Weekly Update - 22nd May 2026

Dear John

This Week the Government has delivered...

UK economy exceeds expectations

This week the IMF has upgraded the UK’s growth forecast this week - another sign that Britain is moving in the right direction. It upgraded growth prospects from 0.8% to 1%, citing economic resilience and better-than-expected growth earlier in the year. The Government is focused on building a stronger, fairer economy that works for everyone. By outperforming expectations, we’re putting the UK in a stronger position for the future. Read more here: IMF upgrades UK's growth forecast for 2026

Great British Summer Savings: VAT slashed to save families money on days out

This week, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced Great British Summer Savings – cutting VAT from 20% to 5% on children’s menu meals, children’s tickets for cinemas, theatres and concerts from 25th June to 1st September. Adults and children can also enjoy amusement parks, restaurants, cafes wildlife parks, museums, soft play centres and a wide range of other attractions for less. Free bus travel for 5 to 15 years The Government also announced that children aged 5 to 15 will get free bus travel in England this August, making it more affordable for people to get out and about. Read more here: Great British Summer Savings: VAT slashed to save families money on days out - GOV.UK

5p fuel duty cut extended

This week the Government announced 5p fuel duty cut extension until the end of the year for drivers, haulage and farmers - saving drivers £120. ✅ Hauliers to get a 12-month road tax holiday - they will pay £1 at renewal, saving £600 for a typical heavy lorry and £912 for the biggest vehicles on the road. ✅ Red diesel slashed to its lowest rate in over 20 years. The fuel duty rate on red diesel will be cut by over a third from 10.18p to 6.48p per litre from 15 June until the end of the year. This will support agriculture, rail freight, and other users of red diesel and rebated fuels. Read more here: [link removed]

Crackdown on waste criminals

The Government has announced new reforms to give tougher sentences for those illegally dumping waste, and increasing background checks to help put rogue operators out of business. As part of the major crackdown on waste criminals, laws in Parliament are being laid our which will mean waste handlers will have to prove they have the correct legal permissions to transport waste. Currently the ID checks for waste dumping has been insufficient and rogue operators with a poor track record of dumping waste and leaving a huge clean-up bill have taken advantage of the poor system. These reforms will make sure these criminals are held to account. New rules have also been put in place on flytipping through the Crime and Policing Act which means drivers caught flytipping will been face 9 penalty points on their driving licence for dumping their waste. Read more here: Illegal dumping crackdown will mean tough new ID checks for waste carriers | UK News | Sky News

Youth Justice White Paper

This week the Government laid out the new Youth Justice White Paper which includes a comprehensive package of reforms to stop more young people falling into crime and break the cycle of offending. The reforms come as figures show eight in ten prolific offenders first committed a crime as a child, highlighting the urgent need for earlier and more effective intervention. Under the plans, more children at risk of offending will receive targeted support earlier through expanded prevention programmes, helping steer them away from crime before it escalates. New Youth Intervention Courts will be piloted to tackle repeat offending, bringing together judges, youth justice services and specialist support to address the root causes of crime and keep young people on track. An extra £15.4 million per year will be invested in the Government’s flagship Turnaround programme to help 12,000 children at risk of entering the youth justice system, over the next three years. Read more here: Youth Justice overhaul to keep streets safer - GOV.UK

Access to Work recruitment

This week, the Government is announcing the recruitment of nearly 500 additional staff to clear the Access to Work backlog. This action will allow thousands more disabled people and those with health conditions to start or remain in work and will see claims being processed quicker. The Access to Work scheme can help fund specialist equipment, support workers including British Sign Language interpreters, and the costs of travelling to work for people with health conditions and disabilities. Today’s announcement builds on action already taken by the Government. With staff numbers increasing by around 30 percent since March 2024, payment delays have been eliminated, and 96 percent of urgent start-date cases are now decided within 28 days, the Government is taking action to get Britain working. Read more here: Huge recruitment boost to tackle backlog in vital disability work scheme - GOV.UK

Reform to Fit note system

This week the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions stated that Patients, employers and GPs are set to benefit from an overhaul of the broken fit note system following the launch of several pilots, including in Birmingham and Solihull, by the Government today to reform the system for workers who fall ill. The current system sees some 11 million fit notes issued every year, with more than nine in ten declaring the person ‘not fit for work’. Four pilots, in different areas, in England will look at the best way to end this tick-box exercise which does not offer any support or guidance and replace it with personalised ‘stay in work’ and ‘return to work’ plans for workers who fall ill. The pilots will cover up to 100,000 appointments and last up to a year, with continuous testing, in order to narrow down the most effective approach to tackling the inherited steep increase in number of fit notes issued. Read more here: Broken fit note system to be overhauled - GOV.UK

Crackdown on dodgy shops

This week the Government announced a £30 million nationwide crackdown targeting dodgy barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops involved in money laundering. These shops will face raids, closure orders and cash seizures as part of a new drive to clean up Britain’s high streets. The measures include the creation of a new High Street Organised Crime Unit to coordinate action between the National Crime Agency, police forces, Trading Standards, HMRC and Immigration Enforcement. The Government will also recruit additional officers to strengthen enforcement activity in hotspot regions, while Trading Standards will receive a cash boost to increase raids, inspections and enforcement action. The crackdown builds on Operation Machinize, which has already resulted in hundreds of arrests, thousands of premises visited and millions of pounds in criminal assets seized. I spoke in Parliament earlier this year about dodgy bob shops in our community, watch above. Read more here: New high street unit set up in nationwide blitz on dodgy shops - GOV.UK

Plan to tackle grooming gangs

On Tuesday, the Home Secretary announced a £100m plan to tackle grooming gangs across the UK. The investment will be used to crackdown on child sexual abuse, including tracking down vile grooming gang members, protecting victims and bringing offenders to justice. Perpetrators who thought they got away with horrific grooming gang offences will be held to account as closed cases are reopened. This is an issue I care about given I was an ex-Children's Services Manager in our city. Police forces in England and Wales will also have greater access to pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) technology to weed out and bring predators to justice more rapidly. To support this, the Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme, led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), will receive £9.3 million this year. Read more here: Record funding to tackle grooming gangs and child sex abuse - GOV.UK

Fairer taxes on high value homes

The government has launched a consultation on Monday on the details of the new High Value Council Tax Surcharge to make the system fairer for households across the country. Currently people owning £10 million mansions in Mayfair have paid less council tax than ordinary family does in our constituency. This Government want to make the tax system fairer. Read more here: Fairer taxes for high-value homes - GOV.UK

Major improvements to immigration announced this week...

70,000 removals and deportations of illegal migrants

Nearly 70,000 removals and deportations of illegal migrants and foreign criminals since July 2024 ✔️ Fixing the appeals system ✔️ Tougher action on countries refusing returns ✔️ Faster removals of foreign criminals

Asylum Hotel use down 36% since 2025

35,000 fewer migrants in asylum hotels down 63% since Sept 2023, there were 400 hotels in use at peak, costing taxpayers £9 million a day. This government will close all asylum hotels.

Net migration down by 82%

Net migration is down by 82% at 171,000 - down from 944,000. This Government and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is restoring order and control to our borders. Read more here: UK net migration drops to 171,000 - lowest since Covid pandemic - BBC News

EHRC Guidance

This week the EHRC's Code of Practice to help organisations follow the Supreme Court's ruling has been laid before Parliament. This Government is committed to protecting single sex spaces and ensuring everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Read the full details: Organisations receive clear, accessible guidance on how to implement equality law in updated draft Code of Practice - GOV.UK

Local News

Crackdown on flytipping

Under the Crime and Policing Act, drivers now caught flytipping using their vehicle could receive up to 9 penalty points on their licence. This will make sure drivers think twice before dumping their waste in our community. The measures are part of the Policing and Crime Act and mean that those who repeatedly break the law and accumulate 12 or more points within a three-year period will be at risk of disqualification from driving altogether, acting as a tough deterrent against dumping waste illegally.  Watch my video above. Read more here: Fly-tippers risk losing their driving licence under tougher court powers  - GOV.UK

Visit to St Michael's Primary School breakfast club

On Thursday, I visited St Michael's CofE Primary School in Bartley Green to see their brand new breakfast club. Thanks to Government funding, the school opened up their breakfast club in April. It makes sure every child starts their day with healthy food and gives them some more time to play with friends before school! I’d like to say a huge thank you to the Headteacher, Sally Ann Roberts, and all the staff for organising the club and offering such a great provision for their pupils. Watch my video above.

E-Act Shenley School visit

On Thursday, I visited Shenley Academy in Bartley Green, I spoke with staff including Headteacher Mr Rahman to hear about the improvements in the school, since he started his role last year. I also met with the student council, speaking about my role as an MP and the impact of changes. It was great to hear about the statutory guidance on phones in schools is adhered to along with pushing aspirations and opening up opportunities.

Meeting with Integrated Care Board

It was great to meet with Integrated Care Board (ICB) Chief Executive David Melbourne, to discuss proposals for Neighbourhood Health Centres, Urgent Treatment Centre in Birmingham Edgbaston, and the South Community Diagnostic Centre. We had positive discussions on improving local access to care and delivering better health services for our communities.

Meeting with Pride in Place Chair

On Tuesday I met with Pete West, the Chair of Pride in Place Woodgate, Bartley Green. Pete was appointed to chair the board, to help the community make decisions on the Government's £20 million allocated to Woodgate, Bartley Green. We discussed plans for board recruitment, use of funding and next steps for the project. I'm looking forward to working with Pete to ensure this funding is used for good in the Woodgate Community. Since, opening my survey late last year, I have received over 200 responses from the community. I am grateful to all those that have responded and will be in touch with next steps.

Canadian Secretary of State for International Development

On Tuesday I met with Randeep Sarai, Liberal MP from Canada Secretary of State for International Development speaking about opportunities for the UK to collaborate with Canada.

Have your say on Pride in Place funding for Woodgate and Bartley Green

Calling on Woodgate and Bartley Green residents - I want to hear how you think the £20 million Pride in Place investment should be spent. After years of campaigning I've secured £20 million for Woodgate and Bartley Green as part of the Pride in Place programme. Woodgate and Bartley Green have long faced challenges with limited opportunities for young people, and closure of community facilities. This investment aims to reverse years of underfunding, and rebuilding pride in local neighbourhoods. I'm asking residents to share their thoughts on how the money should be used. It could be for more youth services, a community hub, improved outdoor spaces or more support for skills and employment. All ideas are welcome and will inform the plans for how the funding will be spent with the goal to benefit as many residents as possible. Please complete the survey here.

Mobile Household Waste Centre dates and locations

Birmingham City Council arranges Mobile Household Waste Centres across the city. To find the next pick-ups near you, please visit: Mobile Household Waste Centre dates and locations | Mobile Household Waste Centres | Birmingham City Council

Police drop-in sessions across all wards

West Midlands Police hold regular drop-ins and PACT meetings providing residents with the opportunity to speak directly with officers about concerns relating to crime in the community. Please see below a list of the drop-in sessions coming up in my constituency. Bartley Green Drop-in Session - HOLLOWAY HALL 10:00AM - 11:00AM, Mon 01 June 2026 Holloway Hall, Holloway, Birmingham Edgbaston PCSO walkabout 4:00PM - 5:00PM, Sat 23 May 2026 QE Hospital, Mindelsohn Way Harborne PCSO walkabout 4:00PM - 6:00PM, Sat 23 May 2026 Hagley Road West, Harborne cuppa with a coppa 3:00PM - 5:00PM, Sat 30 May 2026 Boston Tea Party Harborne Village. Find more information here: Birmingham | West Midlands Police.

Here's eight things the Government has introduced in the King's Speech last week you may have missed: ⚡ The Government is introducing an Energy Independence Bill to scale up clean British energy, strengthen energy security and protect households from future global shocks 🏥 The Government is introducing an NHS Modernisation Bill to reform health services and improve how care is delivered across the country 📈 The Government is driving economic growth and backing British businesses through the European Partnership Bill, Small Business Protections Bill and Regulating for Growth Bill 🚓 The Government is bringing forward a Police Reform Bill and Courts Modernisation Bill, including plans for larger police forces and a new national force to tackle the most serious crime 🏘️ The Government is introducing a Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill and Social Housing Renewal Bill to cap ground rents, strengthen tenants’ rights and boost long-term investment in social housing 🚄 The Government is bringing forward a Civil Aviation Bill, Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill and Highways (Financing) Bill to back major infrastructure projects and unlock growth across the country 🚤 The Government is introducing an Immigration and Asylum Bill to strengthen border security and make the system fairer for everyone 🛡️ The Government is introducing a Tackling State Threats Bill and Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to strengthen national security and improve Britain’s cyber defences This week I have helped on over 180 constituents with casework. As always, if you have an issue you'd like to discuss, please contact my office at 0121 392 8426 or [email protected], or through my website. With warm regards,

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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