MY WEEKLY UPDATE

[1]

Dear John,

Over the last few months, we’ve seen an increased number of attacks and
violence targeted towards the LGBTQ+ community in Birmingham. This
homophobia is abhorrent, and I stand with the LGBTQ+ community against
those who try to spread this hatred. Everyone has the right to feel safe in
our city and it is awful to think that anyone doesn’t feel comfortable to
walk on the streets of Birmingham.

The city I know is a caring and inclusive city that’s why I was so
pleased to see such strong support at the protest in the gay village on
Thursday evening. No one wants to see these kinds of attacks and there’s
simply no place for this kind of hatred in our city.

I know that the Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, is taking hate
crime seriously and will be taking swift action to find those responsible.
I will be meeting with him shortly and will ensure to discuss the measures
he is putting in place to tackle this homophobia as well as other forms of
crime and anti-social behaviour across the constituency.

[2]

SUPPORT FOR EDGBASTON’S PUBS AND BREWERIES

Many residents across the constituency have written to me concerned about
the financial support in place for pubs following the pandemic. It is vital
that this iconic part of British culture is protected.

Pubs and breweries greatly contribute to the UK’s economy, generating
£23 billion a year, £13 billion in tax revenues and providing more than
900,000 jobs.

However, even before the pandemic, pubs were under a severe threat with 15%
closing between 2010 and 2020. Now, tax pressures on pubs mean that three
pubs their doors for good close every day.

As such, I have written to the Chancellor asking that he ensures the
much-delayed overhaul to business rates is completed. This must be part of
a real plan to help our hospitality sector and highstreets that have faced
more than a year of lost trade and forced closures through the pandemic.

If the sector is to rebuild and thrive, we must now support them and offer
the vital help they need.

READ MY LETTER TO THE CHANCELLOR HERE

[3]

CALLING FOR GOVERNMENT TO REVERSE THE CUTS TO CHARITIES THAT CLEAR
LANDMINES

This week I called on Government to reverse its decision to cut funding by
75% for the removal of land mines and unexploded bombs. Funding which would
see deadly explosive devices cleared, has been reduced from £100 million
to just £25 million over three years.

Not only will this risk lives and have a devastating impact to millions of
people around the world, but it will do further damage to the UK’s global
reputation. We have stood shoulder to shoulder with our friends and allies
across the world to ensure that British territories are declared mine free.
Now, when the time has come to repay the favour, this Government has made
the cowardly decision to back away.

Over the last two years, many overseas activists and volunteers have spent
so much time supporting the UK’s efforts to de-mine the Falkland Islands.
However, this new cut to funding will mean that people in South Sudan,
Zimbabwe, Myanmar, Iraq, Lebanon and Vietnam who helped the UK, will no
longer receive any support from the British Government to rid their
communities of the peril of landmines and other remnants of war.

This catastrophic decision has been met with outrage by those on both sides
of the political aisle as well as charities throughout the sector.

READ MY BLOG HERE TO LEARN MORE

LABOUR'S DEMANDS FOR COP26

The climate emergency is a real threat. We must take action against it,
now. COP26 is in a fortnight and will be the most consequential summit that
has ever taken place.

This summit comes amidst an energy crisis here at home. We must learn the
lesson from this crisis that we need to plan ahead and as we have learnt,
the best route to energy security is to go further and faster on the green
transition at home.

This week, Labour unveiled its five demands that the Government must enact
at COP26. They are:

1) Leading by example
Climate action must start at home. By investing £28bn every year until
2030 to tackle the climate crisis, we can protect the planet and create
secure jobs in the UK.

2) Supporting the most vulnerable
By reversing the overseas aid cut, delivering and exceeding the $100bn
promised to developing countries, addressing loss and damage, and massively
increasing vaccine supply for the world’s poorest countries.

3) Pressuring the big polluters
By calling for 1.5C- aligned targets from the big emitters, phasing out
fossil fuels, and ensuring a just transition for workers.

4) Protecting nature
By ending deforestation and ensuring all climate mitigation and adaptation
is nature positive. We also need a robust Net-Zero and Nature Test for all
government spending.

5) Mobilising our major businesses behind climate action
We’d require financial institutions and FTSE100 companies to publish
their carbon footprint and adopt credible 1.5C-aligned transition plans.

The cause is not hopeless and COP 26 can make a huge difference, but we
have to do everything we can in the remaining days as it requires all the
focus, attention, and strategic thinking the government can muster.

© 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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