to Darfur. Communities in Khartoum, Gezira, the Kordofans and the East are facing the same violence, loss, and displacement. Their voices deserve equal attention.

It is also important to be precise about the role of the Sudanese Armed Forces today. The SAF is now the national army defending Sudan’s territorial integrity, and its actions should not be confused with those of the early 2000s, which operated under a different political leadership and agenda. In the UK, we must avoid applying outdated assumptions that misrepresent the present reality.

We must also ensure we do not appear to stand with one group of victims while overlooking others. All Sudanese civilians — from every region and background — are suffering and deserve recognition, support, and protection.

And we should be mindful of how our focus is understood inside Sudan. A narrow emphasis on Darfur alone can echo the international dynamics that preceded South Sudan’s separation. The UK must avoid unintentionally reinforcing fears of fragmentation or giving weight to divisive narratives.

This report also reinforces the UK’s legal responsibilities under its export controls and the Arms Trade Treaty. The Government must ensure it is not contributing to abuses by urgently reviewing arms exports to the UAE, publishing transparent findings, and applying targeted sanctions where credible evidence shows involvement in violations. If we are serious about ending this war, we must cut the oxygen of armaments that allows it to continue.

www.youtube.com/live/o3-uA1xwusg?t=7223

Preface

These are my full written remarks — the complete version of the speech I prepared.
Only two minutes were permitted for delivery, but the scale, complexity, and urgency of what is happening in Sudan cannot fit into two minutes.

For transparency, accountability, and public record, I am publishing my full text below.

*Full Speech *

People of conscience – Sudanese, African, Arab, the Global South – and every human being who refuses to look away.

Sudan today is the largest mass atrocity in the world – but the world is pretending not to see.

This is not a natural famine.
This is not a tragic accident.
This is not an unfortunate civil war.

This catastrophe has been engineered.
Engineered by the RSF.
Engineered through systematic looting, rape, execution, starvation, and the liquidation of civilian life for profit.

Entire families have been uprooted.
Entire cities have been erased.
Entire food systems have been deliberately destroyed.

This is what is happening to Sudan — in real time.

The RSF is not a political movement.
The RSF is not a legitimate force.
The RSF is a criminal enterprise operating as a militia, whose business model is crimes against humanity.

And let me say this clearly, loudly, and directly to the world:

No one can claim to oppose genocide and still remain silent in front of what the RSF is doing.

And we must also name the enabling system.

The RSF is being financially oxygenated and empowered through the gold laundering economy that flows through the UAE.

Gold stolen from Sudanese soil is turned into clean money inside Dubai.

So, if the world is serious about “never again,”
and if the world is serious about protecting human life,
and if the world is serious about ending atrocity-financed war —

then the world must boycott UAE gold.

The world must sanction and blacklist every refinery, every trader, and every logistics channel that launders Sudanese gold into clean revenue in Dubai — gold stolen through Sudanese suffering.

This is not hostility towards Emirati people.
This is not hate.
This is accountability.

If you stop the gold wash — RSF capacity collapses.

To Sudanese everywhere:

Inside Sudan.
In the region.
In the diaspora.

We do not have the privilege of internal fragmentation anymore.

Political disagreement is normal.
Political diversity is necessary.
Democratic argument is healthy.

But right now, Sudan is not in a normal political moment.

Sudan is in a national survival moment.

And in a national survival moment — unity is not optional.

The SAF is the internationally recognised sovereign national military institution of Sudan.

Supporting SAF in this moment is not a vote for dictatorship.
Supporting SAF in this moment is not a vote against democracy.
Supporting SAF in this moment is a vote for Sudan’s right to continue to exist as a country at all.

After we stop annihilation…
After we stop the RSF threat…
After we secure Sudanese territory and protect Sudanese civilians…

then we return to rebuilding a civilian democratic order — grounded in Sudanese consent, Sudanese participation, and Sudanese legitimacy.

But first — survival.
Sudan cannot democratise when Sudan is being erased.

Final Call

I call on every Sudanese:

to stand together,
to speak with one voice,
to unify our diplomatic lobbying,
and to focus our energy on three strategic objectives: 1. Total international isolation of the RSF 2. Total commercial boycott of UAE gold 3. Consolidation of support behind SAF in this war of national self-defense

We are not begging the world for charity.
We are demanding enforcement of the same laws the world claims to believe in.

If we do this with unity, precision, and discipline —
Sudan survives this chapter.

And when Sudan survives this chapter…
Sudan will write the next one.

A democratic one.
A sovereign one.
A civilian one.
A Sudanese one.

Thank you.

This week, we received some truly special news: the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Kensington and Chelsea’s adult social care services as “outstanding” — the highest possible rating, and the best in Britain.

This is more than just a badge of honour. It’s a recognition of the care, professionalism, and compassion shown every day by our dedicated teams, our partner organisations, and the community that works alongside us.

The CQC singled out our leadership, our commitment to safeguarding vulnerable residents, and our ability to provide services that are both inclusive and deeply personal. They also acknowledged how we’ve learned from the Grenfell tragedy — ensuring that every decision we make is rooted in listening, building trust, and protecting those who rely on us most.

This achievement sits alongside our “outstanding” Ofsted rating for children’s services. Together, they show that even in the face of funding pressures, we are determined to deliver the highest quality support for residents at every stage of life.

I want to thank everyone who made this possible — our staff, volunteers, care providers, community groups, and of course the residents who help shape our services. This recognition belongs to all of you.

We’re proud of what we’ve achieved, but we’re not standing still. Our focus remains on listening, improving, and making sure every resident receives the dignity, respect, and care they deserve.

I don’t usually get fired up about council funding formulas. But what’s being proposed right now for Kensington and Chelsea is outrageous—and it deserves everyone’s attention.

The Government is planning to cut more than £80 million from our borough’s funding over the next three years. That’s around 40% of our controllable budget. Let that sink in.

This isn’t about tightening belts or trimming fat. This is a deep, calculated cut that would gut local services—not because we’ve failed to manage our finances, but because we’ve done exactly the opposite. We’re being punished for running things well.

The Flawed Logic Behind the Cuts

Here’s the trick they’re trying to pull: the new “Fair Funding” formula assumes a notional Council Tax Band D rate of £2,000. Ours is actually £1,079—one of the lowest in the country. And that’s something our Conservative council is rightly proud of. We’ve kept taxes low, services efficient, and targeted support where it’s needed most.

But instead of being recognised for that, the formula assumes we should have been charging residents double and uses that fictional figure to justify slashing our funding. You couldn’t make it up.

The Reality on the Ground

Kensington and Chelsea isn’t just a place on a map—it’s home to real people, including many who live in real deprivation. That gets missed in the headlines. The new formula redistributes money away from areas like ours while ignoring local pressures—like sky-high housing costs, a huge daytime population, and the fact that we act as a gateway to London, with all the services and infrastructure that entails.

Street cleaning, waste collection, social care, housing support—these aren’t luxuries. They’re essentials. And under these proposals, they’re all at risk.

Backing the Right Fight

Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, our Conservative Council Leader, is absolutely right to fight this. She’s been meeting ministers, pushing back in the media, and calling this out for what it is: selective de-funding. I stand with her on this.
This isn’t about party politics. It’s about basic fairness. When a well-run council gets hammered for doing the right thing, we should all be concerned.

What You Can Do

The Government is running a consultation on these changes—but the deadline is coming fast: 15 August 2025. If you care about the future of services in our borough, now is the time to speak up.

• Submit your view here: The Fair Funding Review 2.0
• Share this message. Talk to your neighbours. Write to your MP. Let’s make it clear: this is not acceptable.

We’ve worked hard to build a borough that works—for everyone. We’re not about to sit quietly while that’s torn down.

Today is World Bee Day. So I decided to celebrate by buying a jar of local honey and remind everybody of the importance of bees and pollinators.

For me, it all began about 7/8 years ago, on a beautiful sunny day. I was in the countryside, sitting outside surrounded by and soaking in England’s natural beauty. It was perfect, bar one thing. For almost an hour in the garden not one butterfly appeared. Even though I am not in the countryside a lot, I recalled a setting such as this will have a couple of them flying around. I spent the rest of my stay actively looking for them while outside and from inside, yet nothing. That got me thinking.

When I got home, I did a little research on why we’re not seeing butterflies like we used to? It turned out not only butterflies, but all of our pollinators are at risk and suffering from rapid decline. Because their natural habitats are being destroyed either for urbanisation or due to climate damage. These creatures mostly exist and fertilise by resting, eating and flying from flower to flower.

The loss of biodiversity was creating longer gaps between trips thus making pollinator journeys longer. Not all bugs were able to survive it. That’s when the idea of a Superhighway of connecting corridors to allow pollinators a continued and safe travel came to me.

So why Bee?

Because, in my opinion bees are the royalty of bugs and pollinators. Plus ‘The Bee Superhighway’ is catchy and has a nice ring to it.

Four years later I was elected Councillor for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. That’s when I thought now I can really do something about it. I had the platform, an audience and the resources. All I needed was the setting. Which came about the flowing year when I became Deputy Mayor in May 2019. I am very proud to say, with the backing of the then Mayor Cllr Will Pascal, I hosted an event that launched The Bee Superhighway putting it firmly on the borough’s map.

Yes, it was my idea, my vision and dream, but so many people are behind it’s success and existence. I, and the pollinators are very grateful for all of them. I am not going to mention names, because I will undoubtedly miss someone, but you all know who you are.

Today, on this World Bee Day, I and the Bees thank, appreciate and celebrate you all!

Happy World Bee Day!

I can’t believe it’s been almost two years since I last posted here. Time does fly! Lots has happened since my last post on why we should all #BackBoris. The nation overwhelmingly did back him. And thank God they did. He proved to be a great choice – a brilliant leader and a fine Prime Minster.

Since then, COVID took over our lives. Indiscriminately hitting all corners of the globe infecting and killing millions. But the world quickly responded by developing vaccines and deploying them everywhere, now every nation is vigorously fighting its spread.

On the international stage. We left the EU. Americans managed to unseat Trump and elect a former VP in his place. Troubles between Israel and Palestine are escalating. And the U.S. will finally withdrew all its troops from Afghanistan on September 11 of this year.

On a personal level, like most people I used the lockdowns to catch up on box sets, movies and some books. I had meetings, drinks and get togethers over Zoom. Also like most, I put on weight and became attached to my dogs. But most importantly, I learnt I can be very happy doing absolutely nothing of importance and the sky won’t fall down. So, now I am a lot more chillaxed.

As a Councillor, last week I was reshuffled out of Planning and opted to not take any of the fig leave posts I was offered. I liked Planning, and enjoyed working with the Planning team, they are a wonderful bunch to know and work with. I shall miss it and them. However, what I won’t miss is the looks of disappointment on residents when the decision doesn’t go their way.

This is an election year for me. So, from now until May 5, 2022 I will focus on my ward, my residents, my one Select Committee (The Environment) plus all things Bee Superhighway. Yesterday, I helped plant pollinators in a disused grassed area outside the Natural History Museum on the Exhibition Road side. That was a double bonus for me – my passion in my ward.

As usual I like to keep my posts short and sweet, but I am definitely back to stay. Enjoy your weekend.

It is no secret I am a Brexiteer and during the EU Referendum supported and campaigned for the Vote Leave campaign. Like all my fellow Brexiteers and most of the country I believe we should have left by now. That is why I think it is time for those who voted to Remain to put their personal feelings aside and support the Prime Minister. They need to back Boris to end the Brexit uncertainty and allow the country to move forward.

When parliament triggered Article 50, MPs knew what they signed up for. They knew they had two years to negotiate the terms of Withdrawal, followed by a withdrawal without a deal if a deal cannot be agreed.

Now, three years after the referendum and we still haven’t left. Parliament is stuck. Government is stuck. The country is stuck. The uncertainty of this stuckness is chipping away at our economy and slowly destroying us, as individuals, as communities and as a country, and it needs to stop.

Parliament now has a duty to break this deadlock. It is the job of MPs, as the elected representatives to deliver what the country instructed them to do. And deliver it despite personal views or feelings. We are now at a crossroad, our democracy is at stake and trust in our politicians is at it’s lowest because Brexit hasn’t yet been delivered.

The time to argue there wasn’t enough information during the 2016 campaign or the vote was advisory, or after three years people changed their minds or, or …… are all pointless. Frankly, they are also baseless, because in a democracy when people cast their vote they expect it to be honoured. They expect those they sent to parliament to represent them do as instructed.

That is why we must now leave. That is also why we must all support Boris Johnson. He has the commitment to honour what the country voted for. The leadership to carry it through, and the vision to be bold and pragmatic while delivering it. His choice of ministers and announcements to date are prove of it.

The PM and all his cabinet have repeatedly set out their desire for a deal, and their willingness to renegotiate and agree one. However, it is correct and encouraging they are all in agreement that if a better deal is not agreed we will still leave without one. This is the certainty the country and our economy has been craving for for three years and that is why we must all back Boris Johnson and stand united behind him to leave with or without a deal on October 31st.

Last year at the council (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) we spent nine months reviewing our governance. One of the outcomes was to change the way we do scrutiny. The public wanted to have greater involvement in scrutiny, and the findings to be more policy making than just recommendations. We listened and the result was a total revamp of scrutiny committees. We now have an overarching Overview Scrutiny Committee, that oversees all scrutiny and directs the work of the four select committees below it. Thus giving the process greater focus while allowing for more specialisation and more in-depth examination. The four committees are, Adult Social Care and Health; Environment; Family Services; and Housing and Communities.

I decide to put myself forward to chairing the Family Services Committee. See below my address to fellow councillors:

I am writing to ask for your support in my decision to chair the Family Services Council Select Committee. Last year I served in the Adult Health & Social Care Scrutiny Committee, besides that experience, I bring personal and lived experiences to this role.

As a mother, a sister and a daughter, family is very important to me. It is the umbrella under which we rear and empower our young, and support and care for our old. As Conservatives, we understand that family is the foundation of every community and the bedrock of every society. By nurturing all our families, whatever shape or size, we enrich our communities and strengthen our futures.

Safeguarding of vulnerable children and support for families will sit at the heart of my chairmanship’s work as it is among the council’s most important statutory responsibilities. We have excellent schools. Both my daughters used local authority schools: first St Mary Abbott’s, and then Holland Park. They also used after school clubs and summer programme activities. It was the only way I could afford to work full time and raise them as a single parent. I was so impressed with our youth services provision, I became a trustee and campaigned alongside residents to save a failing local youth project from closure then helped to turn it around into a successful programme. Keeping the youth safe and occupied by providing them with after school activities is a lifeline for many parents. And, although I never adopted or fostered children, I came across some who did, many found the process good but some felt it needed improvements. If elected; I promise to closely scrutinise the process, in order to promote greater kindness and efficiency.

In my first year as a councillor, I shadowed Gerard (Cllr Hargreaves) and got to know and understand many aspects of the diverse communities in our borough. During that time, I understood good chairing and how to bring out the best in people – by giving a voice to those too quiet to hear or a little shy to speak. This experience, plus part chairing a number of meetings throughout the year, has allowed me to understand and appreciate effective chairing, collaborative working and respect to members’ valuable time and contributions.

As a member of the Governance Review Panel, I listened to and spoke with hundreds of residents: and it is because I know our constituents want to see scrutiny groups active and out in their communities that I am so determined to take on this role. At this Council, we want scrutiny to be more resident – facing, more geared towards policy development and less Town Hall centric. Those priorities directly respond to what residents told us they want from scrutiny. And to bring that dynamic scrutiny vision to life, we need people who believe in it.

Besides bringing life and personal experience into the fold, I can empathise and effortlessly relate to others’ experiences. That coupled with my calm and measured reasoning, will make me a suitable chair for this committee. I want to empower residents to be consistently engaged, trust the council more and not be afraid to come forward with new and untried ideas. I also want meetings to become extra efficient and run to time. Additionally, I want to engage members of the committee further by enabling them to have more say and bigger involvement in working groups. I want them to feel that their opinion and the issues they value are valued.

We are very lucky in this borough, as we have good public services and some of the best schools in the country. But the best is only as good as our commitment to excellence. And excellence can only be achieved with robust scrutiny.

Thank you for your time.

Walaa

As a proud paid up member of the Conservative Party, I am one of those who will vote for our next leader and PM. I take this responsibility and privilege very seriously. That is why I waited until all candidates launched their campaign. I also took the time to listen and read what they had to say and tried to understand why they want to lead, before deciding who can be the best to lead us at this junction. After considering all, and balancing between heart and head. I think only one candidate stands out form the rest.

Our next leader needs to be optimistic, believes in Britain and her might. They also need to be someone who is ready to hit the ground running. The person to next lead us, must be able to unite and protect our country. Unite it by delivering Brexit no later than October 31, and protect it form Jeremy Corbyn by winning the next General Election with a working Conservative majority. He or she must also be able to work with the outside world and garner support for Britain.

And since this leadership contest we are not electing the leader of the opposition, we therefore, don’t have the time or luxury to develop and test an unknown, a fresh new face. We need a statesman, and someone who is readymade for the job. A candidate who becomes Prime Minister from day one. This person, also have to be a Brexiteer. We had a Remain PM and we all saw how that ended. This time we need someone who can deliver Brexit because they campaigned for it, believe in it and can deliver it.

Ladies and gentlemen, the only candidate who can do this is Boris Johnson.