Weekly Update - 23 September

Dear John

Following the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, we have seen a wave of changes happen and announcements made both internationally and domestically. Britain is living through a moment of profound change. It needs a government that can deliver an economy that works for everyone, delivering the jobs and growth of the future.

Who really benefits from the the Chancellor's Mini-Budget? Today, the new Chancellor announced his mini-Budget making it clear what his priorities are. Not a plan for growth, but a plan to reward the already wealthy. A return to the trickle down of the past, not a brave new future. 12 years of Tory government have left us with lower growth, lower investment, lower productivity, and today - the lowest consumer confidence since records began. The only things that are going up are inflation, interest rates and bankers’ bonuses. The Chancellor has confirmed that the costs of the energy price cap will be funded by borrowing, leaving the eye-watering windfall profits of the energy giants untaxed. This is yet another Conservative plan that will leave working people to pick up the bill. Borrowing is higher than it needs to be, just as interest rates rise. This is casino economics - gambling the mortgages and finances of every family in the country to keep the Tory party happy. Keir Starmer is the only political leader in Britain who understands what the country is going through and has a plan to sort it out. We’ll be setting out ambitious, bold but practical policies that speak to people’s priorities. Together, we will show the fairer, greener future Britain would have with Labour.

Joining world leaders at the United Nations This week I travelled to New York for the United Nations General Assembly in my capacity as shadow cabinet minister for international development. World leaders and development secretaries were there to discuss humanitarian and development priorities in particular world education and the Global Fund. While in New York, I had the pleasure of meeting so many inspirational people including Malala, who is a fantastic advocate for girls' education and understands how “in a crisis girls are the first to be removed from school and the last to return.” I also had the chance to meet and spend some time with Joe Cerrell, Director of Global Health at the Gates Foundation. His focus on equity is at the heart of everything that the Foundation does. It was an honour to meet Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the first African American woman elected to the State Senate from Northern California. She is a huge inspiration for the work she has achieved on International Development. And finally, to meet again with former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, who is the leading global advocate for education worldwide. He is right when he says that we must be the first generation in history where every child goes to school. Liz Truss was also amongst those world leaders to visit. Yet, the UK Government failed to make a pledge at the replenishment conference for the Global Fund to fight AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This was an opportunity for the UK to step up with our allies to rebuild global health systems after the pandemic and help save 20 million lives. Yet once again, this Government has turned up to an international summit empty-handed. While major allies included the US, Germany, France, Japan and Spain have all stepped up their commitments by 30%, the failure to make a pledge puts this Conservative Government on course to break yet another manifesto promise, squander a British scientific breakthrough on a new malaria vaccine and further diminish the UK’s reputation on the world stage. Since the Global Fund was co-founded by the last Labour government 20 years ago it has saved 50 million lives. It is in all of our interests to eradicate these diseases and strengthen global health systems. The Government must urgently revise its position and come back with a strong pledge.

Liz Truss breaks Conservative promise and reintroduces fracking in England I was appalled to hear that Liz Truss this week has broken another Conservative manifesto commitment by lifting the ban on fracking. And let’s be clear about what fracking is. It involves drilling into the earth and directing a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals at a rock layer in order to release the gas inside. While there may be an economic upside to fracking in the USA, in England, space is a huge issue. We are much more densely populated and so the earthquakes that are often caused would be much more significant. Given, no one knows if fracking would offer England three years of supply or 50. Given the amount of methane that is released into the atmosphere. Given fracking costs far more than renewable energy. To me, this is an energy policy run for big fossil fuel interests not for the British people. No to the windfall tax and yes to dangerous, unsafe fracking. Fracking is a dangerous fantasy - it would do nothing to cut energy bills, it is much more expensive than renewables, it is unsafe, and it is deeply unpopular with the public. The Conservatives have broken yet another manifesto promise, this time on banning fracking. Now Conservative MPs must why citizens across the country will have to suffer the danger of fracking in their communities. If the Conservatives cared about cheaper energy and energy security, they would back Labour’s clean energy sprint for home-grown renewable power.

Harborne Police issue plea for information Local Police have launched a murder investigation following the death of a man who was found with a stab wound in a silver car that had crashed in Metchley Lane, Harborne. The incident occurred yesterday at 3pm. Officers attended the scene and found the man being treated by paramedics but sadly, despite their best efforts, he later died in hospital. Roads have been cordoned off in the area as enquiries are underway to establish exactly what happened. Officers have now appealed to the public for information that could aid in their investigation, particularly regarding any information pertaining to the car. It was described as driving in an erratic manner from the direction of Harborne Lane prior to the crash. Police are also keen to trace a man seen running from the scene as he may have vital information to help the investigation. Anyone with information has been asked to get in touch, quoting log 2422 of 22 September 2022. You can get in touch with the Police at west-midlands.police.uk or by dialling 101.

Preet Kaur Gill MP, Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, Quinton and North Edgbaston

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