Weekly Update - 24 July 2026

Dear John

This Week the Government has delivered...

Household Electricity Bills VAT cut

One of the Prime Ministers, Andy Burnham first decisions is to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October, helping households with the cost of living this winter. The change is expected to reduce the annual electricity bill by around £45 for a typical household under the Ofgem price cap. This comes on top of the £150 reduction announced at the last Budget. The measure is being funded this financial year by cancelling the planned Digital ID programme. Small businesses that qualify for domestic energy VAT relief, eligible charities and residential care homes will also benefit. As your MP, I welcome this practical step to put more money back into people’s pockets while continuing to tackle the cost of living. Read more here: New PM cuts tax on household electricity bills to give breathing space on cost of living - GOV.UK

Bus fares to be capped at £2

This week the Government announced bus travel will be capped at £2. This will save thousands of commuters up to a third off a single journey, helping with the everyday cost of travel. The cap will be on all bus travel in England outside London from 1 January until 31 December 2027. The new £2 cap is backed by £400 million of extra government funding. The scheme will replace the existing £3 fare cap and ensure that eligible single bus fares on participating services cost no more than £2. It will particularly benefit passengers making longer distance journeys, including those in rural and coastal communities, where fares can often be significantly higher. Read more here: £2 bus fares from January 2027 - GOV.UK

Government cuts business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues

Pubs, social clubs and live music venues across Birmingham Edgbaston are set to benefit from a new 20% cut in business rates, helping local venues invest, grow and continue serving our communities. The Government’s package will support almost 32,000 venues across England, with the typical pub expected to save around £1,100 in the next financial year. The measures form part of the Government’s wider plan to strengthen local high streets, support jobs and drive economic growth in every postcode. Alongside the business rates cut, the Government is also reviewing reliefs that currently benefit businesses which do not make a positive contribution to local communities, while taking action against online sellers that avoid paying the tax they owe, ensuring a fairer system for businesses that play by the rules. As MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, I know just how important our pubs, clubs and live music venues are. They are places where people come together, support local jobs, provide opportunities for musicians and artists, and help keep our high streets vibrant. Local businesses have repeatedly told me about the pressures created by rising operating costs. This additional support will provide greater certainty, helping many venues invest with confidence, protect jobs and continue serving local communities. This builds on the Government’s wider action to support working people and local businesses, including cutting VAT on domestic electricity bills, maintaining the £2 bus fare cap and delivering long-term reform of the business rates system to create fairer conditions for high street businesses. Read more here: New PM says government can bring back hope to Britain, and launches drive to end rough sleeping at the earliest opportunity - GOV.UK

Government launches national drive to end rough sleeping

The Government has announced a major national effort to end long term rough sleeping, backed by an additional £340 million of investment to help people move off the streets and into secure accommodation with the support they need. The first phase of the programme will fund 1,200 homes and provide intensive support for at least 3,000 people experiencing long-term rough sleeping. Working with mayors, councils, the NHS and local services, the Government will focus on preventing homelessness, helping vulnerable people before they reach crisis point and reducing pressure on public services. The new funding marks the beginning of a five-year programme that will expand housing and support for people facing the most severe and long-term homelessness, with further measures to be announced later this year. The Prime Minister has made clear that rough sleeping is not inevitable and that, with the right leadership and investment, it can be ended. The Government’s approach will build on successful local initiatives by combining secure housing with tailored support to help people rebuild their lives. This announcement is part of the Government’s wider mission to create a more preventative state tackling the causes of homelessness, supporting vulnerable people earlier and building stronger, safer communities. Read more here: New PM says government can bring back hope to Britain, and launches drive to end rough sleeping at the earliest opportunity - GOV.UK

Local News

New Harborne Banking Hub

After years of campaigning, I was proud to officially open Birmingham’s first Banking Hub in Harborne, a major victory for our community and an important milestone in protecting face-to-face banking services. When Santander, HSBC, NatWest and Barclays closed their local branches, I heard from hundreds of residents and businesses who were concerned about losing access to cash and everyday banking. Older people, disabled residents, carers and local traders told me that travelling into the city centre simply wasn’t a practical option. I made securing a Banking Hub one of my priorities. I campaigned against the bank closures, surveyed residents, attended protests, worked with local campaigners, wrote to the banks and Government, and met directly with Cash Access UK to make the case that Harborne needed a permanent Banking Hub. Thanks to that sustained campaign and the strength of local support, we have now secured the first Banking Hub to open anywhere in Birmingham. The new Hub provides everyday banking services for customers of all major banks, including cash withdrawals and deposits, cheque deposits, bill payments and balance enquiries. Individual banks will also provide face-to-face appointments on dedicated days each week, ensuring people can continue to access in-person banking when they need it. This is a significant achievement for Harborne and Birmingham. It demonstrates that when a community comes together and campaigns with determination, we can deliver real change. I promised residents I would fight to protect access to face-to-face banking, and I am delighted that together we have secured Birmingham’s first Banking Hub for our high street. Read more here: Birmingham Edgbaston MP opens first Banking Hub in Birmingham

Calthorpe residents event held

Sir Richards Drive Green space

I recently called and hosted a community meeting attended by more than 130 residents to discuss the future of the Green at Sir Richard’s Drive and the opportunity to secure it for community ownership. Following my discussions with Calthorpe Estates, residents now have the opportunity to purchase the Green before it is offered for sale on the open market. I organised the meeting to bring everyone together, share the latest information and discuss how a community-led purchase could be achieved. I was delighted by the fantastic turnout and the commitment shown by residents to protect this much-loved green space. It demonstrated the strength of local feeling and the determination to keep this important community asset in local hands. We already have a proposal from residents Sally and Mark who I am working with and it’s great to see the community get behind this. I will continue working with residents, Calthorpe Estates and community representatives to help move this project forward. I have also written to every household in the area setting out the next steps and will continue to keep residents updated as progress is made. If you would like to discuss this matter or any other issue, please contact my office on 0121 392 8426 or email [email protected]

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.

West Midlands Police events

West Midlands Police are holding some exciting, interactive sessions for children this summer, to step into the shoes of police officers and discover what it takes to help keep our communities safe. Running every Thursday from 23 July to 27 August, ‘Tally Ho! Thursdays – Police Training Academy’ is open to children aged 3–12 with each session running between 45 minutes to 1 hour, costing £2 per child, per session. Training Schedule: 📆 30th July: Mounted Unit Training 📆 6th August: PC Training 📆 13th August: Traffic Control 📆 20th August: Public Order Training 📆 27th August: Contact Handling & Dispatch Training Find out more and book your place today here: [link removed]

Pothole fixed on Quinton Road

Residents contacted me about a pothole on Quinton Road. I raised the issue with the council, and I am pleased it has now been repaired. If there are issues in our community that you would like to raise please do not hesitate to contact me.

In the media

Speaking at the Medicines UK Annual Conference I was pleased to speak at the Medicines UK Annual Conference about the vital role the UK’s off-patent medicines sector plays in improving patient care, supporting NHS sustainability and driving economic growth. I set out the Government’s ambition for Britain to be the best place in the world to discover, develop and manufacture medicines, while ensuring patients benefit from them once patents expire. I highlighted that innovation does not end when a patent expires. Generic medicines, biosimilars and value-added medicines help widen access to life-changing treatments, improve the way care is delivered and ensure the NHS gets the greatest value from every pound it invests. The UK already has one of the most competitive and resilient off-patent medicines markets in the world. By continuing to work closely with manufacturers, researchers and the life sciences sector, we can strengthen our health service, support economic growth and ensure patients continue to benefit from safe, effective and affordable medicines. Read more here: [link removed] Backing Better Prostate Cancer Treatment I welcomed new research showing that focal therapy can effectively treat prostate cancer while significantly reducing the life-changing side effects often associated with surgery and radiotherapy. The largest long-term study of its kind, led by researchers at Imperial College London and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), found that ten years after treatment, just two men out of nearly 3,500 had died from prostate cancer. The treatment offers excellent long-term cancer control while helping many men avoid problems such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. The Government is investing up to £2.8 million to expand the TRANSFORM trial, helping more men access focal therapy through prostate cancer screening research and building the evidence needed to make this treatment available more widely. As Minister for Health Innovation and Safety, I was proud to support this work. It demonstrates how research and innovation can improve outcomes for patients while protecting quality of life. Through our National Cancer Plan, we are backing the innovations that will transform cancer care and ensure more people benefit from the latest advances in treatment. Read more here: [link removed]

Summer events

As we approach the summer holidays, there's plenty of fun, family-friendly activities to get involved in. Please see some we have coming up in Birmingham Edgbaston below.

Moor Pool Heritage Trust - Summertime crafts

When: Friday 31st July at 10am-midday and Friday 14th August 10am-midday Where: Moor Pool Heritage trust Join Moor Pool Heritage trust for a morning of seasonal crafting this summer from 10am to midday on Friday 31st July in the Main Hall. £5 per child. No booking required, cakes and drinks available to purchase. Find out more here: Summertime Crafts – Moor Pool Heritage Trust

Birmingham Botanical Gardens events:

🎵 Jukebox Rhythm Orchestra (Saturday 25th July) 🎵 Rich Dickinson’s Driving Force (Sunday 26th July) 🎵 King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys (Friday 24th July) 🎵 Silent Disco (Saturday 18th July) Artisan Market - 1st August Pick up a locally made treat from independent makers! Click Here To Book For more information on events at Botanical Gardens, visit: What's On | Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Dementia Cafe - Birmingham Settlement

Birmingham Age UK run monthly Dementia cafes for those living with Dementia or anyone worried about their memory as well as their family and carers. When: 11am - 13:20pm on the third Thursday of every month Where: Birmingham Settlement, 79 Selwyn Road, Birmingham B16 0SL The next one will be in August - for more information email: [email protected]

Surgeries

This week I held my final advice surgeries of the month, want to thank everyone who came to speak with me and for raising issues that matter to them. Please note I will not be holding advice surgeries in August, they will resume in September. In the meantime if you have any issues, please reach out on 0121 392 8426 or email [email protected] For more information about my advice surgeries visit: Advice Surgeries | Preet Kaur Gill

Mobile Household Waste Centre dates and locations

Birmingham City Council arranges Mobile Household Waste Centres across the city. The next ones in the constituency are listed below. Quinton 24 July 2026 Quinton Park car park, Highfield Lane, B32 1QX 7:30am to 12:30pm 8 August 2026 Quinton Park car park, Highfield Lane, B32 1QX 8:00am to midday Bartley Green 8 August 2026 Woodgate Valley Park car park, Clapgate Lane, B32 3DS 8:00am to midday 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. Edgbaston PSCO walkabout 10:00AM - 2:00PM, Sat 08 August 2026 Greenfield Road, Edgbaston PCSO walkabout 4:00PM - 5:00PM, Wed 19 August 2026 QE Hospital, Mindelsohn Way Bartley Green Cuppa with a Coppa 10:00AM - 11:00AM, Mon 27 July 2026 Holloway Hall, Holloway, Bartley Green, Birmingham Cuppa with a Coppa 10:00AM - 11:00AM, Mon 03 August 2026 Holloway Hall, Holloway, Bartley Green, Birmingham Cuppa with a Coppa 10:30AM - 11:30AM, Wed 12 August 2026 St Francis Centre, Glen Side, Bartley Green, Birmingham Quinton Drop in Surgery 10:30AM - 11:30AM, Tue 11 August 2026 Quinton Library, Ridgacre Road, Birmingham, B32 2TW Drop in Surgery 10:30AM - 11:30AM, Wed 09 September 2026 Quinton Library, Ridgacre Road, Birmingham, B32 2TW Find more information here: Birmingham | West Midlands Police.

Here’s some things the Government delivered in England last week you may have missed: ⚖️Building a Fairer Asylum System and Protecting Britain’s Proud Tradition of Sanctuary ☀️Great British Summer Savings until September 🏗️British Steel comes into public ownership 🚫Crackdown on Vapes Marketed at Children 🎆Consultation opens on Fireworks 🌳State of Climate and Nature published 🎼Government launches long-term plan for music industry 💒Biggest reform to Wedding Law in Almost 200 years 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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