After the period of mourning, attention turns once again to the hardships facing many people in Britain today. The Prime Minister and her new Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, say tax cuts are the answer but I have my doubts. His decision to reverse National Insurance increases without any additional plans to support the NHS can onlyContinue reading Chancellor’s ‘fiscal event’ is a non-event for the struggling
News last week that Labour had taken a 15-point poll lead, biggest since 2013, may have surprised some but there’s a simple explanation. People have spent the hot summer relieved at not having to think how they’ll cope when winter comes. Later this week Ofgem, the regulator supposed to help consumers, will announce a secondContinue reading Government feeling heat
WHAT’S the fascination with outsourcing that makes so many managers and consultants offer it as the solution when they’re asked to make improvements or find savings? Public is not always best but there’s no guarantee private is either. There have been some spectacular government failures with prisons, probation, and tagging of offenders. In Birmingham weContinue reading Peril of failed outsourcing
Steve McCabe MP has recently visited Speciality Minerals in Lifford Lane. It follows some local complaints about noise from the site. The actual site has been there since 1898 and Steve first visited back in the early 1990s when he was a councillor for the Brandwood Ward. There have been some lurid stories on social media aboutContinue reading Steve McCabe MP visits Speciality Minerals
Steve McCabe MP visited the local constituency fire station in Billesley recently, to check in with staff during this summer of intense heatwaves and the cost-of-living crisis. Steve had an informative chat with the station staff who stressed that not only are the recent scorching temperatures affecting the risk of fire and hazard, but theContinue reading Steve McCabe MP visits local fire station
Many families have got in touch with Steve in recent weeks and months about the cost of living, this has led to families across the constituency facing hardship. Steve’s team have put together some resources to help you if you and your family are struggling: Birmingham Household Support Fund April 22 to September 2022 SupportContinue reading Cost of Living Help and Support
KEIR Starmer has come under fire over the rail dispute for sacking a junior spokesman for acting outside his brief. It doesn’t seem to matter that the Labour leader proposes the biggest increase in worker’s rights for nearly 70 years. His plans for fair pay agreements will end poverty wages. They’re part of Labour’s newContinue reading NEW DEAL TO BENEFIT 31m
I haven’t seen empty shelves in supermarkets near me but have noticed it can be a little harder to find one or two things and I do remember the panic buying and lack of items like toilet paper at the start of the first lockdown. Like many people, I’ve been struck by warnings about foodContinue reading Drive to keep stocked up
The Prime Minister came to Coventry last week and rambled on about levelling up but failed to announce funding for a Gigafactory, the one thing that could save the West Midlands car industry. Despite our successes, the spectre of unemployment continues to haunt Birmingham and the wider region. There are too many low paid, insecureContinue reading Poorest hit the hardest
The pace of technology over the last 20 years has been phenomenal and has certainly changed our lives. Can we now use technology to help with environmental problems or is there a ‘hair shirt’ mentality about climate change which means it’s always about what you must give up? I’m fed up listening to people, whoContinue reading A new ERA of solutions
