Weekly Update - 8 November

Dear John

It has been a big week in politics. In the UK, our Labour government has been delivering the change that people voted for in July.

Budget

Following the Budget debate, I voted for Labour’s plans for better public services, to bring down waiting lists in the NHS, for more teachers in our state schools, increasing pensions, more police and more money to fix potholes.

Homelessness

Our Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has launched an emergency fund for rough sleepers, which will save lives this winter by ensuring rough sleepers have access to a safe and warm bed. Read more here.

Education

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson revealed her plans to help children with SEND thrive and to restore parents’ confidence. She announced the appointment of two major new SEND advisers and the creation of an expert group on neurodiversity to improve inclusivity in mainstream schools. Read more here.

Health

The Government has announced plans to make it illegal to smoke in children’s playgrounds, outside schools and hospitals in England, with some places also becoming vape-free. Smoking remains one of the biggest killers in our country, so we are making it illegal for people born after 1st January 2009 to buy tobacco as part of our ambition to create the first smoke-free generation. Read more here. We have also announced tougher action on vaping to protect children and young people, with a ban on vape advertising and sponsorship and a ban on disposable vapes from June 2025. Here I am speaking about the scourge of youth vaping in the evidence session of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill:

Immigration

Our Prime Minister Keir Starmer will sign new international agreements to smash the criminal smuggling gangs. He has also announced an extra £75 million to tackle people smuggling. Read more here. This is in addition to the work that the work that the government has already been doing to secure our borders. The government has recruited more staff to process asylum claims, announced further funding for the National Crime Agency (NCA) to boost border security and doubled funding for the Government's new Border Security Command.

Remembrance

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday this weekend, Sir Keir Starmer has announced £3.5 million to support veterans facing homelessness, to help them secure employment and independent living, and for specialist mental health support. This Labour government will always stand up for those who serve our country. Read more here.

Elections

Donald Trump has won the US Presidential Election. As the closest of allies, our Labour government will continue to work with the US on issues from defence and security to growth and prosperity. The Conservative Party have also elected their new leader – Kemi Badenoch. It’s a historic moment to see a black woman elected to lead a Westminster party. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Badenoch and the Conservative Party need to face up to the many problems that they have inflicted on the country and that we are still living with.

Politics Midlands

This week, I appeared on BBC Politics Midlands. We spoke about Labour’s first Budget, Kemi Badenoch’s victory in the Tory leadership contest and Birmingham City Council’s finances. You can watch the full episode here.

Sikh Remembrance Campaign

It was wonderful to speak at the Sikh Military Foundation’s launch of their WWI Sikh Remembrance campaign at Punjab Restaurant Covent Garden, with my friend Alistair Carns MP. We remembered the 90,000 Sikhs who gave their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy in both World Wars. My great-grandfather fought in the First World War and my grandfather fought in the Second World War. Sikh history is British history, and our contribution, past and present, should not be forgotten.

Speaker’s Remembrance Garden

This week, I planted a stake in the Speaker’s Remembrance Garden ahead of Remembrance Day. I dedicated my stake to all the people from Birmingham, Edgbaston who served and scarified their lives for our freedom as well as to the 34th Royal Sikh Regiment in WWI. Lest we forget.

Local News

Meeting with Bishop of Birmingham

This week, it was wonderful to meet the tenth Bishop of Birmingham, Bishop Michael Volland. It was great to discuss the challenges and opportunities in our region. We also discussed the diversity of our great city and the ways in which faith groups and places of worship bring our communities together. Free School Meals This week, the council confirmed that plans were being worked on to automatically enrol children in Birmingham who were eligible for free school meals but not currently taking them up. This is an important intervention by the council that will help to break down the barriers to opportunity. Our Labour government has tripled funding for breakfast clubs to £30m to ensure that every child is ready to learn at the start of the school day, and expanded government-funded childcare with £1.8bn for local authorities. You can read more here. MHWC Next Thursday, 14th November, the MHWC will be visiting Fountain Road in North Edgbaston, B17 8NL. The centre will be open between 7:30am and 1pm, so please do come along if you have bulky household waste to dispose of! Harborne Craft Market

Harborne Christmas Craft Market will be taking place on 23rd and 24th November between 10am and 4pm at Moorpool Hall in Harborne. There will be handmade arts, crafts, gifts, home baked cakes and more. Oasis Church Christmas Craft Fair This December, South Street will be hosting its first ever Christmas Craft Fair. It’s an opportunity to support and showcase local businesses and craftspeople and for the community to connect and come together. The Fair will be hosted in the Oasis Church building on South Street, and will run from 11am-3pm on Saturday 7th December.

Best wishes,

Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton Promoted by David Evans on behalf of the Labour Party, 20 Rushworth Street, London SE1 0SS

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