Report back

Dear John

Welcome to my first newsletter of the new decade, and my first newsletter since being re-elected. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank everyone who supported me during December’s General Election. I am grateful to all those who supported my campaign and helped to re-elect me as the MP for Birmingham Edgbaston with a 5,614 majority and over 50% share of the votes. We could not have achieved what we did without you.

My office and I have been as busy as ever – taking on over 600 new cases from constituents since my re-election as well as continuing work on over 750 open cases. My regular constituency advice surgeries continue, and you can find the details of these on my website here www.preetkaurgill.com/content/advice-surgeries. You do not have to wait for a surgery if you have an issue, please get in touch using my contact details at the bottom of this email if there is something I can help with.

You can find a small selection of what I have been up to since the election below, and you can keep up-to-date with the rest of my work on my website at www.preetkaurgill.com or on my social media channels.

Yours sincerely

Preet Kaur Gill MP

Member of Parliament for Edgbaston

PREET LEADS DEBATE DURING CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

Preet led a debate during Children's Mental Health Week highlighting the importance of children and young people’s mental health and the crisis our young people are facing.

In the debate, Preet said:

“No child should have to reach crisis point before they are able to get help with their mental health. We cannot pretend that the causes of mental health are simple or that they are not impacted and exacerbated by inequalities and injustice.

The Centre for Mental Health has rightly raised the futility of funding mental health services that support symptoms if those resources are diverted from preventive measures to tackle poverty and inequality, including policies in the criminal justice system, education, public health, youth services, housing and social security.

Those sectors and services are all in vital need of long-term, sustainable support, and that is why I am calling on the Minister to ensure that a public health approach is introduced that promotes mental wellbeing, prevents future mental health problems and supports recovery from mental health issues.”

You can watch Preet’s debate in full here: www.preetkaurgill.com/content/preet-leads-childrens-mental-health-week-debate and read her article ahead of the debate on PoliticsHome here: www.politicshome.com/news/uk/health-and-care/illnesstreatments/opinion/house-commons/109688/preet-gill-mp-we-must

LIAM BYRNE KICKS OFF HIS MAYORAL CAMPAIGN IN HARBORNE

At the beginning of this month, Liam Byrne was selected as Labour’s candidate to take on Andy Street to be our region’s Metro Mayor in May with over 50% of the vote share.

Liam joined Preet and Edgbaston activists and members in talking to residents about his priorities for the region.

Preet said:

“The West Midlands needs to lead the way in the Green Revolution. Liam has fresh radical ideas and he is passionate about creating opportunities. He is the ideal Labour candidate for the Mayoral election unlocking our potential and productivity.

In 2017, Andy Street made a series of headline pledges to the people of the West Midlands – but he is on course to break almost all of them.

Liam will end the moral emergency of homelessness, make the West Midlands Britain’s first Sanctuary of Refuge for refugees, cut knife crime by putting a youth worker back into every ward, and pioneer a Green Industrial Revolution. Liam has what it takes to beat Andy Street – but the hard work begins now.”

To read Liam’s 50-page manifesto written in over 100-member meetings, and to find out how you can help Liam’s campaign, visit: www.liambyrnemp.co.uk

PREET'S CAMPAIGN SUCCESSFUL IN REVERSING BRITISH GAS' DECISION TO INCREASE MINIMUM METER TOP UP AMOUNT

British Gas have announced that they will reverse the minimum top-up for pre-pay meters for over the counter transactions from £5, back to £1. The reversal follows Preet's successful campaign against the move which would have seen some of the poorest prepayment customers choosing between heating and eating.

The move will mean customers on pay-as-you-go tariffs, who often rely on small top-ups to ration their heating to see themselves through to payday, will no longer be forced to pay a £5 minimum charge.

The u-turn comes after over 91,000 members of the public signed a petition set up by Preet calling on British Gas to reverse their decision (https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/british-gas-reverse-the-minimum-top-up-rise-1). Hundreds of members of the public also contacted British Gas with their own stories about how they were going to be affected.

Preet said:

“This is a vital win for the thousands of people affected by British Gas’s decision to raise the minimum pre-pay top-up. I am so thankful to 38 Degrees and the 91,000 people who signed our petition. It would not have been possible without them.

Our campaign has revealed the extent of the fuel poverty crisis under this government. Much more needs to be done to ensure that no one has to choose between eating and heating their home. I urge other energy providers to follow suit.”

Coverage of Preet’s campaign win includes:

PREET WRITES FOR HUFFPOST ON WHY LABOUR FAILED HARD-WORKING PEOPLE BY FAILING TO WIN

Earlier this month, Preet wrote for HuffPost on the importance of listening to Labour representatives who work away from Westminster if Labour are to win at the next election.

In her article, Preet said:

“Our democracy demands a credible opposition, and that is exactly what Labour needs to be over the next four years. We must use this time effectively to expose the government’s many failings and hold them to account for their policy decisions which negatively affect the most vulnerable in our society. That is why we must work with other elected representatives to show the best of Labour in power; from Metro-Mayors to Police and Crime Commissioners.

We need to build on the work that they are doing to tackle austerity day in and day out. We also need to learn from the positive messages that they are putting forward. Labour councillors have consistently raised issues, come up with innovative and ambitious policies and have delivered for their residents but the Labour party has not listened or learnt from them. These are our colleagues who evidence what devolving power can do.”

You can read the piece in full here: www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-failed-hard-working-people-by-failing-to-win_uk_5e42c1fac5b6b7088707e729

PREET BACKS KEIR STARMER FOR LABOUR LEADER

Preet has come out in support of Keir Starmer to be the next leader of the Labour Party. The Edgbaston CLP has also nominated Keir to be leader in an all members’ meeting at the beginning of the month.

Preet said:

“Keir has spent his life fighting against injustice as a human rights lawyer, challenging the death penalty around the world. I’m backing him because of his commitment to public service and his ability to lead a large, complex organisation. Another future is possible with Keir as leader.”

For anyone who would like to help Keir’s campaign or receive updates, please sign up at: www.keirstarmer.com

PREET CO-ORDINATES JOINT LETTER IN SUPPORT OF HS2

In January, Preet co-ordinated a cross-party letter to Boris Johnson in support of HS2, outlining the benefits for Birmingham and the region and urging the Prime Minister to ‘act swiftly to begin delivering the infrastructure the region so desperately needs’

The letter says:

“At a time when we need to act urgently to tackle climate change, HS2 will be an important component in and of itself as well as the knock-on impact of the increased capacity in existing lines for local routes (to encourage people to switch from their private vehicles), and rail freight (rather than lorries).”

You can read the letter in full here: www.preetkaurgill.com/content/preet-co-ordinates-hs2-joint-letter-pm

PREET WRITES TO HEALTH SECRETARY ABOUT RACISM AGAINST NHS WORKERS

Preet wrote to the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, about the 145% increase in recorded racist attacks on NHS staff since 2013.

The letter says:

“A survey conducted by Nursing Times and Unison recently found that two thirds of nursing staff have observed racial discrimination or disadvantage at work in the last 12 months, with nearly half the target of it themselves.”

You can read the letter in full here: www.preetkaurgill.com/content/preet-writes-health-secretary-about-racism-against-nhs-workers

www.preetkaurgill.com

0121 392 8426

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