Dear John,

This week we have seen the Government once again abandon its promises. The Prime Minister, Chancellor, Transport Secretary and other ministers have pledged countless times that both HS2 and the Northern Powerhouse Rail would be delivered in full, and voters put their trust in Boris Johnson on a promise to level the playing field. Now, we have seen that they have gone back on their word. 
 
HS2 is about more than just high-speed rail. For people in Birmingham, it's about jobs, opportunities and wider economic investment that projects like HS2 bring to places that have been economically hardest hit by the pandemic and left behind by Government. It’s also about the value it brings by better connecting the Midlands to the North. 
 
That’s why this announcement is so disappointing. There’s no point in just fixing small bits of the railway. The economic connection across the country is going to be far better than just a bit here and there which will cost so much more. 
 
The fact that this Government has been talking about levelling up is insulting. What Boris Johnson is doing to the West Midlands is levelling down. What he’s doing to the North is levelling down and he's not going to deliver on the promises that he made in the last election. 

This week I was thrilled to hear of the news that King Edwards School Edgbaston and the University of Birmingham, both located in Edgbaston constituency, will be used as two of the Games Time Training Venues for the Commonwealth Games. 
 
Our constituency has some world-class facilities and to see that they will now be receiving global recognition is brilliant. 
 
The University of Birmingham has already been announced as one of the three athlete villages, as well as hosting hockey and squash events. Now, it has also been selected as a Games Time Training Venue for athletics, para-athletics, swimming, using the athletics track, throwing fields and 50m pool. 
 
King Edwards School Edgbaston will also be a Games Time Training Venue for athletics and para-athletics as well as rhythmic gymnastics, using their athletics track, throwing fields and sports hall. 
 
I am also looking forward to seeing the impact and influence this could have on the students at both institutions. Having athletes of this calibre training at both venues will be a source of real inspiration and I hope to see some of our local pupils go on and utilise this experience, to maybe one day, be competing themselves at a future Commonwealth Games. 
 
Our constituency will also host part of the Birmingham marathon route which was recently announced alongside Edgbaston Cricket Ground which will host women’s T20 cricket come Games time. 
 
I hope that you, like me, are looking forward to welcoming the Games to our city and will be cheering on our athletes next year at one of these local events. 

This week saw a debate in Parliament on crime in the West Midlands. It is my view that over the last 11 years, we have seen the number of police in West Midlands cut by 2,221 officers, to the point where crime has now reached levels that our hardworking Police are being forced to triage their responses. Burglary, anti-social behaviour and car theft, among other criminal activity, is all too commonplace right across the constituency. 
 
The Government’s response to this has been woefully lacking and it is our local communities that are now feeling the impact of these cuts. Current Government plans will see the West Midlands having to wait until 2023 to get 1,200 more officers on streets. However, this will mean that by 2023, we will still have 1,000 fewer officers on our streets than we did in 2010. The consequence of this and the wider cuts to public services, including youth services is that of course we will see crime continue to rise.  
 
Speaking to residents, you’ve told me that you want to see more police on our streets, walking down our roads and high streets, engaging with the community rather than driving around in cars as officers are currently forced to do.  
 
Knowing this, it is exactly why I support our Police and Crime Commissioner’s plan to bring 450 community officers back to our streets. I also support Simon Foster’s call for fair funding for West Midlands Police which to date has been utterly short-changed. 

The issue of drink spiking, and even more concerningly with injection spiking, has been a worrying subject for many young people across the constituency and I have had many people write to me detailing their concerns. 
 
This is an issue that worries me as well which is why on Thursday I hosted a roundtable with representatives from the Police, Westside BID, city centre nightclubs, the city council, the University of Birmingham and its Guild of Students, to discuss the actions being already taken and more that can be done. 
 
I was extremely encouraged to hear about the positive steps being taken to address this issue. It was particularly encouraging to hear how nightclubs are using their own money to look into solutions including additional security checks, staff training with West Midlands Police, improved welfare offering, providing drink covers and spiking test kits. 
 
Those attending the roundtable agreed on actions that needed to be taken to continue this forward momentum. However, we can all take simple steps to ensure our own safety including being more cautious in the amount of alcohol we consume on a night out. There are also free apps we should all consider using like Hollie Guard that can help us to keep safe. 
 
I look forward to continuing this work and will update you as more is done to improve safety for residents across the city. 

I would like to wish Sikhs in the UK and around the world celebrating the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji a very happy Gurpurab.  
 
Guru Nanak's message of selflessness, coming together for good and standing against injustice remains so relevant today. 550 years ago, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was revolutionary when he advocated that women should have equal status to men.  
 
It is this message of equality that is a reminder that we must never give up our fight. We need social movements to bring about change. The Indian farmers victory today should inspire us all.  
 
May you always find Guru Nanak Dev ji by your side guiding you through the challenges of life.   
 
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.