Weekly Update - 11 November

Dear John

This week we’ve seen yet another scandal from this chaotic Conservative Government. This time it's Gavin Williamson who has been shamed into resigning after allegations and evidence came to light of years' worth of bullying behaviour. At Prime Ministers Questions, Keir Starmer described how Gavin Williamson told a civil servant to “slit their throat” and asked Rishi Sunak, how the victim of that bullying felt when the Prime Minister expressed great sadness at Mr Williamson’s resignation? While Rishi Sunak said that he regretted his decision to make him a government minister, the problem is that Gavin Williamson isn’t an isolated case. Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet is full of grubby deals and IOUs. The question is which Cabinet Minister will be next? We’ve already seen the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, breach the ministerial code. It's only a matter of time with this government who put the Tory party first and the British public second. So much for integrity! If the Prime Minister can't stand up to a run of the mill bully, he has no chance of standing up to vested interests on behalf of working people. That's why he's giving away millions of pounds to oil and gas giants. Shell made record profits of £26 billion this year yet, they haven't paid a penny in so-called Windfall Tax. The Prime Minister has designed an oil and gas tax giveaway which means they never will. Because for every pound oil and gas companies spend digging up fossil fuels, the Prime Minister hands them 90p in tax breaks. It is costing working people billions. Labour will provide the economic responsibility we need and bring forward a proper plan for growth across our country, investing in jobs in renewables, in insulating homes; fixing business rates; and providing a modern Industrial Strategy.

In Remembrance This week, communities across the country will come together to pay tribute to those who fought and died in the First World War and all conflicts since. The UK’s servicemen and servicewomen continue to play a central role to protect British interests and values, from training Ukrainian troops to supporting NATO allies in Estonia. Following the launch of its national poppy appeal, the Royal British Legion (RBL) are raising vital funds to support our armed forces communities. Labour is backing the charity’s efforts to encourage schools across the country to support the teaching of remembrance, to ensure its importance is passed on to the next generation. The charity has developed a range of free teaching resources to be used in local schools or at home, with all of the lesson plans linked to the national curriculum for key stages 1-5. During remembrance, we honour and remember the sacrifices made by service men and service women, veterans and their families. From Flanders Fields to supporting our NATO allies to deter Russian aggression, our armed forces continue to protect us at home and abroad. Theirs is the ultimate public service. It’s vital we recognise their heroic efforts, and it is for them that I lay a remembrance cross in Parliament Square earlier this week. I would also encourage all residents of Quinton, Harborne, Bartley Green and Edgbaston, whether young or old, to support the local poppy appeal and pass on the importance of Remembrance to the next generation.

What’s happening across the constituency? We have a number of important meetings and events happening across the constituency. Here’s all you need to know: The next Quinton Ward Forum meeting will take place on Tuesday 15th November, 7pm – 8.30pm, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church Quinton, Higgins Lane. The main agenda item will be to review and develop Quinton Ward Action Plan for 2022 – 2026. Your contribution and participation are needed to review, identify and agree the main priorities and concerns and how these could be addressed. Birmingham City Council’s award-winning Mobile Household Recycling Centre is returning to the constituency on the following dates: 14/11/2022 between 7am-12pm on Vicarage Road, Harborne, B17 0SN 16/11/2022 between 7am-12pm on Metchley Park Road, Edgbaston, B15 2PG 24/11/2022 between 7am-12pm on Jackson Way, Quinton, B32 1BS And finally, Harborne Village BID will be hosting the annual Christmas Light Switch on Harborne High Street from 4-6pm (the Christmas lights will be switched on at 6pm). There will be a live stage with plenty of performances, market stalls, the Christmas tree unveiling and there will be a chance to meet Father Christmas too! In recognition of the difficulty over the last couple of years and how Harborne community has pulled together, Harborne BID is asking you to nominate a Harborne hero to turn on the Christmas lights! To do so, please email [email protected] explaining why this person deserves recognition. Entries close on Monday 14th November. The annual event will also see the long-awaited return of the Harborne Market. The finest traders from Birmingham and beyond will be in attendance between 9am-3pm, selling treats and gifts for the festive season.

WATCH OUT: Investment Fraud Soars Among Young Professionals ‘Get rich quick’ investment opportunities are soaring amongst young professionals, with more than £890 million lost to investment fraud last year. The total amount lost to investment fraud last year rose by a staggering 49.5%, with criminals evolving the way that they target people to use social media to advertise bogus investment opportunities. New data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) shows there were 26,170 reports of investment fraud with victims losing an average of £34,043.41 each. A total of 39% of all victims of investment fraud were between the ages of 20 to 39 years old. In many cases, victims have seen an influencer advertise an investment scam on social media. The suspects behind the fraud use influencers with a high number of followers to endorse their advert and reach a larger audience quickly and cheaply. Upon seeing the advert, victims either make authorised push payments on fake or cloned websites, or their personal and banking credentials are obtained by criminals through social engineering techniques, such as remote access tools or over the phone. So, how do you spot the signs and protect yourself? West Midlands Police has shared the following advice. Before deciding to invest, always do your research and do not let anyone rush you. Only criminals will put pressure on you to make a quick decision. Stop, take time to think and consult trusted friends and family members before parting with your money. Be cautious if you are asked to change money into cryptocurrency to invest or make a payment via cryptocurrency. This is often a tactic used by fraudsters. Be aware that some investment opportunity approaches can come via social media. Always undertake additional research to check the validity of such an opportunity. Fraudsters have been known to hack social media accounts to promote bogus investments. If you are making an investment based on a recommendation from a friend or family member sent via social media, check that this has actually been sent by them. Scammers will often create professional looking websites and utilise fake business premise locations to give an impression of legitimacy. Never let anyone take control of your phone or computer for any reason. A reputable business would never do this. Check on the FCA website to see if an investment business is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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

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