I was deeply disappointed at the news that the reopening of the Camp Hill Line has been delayed. This route should shorten journey times into the city centre for many of my constituents. The delay is another example of Andy Street’s failure to improve the West Midlands’ transport network. Andy Street is more focused onContinue reading My Statement on the Camp Hill Line
Like many of my constituents, I am concerned about dangerous driving and parking on Birmingham’s roads. I have recently sent a letter to the Chief Executive and Leader of Birmingham City Council about the issues constituents have raised with me. I look forward to hearing from them about the Council’s plans to tackle this growingContinue reading My Letter to the Council Regarding our Roads
Last week, I led a parliamentary debate on ending animal testing for new drugs and medicines. It’s a controversial subject with renewed interest since news that, after a 25-year ban, the government has agreed to resume some tests for cosmetic ingredients. I’ll confess that, despite knowing how strongly people feel about animal testing, I’ve beenContinue reading Animal Testing Must End
It’s become fashionable to claim our politics is broken and, given the recent behaviour of a few leaders, it’s easy to understand why, but are some of the loudest critics also breaking our politics? I’m talking about the intolerant activists, those who never stand for election to anything but assume they’re always right and knowContinue reading Critics Must Allow Debate
The UK Government has been evacuating British nationals out of Sudan due to the ongoing conflict there. I thank the Foreign Secretary for the work he has done so far but I am worried about those who are being left behind. The husband of one of my constituents is currently stranded in Sudan while heContinue reading Urgent Sudan Statement
Under the Tories knife crime has been allowed to spiral out of control. Knife crime as a whole is up by 70% from 2015. According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of people killed with a knife is at its highest for 76 years. The Tories have not done enough to tackle knifeContinue reading My Response to Minister About Tory Record on Knife Crime
I was upset to hear that two elderly constituents have been found dead in their own homes, particularly as I received the news shortly after the horrific story about an elderly, south London woman who lay dead in her flat for over two years. It’s horrible to think of anyone dying in such circumstances butContinue reading Elderly Must Be a Priority
This year, Easter, Ramadan and Passover all overlap. It happens about three times every century and many of us won’t see it again. It’s interesting to think about what our religions have in common. Passover celebrates the deliverance from slavery and fresh hope for the Israelites, Ramadan preaches spiritual regeneration and the overcoming of earthlyContinue reading Commonality in a Divided World
At a time when we have a Prime Minister whose parents are from the Punjab, a First Minister and Labour leader in Scotland with parents of Pakistani origin, and a Home Secretary with Indian heritage, one might conclude that Britain is fast becoming a model of diversity. Yet last weekend, campaigners were forced to takeContinue reading Rising Hate Crime
As a Labour MP, I believe those who can work should work. In his budget, the Chancellor announced “universal support”, which he described as a new approach to helping more people with disabilities into work. He has yet to tell us how he plans to fund “universal support”, an issue I raised in the budgetContinue reading Compassion and Fairness
