Taking Responsibility for Chiswick and Hounslow
Chiswick Gunnersbury councillor Ron Mushiso reports back
Cllrs Joanna Biddolph and Ron Mushiso at the Gunnersbury Park Garden Estate centenary celebrations
September 27, 2025
One of the hallmarks of good local governance is the willingness to take responsibility, even when it is not palatable. I first saw this at close quarters when I interned in Texas as a young man. It was my first experience of politics, and it was hands-on. What struck me most was the importance of empowering people and allowing them to flourish without constant interference from above.
In Denton County, Dallas, where I worked in 2005, local politics acted as a light-touch protective shield – a thin veil that gave residents the freedom to get on with their lives in peace. It was a marked contrast to the overbearing, top-down approach of national government we were accustomed to in Britain at the time.
This was also the height of the Labour years, when a young black man such as myself was expected to follow the trend and join the Labour Party. But I have never been one to follow the trend. I have always prided myself on setting my own course, guided by principles rather than fashion.
My Conservatism is founded on the idea of progress rooted in tradition: respect for our elders and for those who came before us; an appreciation of history and cultural norms; conserving what matters while pushing forward with necessary change. It is about listening to both sides of an argument, bringing people you disagree with around the table, and creating an environment of open dialogue. It is not about ignoring opposing views, nor about clinging to ideology so tightly that you attack individuals rather than addressing the issue at hand.
Unfortunately, Hounslow Labour has made this kind of politics their trademark. Ad hominem attacks are their defensive shield. Some of the Labour councillors, many of whom I know personally and count as friends, cannot resist falling into this trap. After fifteen years in control of Hounslow Council, Hounslow Labour have become adept at shifting the blame. When the Conservatives were in government at Westminster, Labour councillors in Hounslow blamed them for everything. When the spotlight turns closer to home, they point in any direction other than at themselves.
What they have not done is take ownership of the borough’s mounting problems: spiralling borrowing, high local taxes, rising crime, neglected services, and poor communities left behind.
By contrast, we as Conservative councillors in Chiswick have never shied away from our responsibilities. Whether in the Council chamber late into the night or out on the streets at community events, we show up, we raise residents’ concerns through case work, and we press for practical improvements.
Gunnersbury Park Garden Estate Centenary Celebration
Last weekend, I had the privilege of joining my colleague Cllr Joanna Biddolph at the Gunnersbury Park Garden Estate centenary celebration. Back in 1925, architects Douglas, Smith and Berkley built around 400 houses opposite Gunnersbury Park, creating a community that still thrives today. Exactly a century later, on 20 September 2025, we celebrated that enduring vision.
The Ridgeway cul-de-sac was transformed into a festival of music, food, and family fun. There was a street party, a concert, and even a dog show. My personal highlight was Luca Firth and his band, who brought an alternative folk-pop sound with an American twist. I also caught Jay Kumar and his Bollywood dance troupe, who dazzled the crowd with their energy and colour. Along the Ridgeway, stalls offered food, sweets, and children’s activities, while at the Gunnersbury Triangle families enjoyed a lively dog show with professional photographers on hand to capture pets for the family mantelpiece.
With Jay Kumar and his Bollywood dance troupe at the Gunnersbury Park Garden Estate centenary celebrations
I also contributed by providing inflatable sumo suits for our young people – a light-hearted way for them to burn off energy and have fun. It was a joyous day and a reminder of the immense talent within our community. Special thanks must go to Ana Sato and her team, who worked tirelessly to make the event such a success.
My biggest takeaway was simple: once again, Chiswick proved it knows how to throw a party – and, more importantly, how to bring people together.
Serious Politics, Not Soundbites
But while community spirit flourishes in Chiswick, the mood at Hounslow House could not be more different. At the most recent Council meeting, we Conservatives challenged Labour on issues that matter most to residents.
Cllr Gabriella Giles highlighted how Labour’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies repeatedly overlook certain communities, leaving places like Isleworth, Feltham, and Bedfont behind. I raised concerns about youth crime and the chronic lack of mentoring and work-shadowing opportunities for young people – issues we neglect at our peril.
Cllr Peter Thompson, our Group Leader, made perhaps the most important intervention of the evening. He called for a cross-party initiative to root out child sexual exploitation and to support victims. Protecting vulnerable young people should never be a party-political issue; it is a moral duty. We welcomed the Council Leader’s agreement to work with us, but the proof will be in the action that follows.
This is what responsible politics looks like: not soundbites, not buck-passing, but identifying risks and working across divides to serve our residents and help keep them safe.
Reform: Showing Their True Colours
Some might dismiss the Reform Party as irrelevant in Hounslow. I do not. They are doing well in the national polls, but we must be clear about the risk they pose locally. Their message may sound attractive to residents frustrated with fourteen years of a Conservative led government at Westminster and fifteen years of Labour rule in Hounslow Council, but they have no track record of governing.
Reform are the armchair pundits of politics – quick to criticise, quick to fault-find, quick with soundbites – but inexperienced when it comes to the responsibility of running an administration. Where they do hold power, they have been slow to adapt, slow to commit, and reluctant to put in the hard yards.
Worse still, some of their leading figures indulge in conspiracy and division. Nigel Farage’s refusal to disown Donald Trump’s dangerous claim linking paracetamol in pregnancy to autism is a case in point. And Reform councillors have hardly covered themselves in glory, such as the one in Leicestershire facing an electoral malpractice inquiry after offering ice cream to voters on polling day.
A vote for Reform in Hounslow is not a vote for change; it is a gift to Labour. By splitting the opposition, Reform makes it easier for Labour to cling to power, with all the failures that entails. If residents want real scrutiny, genuine responsibility, and a serious alternative, only the Conservatives can provide it.
Listening and Leading
I recognise that we Conservatives may not be the flavour of the month. We may not be palatable to some. But one thing is certain: we keep showing up. We face the electorate day in and day out.
As ever, I am grateful to everyone who stops to talk to us in the ward, emails us with concerns, or shares their ideas. I learned back in Texas that local politics should be about listening, engaging, and getting things done. It is not about outsourcing engagement to marketing firms or chasing trends through data collection.
My style – and the style of my colleagues – is rooted in listening to people and responding to them. Our record speaks for itself. That is why, despite everything, we will always be the better choice for Chiswick and for Hounslow.
Cllr Ron Mushiso
07976 702887
DEMOCRACY: DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Monday 13 October: Chiswick Area Forum - Normally at Hogarth Hall, Chiswick Town Hall, Heathfield Terrace, Turnham, W4 4JN, but moveable around Chiswick (please check the website). Meetings are open from 6.30pm allowing residents to meet officers of Hounslow Council in Adult and Child care Social Welfare, Education, Housing and Services
Council Meetings
Borough Council
- Tuesday 25 November 7:30pm - Including the first call on the Medium Term Financial Report for the Annual Budget 2025/26
Council Meetings – Audit and Governance Committee
- Tuesday 4 November 7:00 pm
6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB
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.
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
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |