Member of Parliament, the Honourable David Lammy MP for Tottenham, and Shadow Foreign Secretary, paid a visit to leaders of the Tottenham Lighthouse Seventh-day Adventist Church, and community residents on Friday, 14 June 2024. Pastor Vaughn Thorpe, local minister of Wood Green Church was also present.
Lammy is well-known for his contribution to Windrush generation, a group from the Caribbean and parts of Europe, recruited to put Britain on a sustainable pathway. They arrived in England in 1948 on the war ship, the HMT Empire Windrush.
Dr Lammy, a confessed Christian, spent 1 hour and 30 minutes covering a range of topics of interest. The Communication department did a slide presentation of the church's outreach activities.
During their deliberation, Dr Audrey Soyam, head of Apha College, raised the issue of high taxes for small businesses and Daniel Soyan questioned the lack of trickle-down business and contracts from government to the local community. He said it appears that the "fat cats" get all the contracts from government.
Head elder Charles and elder Jacqueline Edwards sought the MP's advice on the completion of the church's refurbishment to serve the community. Lammy's office administrator, Becky, who accompanied him expressed interest in helping the church to raise funds for its refurbishment. She returned on the Sabbath afternoon to see the Committee Food Hub in action.
Lammy praised the church for its consistent and generous spirit to the community during the time of austerity that the country faces.
Local pastor, Dr Jude Jeanville commended Mr Lammy on his robust and articulate debates in Parliament. He also requested that the MP considers inspiring the youth by inviting them to a round table discussion in the House of Commons. He responded in the affirmative. Jeanville did not miss the opportunity to present a copy of his book, Justice for Women.
He redefined his role as MP as a legislator to debate and influence change on the national level, while ready to intervene through representation on matters that impacts his constituents.
The Honourable David Lammy MP asked the leaders to consider the word resilience, how we can be and build resilience into our psyche and aspirations. He was confident that Labour would set Britain on a sustainable path.
