On Monday, the Prime Minister unveiled his government’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) with an increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, the largest sustained increase since the Cold War. This increase in defence spending will see taxpayer’s money invested into Britain’s industrial base, creating tens of thousands of new jobs and apprenticeships, right across the country.
The Prime Minister announced: £1.5bn of additional funding to repair and renew armed forces housing Up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons for the UK Armed Forces, supporting around 800 defence jobs, and boosting our military capabilities. 12 new attack submarines, to transform the UK’s submarine building industry following the £15 billion investment in the warhead programme, supporting 30,000 highly skilled jobs up-and-down the country well into the 2030s 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles across the next ten years.
Everyone should feel safe and secure at home. That’s why this government is making serious, long-term investment in our armed forces, creating thousands of jobs and supporting working people across the country.
Read more here. |
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West Midlands Transport Investment |
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The Chancellor has announced Birmingham is set to benefit from a huge £2.4 billion investment for our transport infrastructure. This is a major vote of confidence in Birmingham’s potential, improving how we move, work and live. For 7 years, I’ve been campaigning for better connectivity in my constituency, so I’m glad that this Labour government is giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so everyone is better off. I will work with the mayor and our Labour government on my campaign to improve rapid transport along the Hagley Road.
£400 million will fund an extension of our metro, connecting the city centre to the new sports quarter in Bordesley Green. This will unlock £3bn from private investors and bring more jobs and opportunities to our region.
The game-changing funding comes ahead of next week’s Spending Review when the Chancellor will set out how this government is investing in the country’s future and the priorities of working people to make every part of Britain better off. The Chancellor is also expected to confirm “a step change in how government approaches and evaluates the case for investing in our regions” following a review of the Treasury’s Green Book and how it is used, “to make sure that this government gives every region a fair hearing when it comes to investments”. Read more here. |
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This week, I spoke in Parliament welcoming Labour’s Bus Services Bill. After decades of failed deregulation, my constituents in Birmingham, Edgbaston will welcome the Government bringing buses back into public control. In Birmingham, most of our bus services are run by National Express West Midlands. Over the years, I have exchanged countless letters and had many meetings with NXWM. When I was first elected, I campaigned to extend the X21 bus in Bartley Green, improving connectivity in our area, I surveyed Bartley Green residents on changes to the 23 and 24 buses, and I have continued to fight for NXWM to restore the iconic 48 bus route that my constituents relied on, before it was rerouted.
However, the problem remains that in a privately-run bus network communities have no democratic control over routes, and feel shut out of the process. That will change with this Bill. Our Bill will: Tighten requirements for cancelling bus routes Give local leaders more power to ensure residents’ needs are prioritised when planning bus routes Empower councils to identify local services that are necessary to the community
In the West Midlands, a Labour mayor, working with a Labour government will bring our buses back into public control, giving communities powers to set routes, fares and services. Read more here. |
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I’m so proud this Labour government is extending free school meals to the children that need them most - 8,700 children in my constituency alone will now be eligible for free school meals, as the government expands eligibility to every pupil whose household is on Universal Credit. Across the country, this unprecedented expansion will lift 100,000 children across England completely out of poverty. Giving children access to a nutritious meal during the school day also leads to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes – meaning they get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life. Read more here. |
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Violence Against Women and Girls |
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A new Government pilot in Birmingham means victims of rape and serious sexual assaults who face their cases being dropped by prosecutors will, for the first time, be given the right to have it reviewed by a different prosecutor, as part of the Government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls. The move will help to restore confidence in the justice system, get victims the answers they deserve and put perpetrators behind bars. I’m glad that the scheme’s pilot is launching this week in the West Midlands, with the intention of it to be rolled out nationwide. You can read more here. |
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This week, the Government introduced the Pensions Schemes Bill, which will enable 20 million workers to get more from their pension pots and will make pots easier to manage. The Bill will tackle schemes delivering poor returns for savers, combine smaller pension pots, and create bigger and better pension funds. This will drive costs down and returns up on workers’ retirement savings – putting more money in people’s pockets as part of the Plan for Change. Read more here. |
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Frontline prison officers working in the highest risk areas of the prison estate will now be issued protective body armour to improve their safety.
Following the horrific attack on three officers at HMP Frankland on 12 April, the Lord Chancellor has now confirmed new protective vests will be made mandatory for prison officers working in Close Supervision Centres and Separation Centres which hold the most dangerous offenders in the estate. Read more here. |
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A new criminal offence of ‘coerced internal concealment’ is to be introduced as an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, to crack down on anyone, including gang leaders, who force people to hide items inside their bodies to avoid detection.
This practice is typically used by organised gangs to transport items like drugs, money and SIM cards from one location to another. It relies on forcing or deceiving children and vulnerable adults into ingesting or hiding items inside their bodily cavities and is often linked to county lines drug running. This new offence will go alongside other measures in our landmark Crime and Policing Bill to turn the tables on the gang leaders and hold them to account for exploiting children and vulnerable adults. Read more here. Here's an update on some other work that is being undertaken by the Home Office: 💪 Stronger police powers to crush vehicles seized for antisocial behaviour after 48 hours.
🚓 Suspected people smuggling gang detained in nationwide crackdown – with arrests in Cheltenham, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Bradford. 🚨 New criminal offence to tackle county lines gangs who exploit children and vulnerable people by forcing them to hide objects in their bodies. ▶️ Stalking Protection Orders strengthened – ensuring that the police work with support services to give victims the protection they deserve.
📈 Enforced returns up 23% – compared to the same 12-month period under the Tories.
🍬 Scammer who duped elderly victims into smuggling meth hidden inside sweets jailed for over 9 years following NCA investigation. 📊 29% increase in penalties issued to rogue employers hiring illegal workers - the highest level since 2016. |
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This week, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been in Paris discussing economic growth with our international partners.
Reynolds spoke at the OECD and caught up with counterparts around the world to discuss how we can take our trading relationships even further. He also spoke to the European Commissioner at the Economic Security Form to discuss the UK-EU strategic partnership and how it ties in with our global trade agenda. You can read more here.
This week, the UK became the only country in the world that has not been subjected to additional steel tariffs by the United States. We have agreed a deal with the US that will bring steel tariffs down to zero – the UK is still the only country to have secured a deal with the US. |
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Over the weekend, the ban on single-use vapes came into force. The new crackdown makes it illegal to sell single-use vapes at corner shops and supermarkets, putting an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation’s streets.
This government is moving to protect young people from getting hooked on nicotine, as young people are particularly likely to use disposable products due to their attractiveness, affordability, and marketing. Under the last Government, youth vaping trebled in two years. An estimated one in three vapes on the market were illicit, and products often contained harmful chemicals, heavy metals or even drugs.
For years, I have been campaigning to protect young people from the dangerous of youth vaping. I'm glad that the Government has now introduced a testing regime for vapes, a proposal that I championed in the last Parliament.
You can read more here. |
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Asian Women Mean Business |
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Asian women remain underrepresented in leadership roles across sectors.
It was a pleasure to host Asian Women Mean Business's Parliamentary event to champion growth, visibility, and collective empowerment. |
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It was a privilege to speak at the graduation ceremony for Parliamentors, a leadership programme I have been involved with mentoring students from different faith and belief backgrounds.
I was very pleased to get to hand my mentees Becky, Umar and Jordh their certificates! |
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It was lovely to visit Midland Mencap, a charity based in Bartley Green, and meet their CEO Dave Rogers.
Midland Mencap is doing amazing work to support individuals with learning disabilities and autism through a variety of programmes and initiatives. My visit provided me with a valuable insight into the work they are doing to promote inclusivity, independence, and opportunity for participants. |
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It was inspiring to visit Nonacus, a healthcare company based in my constituency which provides rapid, inexpensive and pain-free bladder cancer diagnostics. These diagnostics, developed with the University of Birmingham and Cancer Research UK, can be taken at home, provide genetic analysis, cost 75% less than an invasive cystoscopy and have the potential to save the NHS £100m+ per annum if implemented nationwide. |
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Water company Severn Trent is repurposing its site in Edgbaston to establish a Midlands hub, which will create new jobs.
It's great to see businesses like Severn Trent investing in new facilities in my constituency. We have a very young city, and new job opportunities will generate hope for young people in Birmingham, Edgbaston. Read more here. |
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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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Follow Preet Kaur Gill MP | |
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