Too many children continue to have their life chances determined by their background. That’s why this week as part of our Plan for Change, the Chancellor has launched a new £500 million fund to support vulnerable children and families across England.
The Better Futures Fund - the world’s largest fund of its kind - will bring together government, local communities, charities, social enterprises and philanthropists to break down barriers to opportunity for up to 200,000 vulnerable children and young people. It will give children a brighter future by providing them with the support and funding needed to access a better education, a safe home, and the caring supportive environment they need to flourish, By investing in early support to tackle challenges like school absence, addiction and re-offending, the fund will help give children the stability and opportunity they need to thrive. From my perspective, this is a bold and welcome move. As a former Children's Services Manager, working with vulnerable families in Birmingham for nearly 20 years, I know first-hand what a difference early intervention schemes like this can make to children's lives. Results based Community-led Long term impact Tackling the root causes of poverty
Read more about the fund here. |
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Help for first-time buyers |
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Average rents in Birmingham have now passed £1,000 a month for the first time, having risen sharply since the Liz Truss mini-budget. That's why I spoke in support of the Chancellor’s Leeds reforms in Parliament this week, which will help 36,000 first-time buyers onto the housing ladder, and asked what more we can do to build more homes - improving affordability even more. |
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It's always a pleasure to be asked to take part in PoliticsLive on the BBC. This week I was on the panel with Conservative MP Esther McVey, Lib Dem MP Josh Babarinde, and Conservative commentator Emma Revell. We discussed a range of topics including droughts and hosepipe bans, Ed Miliband's statement on Net Zero, the Chancellor's Mansion House speech, and President Trump's warm words about Keir Starmer and the UK. First on Trump, we discussed Keir Starmer's record on the world stage, and his, to some, surprising ability to work constructively with the US President, as well as other key partners such as the EU. Since taking office, Labour has secured trade deals with the US, EU and India. Our UK-US deal helped secure 12,000 jobs at JLR Solihull alone from the threat of tariffs, while we are working closely with our European allies to strengthen our national security. Secure at home, strong abroad. |
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This week a drought was declared in the West Midlands, which has meant water levels have dried up from use and a hosepipe ban has been declared. I talked about the long-running problems that chronic underinvestment has caused in the water industry, leading not just to unpalatable measures like hosepipe bans, but the dumping of sewage in our waterways. Under Labour we are building nine new reservoirs for the first time since 1991. The Environment Agency has its largest ever budget, and we are cracking down on water bosses polluting our rivers and seas. |
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Having talked about how climate change has contributed to water shortages, we moved on to discuss Ed Miliband's statement on climate and nature. Climate change is here and we're already feeling the heat. So the government is right to take action on Net Zero and preserving our environment. Apparently the Conservatives (and Reform) disagree. 14 years of inaction on this scientific fact has cost us in higher bills, species loss, floods, and more insecurity for working people. It's a cost we can't afford. But there are huge opportunities with the green transition too. This week the government announced the new Electric Car Grant, worth up to £3,750 when drivers upgrade or switch to an electric vehicle.
The grant delivers on our manifesto commitment to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cards by 2030, whilst helping our automotive sector seize one of the biggest opportunities of the 21st century.
Data from CBI Economics show that almost one million jobs are currently supported by the clean energy and net zero economy — from offshore wind to electric vehicles, heat pumps to hydrogen. The Climate Change Committee has found that another 135,000 to 725,000 new jobs could be created in low-carbon sectors by 2030. While Reform and the Conservatives want to slash Net Zero policies, ripping up the scientific consensus on climate change and putting jobs at risk, we’re getting on with delivering a cleaner, greener future and putting money back into the pockets of working people. |
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One year since the King's Speech |
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This week has marked one year since the King's Speech, where the government's legislative agenda was set out in Parliament.
Workers, renters, football fans, rail commuters, steel workers, and local communities are all benefitting from new laws that have come into force, and laws currently going through Parliament, since this Government's first King's Speech.
The immediate task facing the government was to take emergency action to fix the foundations, after 14 years. That meant taking difficult but right decisions to immediately stabilise our economy and the next phase of this government is about making working people better off.
The scrutiny and passage of legislation is one of the most important yet overlooked functions of Parliament and MPs. It's what occupies the majority of my time when I am in Westminster each week. The new Government has introduced a new Bill every four Parliamentary sitting days, delivering the change we promised the country. |
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It was a pleasure to speak with industry leaders at an M+F Health breakfast briefing focused on the industrial strategy and life sciences earlier this week. The discussion was wide-ranging, covering learnings from Labour’s first year in government to global events, the Modern Industrial Strategy, and the publication of the Life Sciences Sector Plan, which came out this week.
Our aim is to be in the driving seat of the biggest industrial revolution since the 19th century as we harness technology to create a new model of care in the NHS.
I talked a bit about the brilliant work happening at the Health Innovation Campus in my constituency, which is a joint venture with the University of Birmingham providing specialised lab and office space for start-ups to begin to scale. Since the election, I’ve been working with my constituency neighbour and defence minister Al Carns to look at how we can encourage more investment into our life sciences sector in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Overall, the government's ambition is that by 2030 the UK will be the leading Life Sciences economy in Europe. |
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This week, Labour has announced seismic changes to modernise our democracy through our Plan for Change.
The plans, in a new strategy paper, will boost democratic engagement in a changing world, and help to restore trust in our democracy. Under the changes sixteen-year-olds will be given right to vote in next general election, delivering a key manifesto commitment and ushering in the biggest change to our democracy in a generation. As the local MP, I get to meet hundreds of young people every year at universities, schools and events across our constituency. I'm consistently impressed by how switched on they are, and think it's important they have a democratic stake in their own future.
Young people already contribute to society by working, paying taxes and serving in the military, so I think it is right they are given the right to vote on the issues that affect them. This will bring UK-wide elections in line with Scotland and Wales. Just as important, if not as eye-catching, were new requirements on unincorporated associations, which will mandate checks on donations over £500 to tackle foreign interference and protect UK democracy from those who attempt to undermine it.
I'm also pleased that Voter ID will be extended to include bank cards to help more people exercise their democratic right. |
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Physician associates review |
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This week I was delighted to see that the Government has announced an independent review of the role of physician and anaesthesia associates in our NHS. This is something I have previously raised concerns about with the Health Secretary.
PAs and AAs can have an important role to play in our health service, but they are not a replacement for qualified doctors - and after years of underfunding under the last government, this had become the serious risk. Among other things, the review will look at changing their name, to assistants, not associates.
I know that many of the hundreds of doctors, nurses and health workers will welcome this news this week. Please do write to me to share any concerns or stories. You can read more here. |
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New domestic abuse funding |
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Thousands more women and children will be better protected from domestic abuse through the direct targeting of perpetrators, the Home Secretary has announced this week. Backed by a £53 million investment over the next 4 years, domestic abuse perpetrators who pose the highest risk will be forced to change their behaviour and stop their offending as more police and agencies roll out tactics shown to reduce abuse. As a former Children’s Services manager, I saw first-hand how the system placed the burden on victims to make change. This new focus on domestic abuse perpetrators is vital. Tackling abuse means targeting those who cause harm, not those who suffer it.
You can read more here. |
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An astonishing story broke this week, about the cover-up of a resettlement scheme set up after the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in 2021. When the Taliban seized control of Kabul, many thousands of people who served and supported our British Armed Forces were left in Afghanistan.
The UK made a commitment to honour the moral obligation we owe to those Afghans who stood with us and there was cross-party support for this at the time because of the danger they faced. To date, around 36,000 Afghans have resettled in the UK under UK Government schemes. A major data blunder then occurred – a spreadsheet was accidentally shared disclosing thousands of names of people who had applied for these schemes. Tory Ministers responded to this by setting up a new resettlement route – at even greater cost to the taxpayer – and applying to the UK courts for an injunction – to stop the data breach becoming public. Although the details of the route were not public, everyone who came to the UK under this ARR route has already been counted and published as part of the existing immigration figures. To date, under this route, around 4,500 people have been resettled or are in transit to the UK – a small proportion of total Afghan arrivals. It has cost the UK taxpayer £850 million. When we came into office, we began a detailed assessment of the situation, which led to an independent review led by a former Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence.
You, the public, and even I, are only finding out now because the independent review commissioned by our government concluded that the threat has come down – and after carefully considering risk, transparency and cost to the taxpayer, we have decided to close the scheme and bring it into public knowledge. As a result of our government’s decisions, 9,500 fewer people will come to the UK and we will save £1.2 billion compared to if we hadn’t acted. |
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This week the Prime Minister welcomed the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Downing Street to sign a first of its kind Bilateral Friendship & Cooperation Treaty - as we reset our international relationships so that they deliver for working people.
Germany has committed to change their law so we can disrupt the supply of small boats - building on the ground-breaking deal we agreed with the French last week. Working with our international partners gets results for British people. Read more here. |
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Energy support for businesses |
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Many businesses get in touch with me about their high energy bills - particularly for energy intensive industries.
Support for firms in the West Midlands is available from the Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS), which supports West Mids SMEs to reduce their energy demand and in turn decarbonise. It is led by the West Midlands Combined Authority, working with county councils, universities and the private sector.
The pilot offers free standard and energy intensive audits, as well as match funded grant support. Their website is here. |
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Meeting the Police Every month, I hold meetings with the local Police Inspector, to raise unresolved cases, get updates on operational matters, and ensure that the big crime issues facing our constituency are being addressed. Across our constituency, the police have recently made some strong progress on issues including serious youth violence (down 31%) and burglaries (down 33%). Recently, a prolific Quinton car key burglar was charged with 121 offences.
Over the next year, more than 300 more neighbourhood police are due to hit the streets across the West Midlands area, thanks to the Government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. |
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Glasspool wins Wimbledon! |
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A huge congratulations are in order for Lloyd Glasspool from Edgbaston Priory Club, who was part of the first all-British men's doubles team to win Wimbledon since 1936.
An outstanding achievement and a proud moment for Edgbaston! |
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Last weekend, I spoke to BBC World Today about the latest developments with the Birmingham bins strike. Next week's Mobile Household Waste Centre locations are detailed here: Fri 18th 07.30-13.00 Maypole Lane B14 4PJ Daisy Farm Park car park Highters Heath Sat 19th 09.30-14.30 Alfred Road B11 4PB Car Park Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East Sun 20th 09.30-14.30 Highfield rd B28 OBY Yardley wood railway station Yardley wood Mon 21st 07.30-13.30 Arden Road B45 0JA Arden Shops rear car park Frankley Great Park Tue 22nd 07.30-13.30 Showell Green Lane B11 4JP Gurdwara car park Sparkhill Wed 23rd 07.30-13.00 Highgate Street B12 0XS Birmingham Central Mosque Bordesley & Highgate Thurs 24th 07.30-13.00 Shirley Road B27 7NS Fox Hollies Leisure Centre car park Acocks Green Fri 25th 07.30-13.00 Hawkesley Square B38 9TU Car park Kings Norton South Sat 26th 09.30-14.30 Monmouth Drive B73 6SD Sutton Park car park Sutton Vesey Sun 27th 09.30-14.30 Collingbourne Avenue B36 8PE Car park Bromford & Hodge Hill |
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Martineau Gardens fundraiser |
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Martineau Gardens have exciting plans for a new building which will create a vital community hub. They are holding a Crowdfunding Cuppa in the last week of the Small Seeds, Big Dreams appeal tomorrow, July 19th between 12-2pm. Do pop along if you can!
Their crowdfunder is here. |
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Birmingham City of Nature |
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This week, Birmingham has been declared the UK’s first official Nature City, as part of a UK-wide programme working to bring access to nature to urban communities. The award recognises Birmingham City Council’s commitment alongside its partners to transform life for communities through providing more and better nature and green space.
Great news! |
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Here’s seven things Labour’s Plan For Change delivered last week: 🥣 Free school meals for more than half a million more children in families on Universal Credit, lifting 100,000 children out of poverty and putting £500 back in the pockets of parents who need it. 🚌 £15.6 billion bus, tram and train infrastructure investment across our regions. This public transport boost will power cities, towns and communities forward, opening up new access to jobs and opportunities alongside more investment in Britain’s renewal. 🌊 Bonus payments banned with immediate effect for bosses at water companies that don’t meet high standards. 🪖Strategic Defence Review making Britain secure at home and safe abroad by ensuring HM Armed Forces have the right equipment they need, whilst boosting 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the country. 🏠£1.5bn additional funding to repair and renew military housing, helping improve lives for armed forces personnel and their families. ⚖ Launched pilot scheme to give survivors of rape and serious sexual assault the right to have cases reviewed, as part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. ☀ New build homes to have solar panels by default, saving people hundreds of pounds off their energy bills. |
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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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