This week it was fantastic to be in the room for the French President Emmanuel Macron’s address to Parliament.
On taking office, the Government wasted no time in rebuilding Britain’s relations with our old ally France. This week, the PM invited the French President to a series of discussions focused on migration, defence, security and trade.
Because of the measures the Government have taken, the French have prevented 12,000 small boat crossings this year alone. With a new specialist unit patrolling the northern French coastline and a new intelligence unit at Dunkirk, we’re undoing the damage the Tories left, making arrests and prosecuting the organised criminal gangs smuggling vulnerable people to Britain. Since last July, we have deported 30,000 people with no right to be here and illegal working raids and arrests are up 50%. By resetting our relationships across Europe, our government has made new levels of co-operation possible.
This week it was agreed that migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France - helping us to smash the business model of the people smuggling gangs.
Since the small boat crossings began six years ago, returning people to France who have arrived in the UK illegally has not been possible. Now it is with this groundbreaking deal. |
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Big win for West Boulevard |
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After years of campaigning, I’m proud to announce that an averaging speed camera has finally been approved for B4121 West Boulevard.
This is a huge win for our community, and it would not have been possible without your support.
Back in 2021, I launched a speeding survey across Quinton and Bartley Green after hearing from many of you about the dangers posed by reckless driving. I received over 350 responses to the survey, which helped us build a powerful case which we took directly to West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council, lobbying for an averaging speed camera to be installed on West Boulevard. This campaign has always been about protecting lives. The tragic death of Lucy Atkins, a 20-year-old student who was struck and killed while walking her dog on West Boulevard in June 2024, brought the urgency of this issue into heartbreaking focus. This new camera is a step toward ensuring such a tragedy never happens again. Thanks to everyone who worked with me. Read more coverage about the campaign here. |
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Birmingham Botanical Gardens |
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I was thrilled to learn this week that Birmingham Botanical Gardens has been awarded over £9 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards its major restoration Growing Our Green Heritage.
I wrote to the National Lottery earlier this year to support their bid, and am delighted it has been a success. Growing Our Green Heritage aims to restore the garden’s historic glasshouse estate, alongside additional visitor and community recourses, in order to create place of horticultural excellence and outstanding green space.
Please visit the Gardens' website for more information here. |
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First we raised a record £63 billion inward investment at the UK Investment Summit in October 2024.
Then last month Amazon announced £40 billion investment in the UK over the next three years. This week, our partnership with France has led to another huge investment, this time by EDF into Sizewell C nuclear power station.
It follows £14.2 billion funding confirmed at the Spending Review and takes Britain closer to ‘golden age’ of nuclear power. Altogether it means that since taking office, Britain has secured £120 billion of private investment. At peak construction, Sizewell C will support 10,000 jobs, and thousands more in the nationwide supply chain, and create 1,500 apprenticeships.
Lower energy bills, thousands more jobs and apprenticeships, energy security for Britain for the long term. |
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Power has been hoarded in Whitehall for too long. Labour’s Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill - introduced to Parliament this week - changes that.
With a new Community Right to Buy for local people with skin in the game. Proud to back this Co-op Party idea. Real power in the hands of local people. |
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I’m absolutely delighted with the Prime Minister’s investment in early years provision. It’s exactly what our communities need.
As a former Children’s Services Manager in Birmingham, I witnessed first-hand the transformative power of the last Labour government’s Sure Start Programme. It made a huge difference supporting families, and providing the foundations children need to flourish.
Early years support boosts school readiness, fosters emotional resilience and confidence and reduces gaps in opportunity. Building on the legacy of Sure Start, we are opening Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority and joining up family services. 🧑🏻🍼 1,000 new Best Start Family Hubs will be up and running across the country by 2028 🏫 Strengthening partnerships between nurseries and schools to deliver more places in every community 👩🏫 A tax-free payment of £4,500 to attract and retain 3,000 more early years teachers in nurseries in the most disadvantaged communities. The difference a Labour government makes. |
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As a former Children's Service Manager in this city for over 18 years, I was really pleased to learn that Birmingham has been successful in securing a share of £53 million of capital match funding to create up to 200 additional open children’s home placements across England. This funding is to create safe, high quality, specialist open children’s homes provision to meet local need. This is intended to address a national shortage of suitable provision for children who have been deprived of their liberty. Under the last government, children have often been placed in unregistered children’s homes at high cost to local authorities (up to £63,000 per week) where their needs are not met and they remain a risk to themselves and others.
This new investment demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to support local authorities to address the challenges they face in providing the right type of care for looked-after children. |
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Transport funding for our region |
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This week the Transport Secretary gave the green light to a raft of new projects, providing a huge boost for road and rail in our region. Backed by £92 billion investment, our Government is delivering the biggest boost to England’s transport infrastructure in a generation. Working people will gain better access to jobs and housing, with upgrades and road schemes supporting 25,000 jobs, 39,000 new homes and connecting 50,000 more people to the rail network. With major funding for over 50 rail and road upgrades, Labour are cutting journey times and connecting millions of people across the country. Key projects in our region include:
🚗M54-M6 Link Road given the go ahead 🛣️Local roads, such as the A4123 Birchley Island 🚆The Midlands Rail Hub in Edgbaston |
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Banning water boss bonuses |
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Labour has banned bonuses for water company bosses who let sewage pollute Bournbrook and the River Rea in our constituency.
Delighted to have spoken with Environment Secretary Steve Reed and will work closely with him to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas, for good. |
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Bereavement leave for mums |
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I’ve had three miscarriages. The last at 20 weeks. Until now, there was no legal right to time off for that grief. However, this week, through our Employment Rights Bill, the Government announced that it will recognise miscarriages before 24 weeks for the first time, giving women paid time off to grieve. A real, human shift. Proud to be a part of the government delivering this change.
Read more about this news here. |
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Tackling the climate crisis |
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It was great to speak with constituents this week about how Labour is tackling the climate and nature crisis. We have set up GB Energy, started a solar rooftop revolution on new-build homes, and are unlocking investment in clean energy through the National Wealth Fund.
Read more about our Clean Power mission here. |
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You work hard, and your money should too. That’s why in Parliament this week I backed the Government’s new Pension Schemes Bill, which could boost the pension pots of 1.6 million workers across the West Midlands by up to £31,000. |
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Earlier this week I spoke to the BBC about the news that talks with Unite have broken down. Unite have rejected every single offer put to them. Their demands risk leaving Birmingham with another equal pay liability like the one that has already caused havoc for residents. Listen to my reaction. |
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On Saturday, I held a great coffee morning at St John’s Church, Harborne. It was a pleasure to hear directly from constituents about the wide range of issues that matter to them, and how we can work together to tackle them. Thanks to everyone who attended, and to church staff for so warmly hosting us. I will be doing more coffee mornings across all our constituency's wards, so look out for the next one coming near you. |
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St Germain's Community Fun Day |
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Take a look at the flyer to see what's on at St Germain’s tomorrow. |
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Here’s eight things Labour’s Plan For Change delivered last week: ❤️🩹 10 Year Health Plan launched to make the NHS fit for the future and benefit every community across the country. This includes: More care delivered in communities through new Neighbourhood Health Centres Better dental care for your children Better GP access, and no more 8am scramble World-first partnership with food retailers and manufacturers to make the healthy option easier and bring down obesity Revamped NHS app to make managing healthcare as easy as online banking 🩺 4.2 million additional NHS appointments since July – that’s 100,000 more appointments a week than the Tories 🏡 300,000 social and affordable homes to be delivered through our new £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme 👷380,000 jobs created since July 🚔 500 towns to benefit from Safer Streets summer blitz with increased police controls and local action to tackle town centre crime and anti-social behaviour 🎨 On track to deliver over 4,000 places in school-based nurseries in September, saving working parents £7,500 and giving children the best start in life
👶 Full review of parental leave launched 👷 45,000 jobs to be created by 2030 as party of Labour’s Onshore Wind Strategy |
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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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