MY WEEKLY UPDATE

[1]

Dear John,

This week has been extremely busy with some fantastic events right across
the constituency, from the Harborne Village Fete last Sunday, to the
opening of Greenfield Crescent in Edgbaston on Wednesday and with the
Bartley Green Street Stall tomorrow. The flood of street parties and
community markets over the last few weeks has been wonderful to see and I
look forward to seeing them continue in the coming months.

HOSTING A HISTORIC ANGLO-SIKH PARLIAMENTARY RECEPTION

With the kind permission of the Speaker, the Rt. Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP,
last Monday I hosted a parliamentary reception at Speaker’s House at the
Palace of Westminster.

As Chair of the APPG for British Sikhs, it was my enormous honour to host
this event which welcomed parliamentarians, prestigious guests and leaders
of the Sikh community. This historic cross-party reception was to reflect
on Anglo-Sikh history and explore issues connected to British Sikhs today.

Speakers at the event included: Tom Tugendhat MP, Chair of the Foreign
Affairs Select Committee; Kate Green MP, Shadow Secretary of State for
Education; Joy Morrissey MP, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Martin Docherty-Hughes MP and
Pat McFadden MP.

It was my privilege to join with colleagues to recognise the enormous
contribution of Sikhs to Great Britain, as well as the sacrifice and
hardship Sikhs have faced over the decades.

Sikh history is British history. To move forward it is important to
acknowledge and understand the historic injustices and challenges Sikhs
have faced while building on the great successes in Anglo-Sikh history over
the past 200 years. That starts with open engagement and an honest
reckoning with our country’s past.

Across the globe, Governments should appreciate the enormous contribution
Sikhs make to the world, working in collaboration with them to realise
their ethos for the betterment of all.

FURTHER SUCCESS AT SAIF LODGE

We had some brilliant news in North Edgbaston last Friday surrounding
exempt accommodation. Saif Lodge, a property which was providing poor
quality accommodation and levels of support to vulnerable residents was
handed a temporary closure notice and ordered to make improvements.

There was an appeal placed to the planning inspectorate which I’m
thankful to say was rejected. As part of the judgement, Saif Lodge is now
permanently prohibited from being used as a location for temporary living
or as supported housing.

This is fantastic to hear. Vulnerable people like those in exempt
accommodation deserve high-quality housing and support. It was great to see
the community joining together to tackle this issue which was also causing
trouble in the immediate neighbourhood.

CALLING ON GOVERNMENT TO CANCEL THE CUT TO UNIVERSAL CREDIT

This week I joined my Labour colleagues in calling on the Government to
reverse their decision that will see the lowest paid families in Birmingham
having to shoulder the burden of £153 million of cuts.

The Government originally announced a £20 increase in Universal Credit at
the onset of the Coronavirus crisis. The fact this step had to be taken
shows that the Conservatives social security system is not fit for purpose
as the existing level of support was inadequate.

Now, the Government is looking to push ahead to stop this payment meaning
that 146,880 people in Birmingham will be £1,040 worse off per year and
represents a £153 million cut in Birmingham alone.

This cut to Universal Credit and the working tax credit was put to a vote
on Wednesday which I firmly voted against. For those on low incomes, £20 a
week is the difference between food in the fridge and money on the meter.
Cutting incomes to some of Britain’s poorest, while unemployment rates
are reaching record highs, shows the Conservatives simply don’t
understand the realities of people’s lives. In Edgbaston, the jobs crisis
has meant those claiming Universal Credit has risen by 66% in the last
year.

Simply put, poverty is a political choice. And this Conservative Government
is choosing to take £20 each week from the poorest families in the
country. This is not the time to be taking away support to some of our most
financially vulnerable families and I will keep fighting the Government to
cancel this callous cut.

COURT OAK ROAD MAST GETS REJECTED AT PLANNING

Back in March, I objected to the installation of a telecomms mast on Court
Oak Road. Many residents had been in touch to complain about the affect it
was having on their connectivity. The mast was also poorly located and
offered no benefit to residents. It was rejected at planning.

More recently, the same mast was then resubmitted to planning. Again, I
stood with residents and I objected. I'm delighted to say it has again been
rejected. Should this be once again brought to planning, I will bring this
to the attention of residents and support them to ensure this does not get
permission. However, if you would like to discuss this further, please do
not hesitate to get in contact with me on [email protected]

[2]

LAST CALLS FOR THE 2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES TICKET BALLOT

Following the West Midlands Ticket Ballot for West Midlands residents, the
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Main Ticket Ballot is open until 30
September.

We now have a second chance to enter the national ballot and to experience
this unmissable world class sporting and cultural event right in our own
Edgbaston constituency in 2022.

Tickets start from just £8 for under 16s and from £15 for adults with
more than one million tickets priced £22 or less available for Birmingham
2022. You can apply for tickets for all the 286 sessions of sport and for
the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Announced today is also the Birmingham 2022 Festival - a six-month
celebration which will spotlight creativity and culture in the West
Midlands.

Running from March to September 2022 as part of the Games, the festival
will feature hundreds of creative commissions across the region including
art, photography, dance, theatre, digital art and more.

You can register at birmingham2022.com/festival to be amongst the first to
discover the full programme when it is unveiled in January.

Make sure you don’t miss out!

APPLY HERE FOR BIRMINGHAM 2022 TICKETS

© 2020 Printed from an email sent by Preet Kaur Gill. Promoted by A.J Webb
on behalf of Preet Kaur Gill, both at 56 Wentworth Road, B17 9TA.
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