It was brilliant to meet Rob, Dave and Sam, who work at the Rowheath Pavilion in Bournville. I had a wonderful time, as I was given a guided tour of the facilities and I had a very in depth conversation over a coffee with the CEO of Rowheath Pavilion, Rob Halcrow. We discussed the challengesContinue reading Pride and Purpose at the Pavilion
For King Charles it was the first King’s Speech in 70 years and for Rishi Sunak his last chance to show he understands the issues facing the British people and, after 13 years of Tory government, can address them. I wanted targets for house building, affordable social housing, and a law that all new buildContinue reading Was it worth the wait?
In this country we rely on Parliament to pass laws which the Government enacts, the police supervise, and courts enforce as the best way to protect rights and allow peaceful protest. The failure of the home secretary to implement Parliament’s decision to impose safe areas known as ‘buffer zones’ around abortion clinics is creating problems.Continue reading Why hasn’t Home Secretary introduced ‘buffer zones’ around clinics?
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
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
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
In a TV debate last week, I almost fell off the chair when the Tory MP claimed hers was the party of law and order. Recorded crime has hit a 20 year high, with over 6.3 million crimes but a mere 5.6% resulting in prosecution. One of the more sickening statistics is that only 1.3%Continue reading Crime: Turn Back Time
Racism and prejudice affect all cultures and societies, and the temptation to look for scapegoats in times of difficulty is not unusual. A sense of unfairness, lack of reward for honest work and justice for those trying to do the right things is currently impacting on the normal tolerance of British people. In 2019, antisemitismContinue reading No Place for Fearmongering
Events at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Liverpool are a reminder of what happens when government loses control of something like immigration and those bent on trouble take the law into their own hands. This government has been talking tough on immigration for thirteen years. During that time, the criminal gangs have multiplied andContinue reading A Fair Asylum System
Events at asylum centres have made the headlines this week, drawing attention to the cost of government funded accommodation. They’re now spending millions on hotels. That story rather overshadowed a report on exempt accommodation by the Levelling up, Housing and Communities Select Committee. Exempt accommodation is so called because its exempt from usual housingContinue reading Costly Scandal Needs Sorting
