Luton North MP Sarah Owen has praised the grassroots organisations and local volunteers she says form the “soul” of the town, using a parliamentary speech to spotlight the often unsung efforts of those working to make Luton a healthier, happier place.
Speaking during the annual House of Commons summer adjournment debate — renamed in memory of the late Sir David Amess — Ms Owen said her home constituency was full of people motivated by faith, values and a shared commitment to helping others.
“Luton is my home and I love it,” she told MPs. “Our community is motivated by a shared purpose to see a thriving town full of healthy people and a successful future shared by all.”
Ms Owen paid tribute to a wide range of local initiatives and individuals, including Kevin Poulton’s ABCD-in-Luton group, which organises regular litter picks. She said taking part in these events, often alongside young people, had been a highlight of her year and a clear sign of pride in the local environment.
She also highlighted the work of Greenhouse Mentoring, which supports young people through difficult teenage years, and the Luton Someries Rotary Club, whose efforts have helped boost children’s SATs results from 58 per cent to 83 per cent.
The over-50s black men forum, led by Chidi and Enitan, was also praised for providing older men in the community with a space to socialise and improve their wellbeing. In a lighter moment, Ms Owen wished the group good luck in their next table tennis match against Essex.
Sporting groups such as Luton Jets Basketball Club and Luton Town Ladies Football Club were also recognised, with Ms Owen saying that they — along with the many local volunteers — contribute “quietly but powerfully to our community fabric” helping to make the town happy and healthy.
“Spending time with these groups is seriously good for the soul,” she said. “They contribute quietly but powerfully to our community fabric.”
Faith-based organisations were another focus of her praise. She commended the work of the Luton Council of Faiths, as well as the churches, mosques, mandirs and gurdwaras that support people across Luton North.
In a stark shift from local issues, Ms Owen said the most common concern raised by her constituents was the escalating war in Gaza. She condemned the scale of destruction and loss of life, accusing the Israeli government of pursuing “an ethnically cleansed Palestine” and warning that “the horrors of genocide will become a waking nightmare for those still alive to witness it.”
She urged the UK Government to recognise a Palestinian state, impose an arms embargo and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians, while calling for a long-term vision of peace, safety and freedom in the region.
Ms Owen also issued a renewed call for action on road safety, pointing to repeated concerns about dangerous driving on Putteridge Road.
“We are fortunate to have people who go above and beyond for our town,” she said. “That includes Robbie and Lisa Herrick and all those who signed my petition to secure a safer Putteridge Road outside the school… We are continuing to fight for a speed limit of 20 mph in both directions and improved traffic-calming measures.”
She added: “We have seen far too many examples of dangerous driving in Luton, but especially outside schools.”
On the local economy, Ms Owen celebrated £5billion in investment across Luton, including major developments at the airport, the former Vauxhall site and the arrival of Universal Studios, while continuing her weekly support of independent traders.
“I have just completed my 200th Small Business Saturday, and I hope that businesses in Luton north know that I am here for them,” she said. “I will continue shouting about how good they are.”
She also raised concerns about pension injustices faced by constituents such as Thomas Lee, who has lost out due to historic changes to the state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS), and called for a review to prevent further disadvantage.
Owen’s speech ended with a plea for long-awaited infrastructure improvements, saying: “I really wish that Leagrave station had the lifts that it was promised by the last government. Nearly two million journeys are made from that station, and it is high time we had lifts, not scaffolding holding up our broken bridge.”
Despite the challenges, she closed on an upbeat note: “I feel lucky to live and work in Luton North. I could not ask for better people to work alongside, so let us keep walking down that road together.”
