Weekly Update - 13 December

Dear John

This week, the world has been rapt by the story of the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on the streets of New York. Part of what makes this case so terrifying is that the murderer is alleged to have used a 3D-printed gun to conduct his attack. After the police released photos of the murder weapon, experts identified the handgun as a particular model of “ghost gun”—a homemade weapon with no serial number, created by assembling a mix of commercial and DIY parts. The gun appears to have been part 3D-printed – although ballistics experts need to test it to confirm. The rise of 3D-printed firearms on our streets is a serious threat. In 2022, UK authorities seized 17 3D-printed firearms, a significant increase from just three the year before. Last year in Birmingham, a local man was convicted of possession of a range of home-made assault rifles manufactured with a 3D printer in his home. Blueprints to make untraceable lethal weapons can now be shared and downloaded easily via social media and the web, presenting a real challenge to law enforcement agencies trying to stop the circulation of firearms on Britain’s streets. As organised crime changes, legislation must keep up. Earlier this year, I presented the Firearms (3D Printing) Bill to Parliament, to shut down a loophole that means it is legal to possess or share a blueprint to make 3D-printed guns, or part-make a 3D-printed gun. I am delighted that today the Government has announced that it will take forward my Bill and change the law to clamp down on these dangerous untraceable weapons. I look forward to working with the Government to get this legislation right, so we can crack down on these lethal blueprints and give law enforcement the powers they need.

Labour Friends of the Commonwealth

On Tuesday evening, I was honoured to welcome the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Dr Roosevelt Skerritt, for the launch of a new group I will chair, Labour Friends of the Commonwealth (LFC). The well-attended event, held in Parliament, focused on the ‘Future of Democracies across the Commonwealth’. Prime Minister Skerrit, who leads the Dominica Labour Party and is the first patron of the group, spoke of the longstanding historic ties between our parties, and the role the UK has played on the world stage under Labour governments of the past. In launching this group, our ambition is simple but bold: to build closer ties with Labour Parties and progressives across the Commonwealth. We believe that by working together, we can address the defining challenges of our time—climate change, inequality, and democratic renewal—more effectively than any one country can alone. For me, this is personal. Birmingham, our home, is a Commonwealth city, and the diverse heritage of people here span from the Carribbean to Africa, from Malta to India, from where my own family came. Whether or not we have direct ties, all MPs represent constituents with a deep connection to this global family. Today, the Commonwealth represents more than 2.5 billion people. As the UK seeks to reconnect with other allies on the international stage following years of chaos and division, I want to use this group to build closer links with our allies and forge a progressive alliance on the great global challenges and opportunities we share. We are stronger together.

£740 million for SEND

Last month the National Audit Office highlighted the crisis in the SEND system, with very limited progress having been made in making mainstream schools more inclusive in recent years, harming children’s life chances. I know this only too well from the conversations I have had with constituents. Earlier this year I met with teachers at Woodgate Primary School who highlighted the challenges the system is placing on families and schools. Since leaving government, Conservative Shadow Ministers reflected on the SEND system they left behind with one remarking at Conservative Party Conference that his government ‘did not do enough’ on SEND and they should ‘hang [their] heads in shame’. The previous Conservative Education Secretary has labelled the system ‘lose, lose, lose.’ That is why I am delighted to support plans from the new government to fix the Tories’ “lose, lose, lose” SEND system. Thousands of pupils in Birmingham will benefit from a £740 million cash injection to pave the way for more pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to achieve and thrive in mainstream schools. This new funding can be used to adapt classrooms to be more accessible for children with SEND, and to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs. It will start to pave the way for Labour’s wide-ranging, long term plans for reform to help more pupils with SEND to have their needs met in mainstream schools.

Broadband Poles in Birmingham

This week I called a debate on the rollout of broadband poles in Birmingham, where I shared residents’ concerns with the minister about the activities of Brsk. Last year, we managed to convince Brsk to move a pole in front of Perrott’s Folly and the Waterworks tower. This has a huge significance to our heritage, as the towers inspired JRR Tolkien in “The Lord of the Rings”. We continue to be frustrated by the failure of companies like Brsk to provide adequate opportunity for consultation, to respond to feedback from residents, and most of all, to share existing infrastructure, such as underground ducts which mean more poles don’t need to go up. The company is currently being investigated by Ofcom. I and the vast majority of my constituents support the roll-out of new broadband infrastructure, which will be crucial for the future of our economy. But as I said to the Minister, it should not take a well-organised community campaign and an active MP to get an operator to meet its statutory duties as it rolls this infrastructure out. I’m pleased the Minister shares many of my concerns and has promised to hold Brsk’s feet to the fire. In particular, I’ve been encouraged that it was revealed Brsk now has guaranteed access to BT Openreach infrastructure to install broadband lines underground, following a meeting with the Minister. Fundamentally, my constituents are asking for respect: respect to influence decisions, and to ensure that broadband infrastructure is implemented in a way that respects their local environment, heritage and public interest. I was grateful for the opportunity to send a message to the cowboy operators in Birmingham.

Alzheimer's Research

It was a great pleasure this week to meet Scott Mitchell, the husband of the late and great Dame Barbara Windsor. Barbara Windsor was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014, and she and Scott have been incredible campaigners for more support and research into this awful condition. I know that many constituents have personal experiences with Alzheimer’s, and will relate to Scott’s experience. Dementia continues to be the UK’s biggest killer, claiming the lives of 74,000 people in 2022. This year marked a historic milestone with the licensing of two new Alzheimer’s drugs, lecanemab and donanemab, in Britain, the first in over 20 years. I am proud of the work we are already doing in Britain, but there is much more to do. I am therefore proud to say I have joined Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Dementia Research Champions programme, pledging to take action throughout 2025 that will help revolutionise the way dementia is treated, diagnosed and prevented.

Local News University of Birmingham Parliamentors

Every year, I take part in the University of Birmingham Parliamentors scheme, to work with a diverse group of students of different faiths, to talk to them about a social action project they are working on, and share my experiences of trying to make change. It was lovely to talk to Becky, Jordh and Umar about their project. Edgbaston Labour Xmas Party

To wrap up a busy week, it was my pleasure to host the annual Edgbaston Labour Christmas Party for minced pies and mulled wine. It has been a busy year, but I couldn't be more thankful to all the Labour members and supporters who have helped me get re-elected this year, as we delivered the first Labour government in 14 years. Thank you all for the hard work, and merry christmas!

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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