2022 has been a turbulent year in many respects. While the threat of Covid-19 has lessened, we have seen the cost of living crisis push more and more working people into hardship. And, where we may have hoped for support from Government, Conservative political chaos has crashed our economy, making life harder for people in Birmingham.
As we approach Christmas and the New Year, this is a moment to take stock of the important things in life and to look out for one another.
As ever, it has been a privilege to represent you in Parliament and to fight on your behalf to make Edgbaston constituency a better place to live, work and grow up in.
Since you elected me, I have voted over 850 times and asked 1,884 questions in Parliament. I have taken on 37,000 new cases on residents’ behalf and resolved almost 35,000 cases. Some of the cases I have worked on this year have included:
Tackling damp and mould in homes and lobbying for properties to be retrofitted;
Working with the Police to address concerns with rising crime, particularly around vehicle theft;
Ensuring people are receiving the benefits they are entitled to for example supporting residents to get backdated claims on their pension credit.
I’ve joined with local residents and our fantastic local venues to welcome international athletes to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games.
I have continued to successfully lobby the council for roads to be resurfaced – our constituency has seen the most funding spent on resurfacing across the city.
I have worked to improve our health service through supporting residents getting GP and dentist appointments, writing to University Hospitals Birmingham about their waiting lists and, challenging Government on their record of failure in supporting our NHS.
I’ve continued to work with residents and action groups on exempt accommodation which, causes so much anti-social behaviour and does not always support tenants as it should. I have also provided written evidence to the Housing Select Committee and have led meetings with resident action groups, the social housing regulator and the Minister.
As Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development, I undertook a visit with David Lammy to Afghanistan earlier this year to see for myself what the impact of the withdrawal has been, especially on girls education. I also visited the Polish and Ukrainian border to meet with the Polish government, thank them for the scale of support they are providing to Ukrainian people and to ask what more the British Government can do as an international partner and friend.
Birmingham MPs on all sides of the political spectrum have set up an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Birmingham. As Chair of this APPG, I have supported the five levelling up bids that were submitted to Government including the bid for Edgbaston. If successful, this will see Quinton Police Station brought back into use as a community hub focusing on youth, early years and training and skills.
That’s just a taste of some of the things I have achieved in 2022 and I look forward to continuing to work hard for you in 2023.
If you want to learn more about what I've been up to, please make sure you subscribe to my weekly newsletter here.
If you need any advice or support, please get in touch on 0121 392 8426 or [email protected]. Please click here for changes to your bin collection over the Christmas holidays.
Wishing you and your family a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Best wishes,
Preet
