I wrote this column before the Chancellor’s speech but, thanks to pre-budget leaks, the content is hardly a state secret. He has more money to play with than anticipated and is likely to target areas where opinion polls show Labour taking a lead. He’ll relax staff/child ratios for nurseries. It’s been done in Scotland withContinue reading Finding Holes in the Budget
The Tories have been in charge for thirteen years. During that time we’ve seen the NHS driven to the verge of collapse, our schools are falling apart, the police and justice system is in turmoil, and homelessness has reached crisis point. Still this government denies responsibility and looks elsewhere for scapegoats. At the 2019 electionContinue reading Birmingham’s Bids Binned
In his first public address of the New Year, the Prime Minister made five pledges which he says are the foundations for a better future. After thirteen years, aren’t we entitled to more than laying the foundations? He says he’ll half inflation before the end of the year which, as Chancellor, he let rip. OfContinue reading We Deserve a Lot Better
I started this week on a positive note by attending the launch of the Midland Hub at Birmingham Council House. It’s a plan to improve rail services across the region with more routes and increased frequency. Not entirely a new idea, I remember a version in the mid-90s when a young Councillor McCabe chaired Birmingham’s TransportContinue reading All Aboard the Midland Hub Express
As Christmas looms, we need to spare a thought for those who won’t have such a great time. I’m about to launch my reverse Advent Calendar where I ask those, who can, to join me and donate something daily in the run up to Christmas. I spent part of Saturday with Labour Party volunteers collectingContinue reading Foodbanks Are Essential
It was fantastic to see almost 100 people at our Report Back on Thursday. It is clear that people are fed up with the latest crisis engulfing this Tory Government. With the new Chancellor promising Austerity 2.0, there was plenty for us to talk about. I also want to thank those of you who responded toContinue reading Report Back with the Constituency – October 2022
It was Harold Wilson who once quipped that ‘a week is a long time in politics’. Goodness knows what he’d have made of the last 6 days. On Friday our new Chancellor announced more than £400billion of borrowing and tax cuts worth an extra £55,000 for millionaires. Almost immediately there was panic in the markets,Continue reading Labour offers real alternative after Chancellor sends pound into freefall
As the Downing Street saga over the Prime Minister’s possible resignation continues, the real drama is the cost of living crisis. Last week, the Bank of England raised interest rates for a second time, as fears grow over galloping inflation. Inflation is heading for 7% and new interest rates will mean an extra £25 perContinue reading Big profits while we all feel pinch
MP FOR SELLY OAK WRITES… THE budget is now less than a week away. Our first national lockdown began five days after the last one and since then 120,000 people have lost their lives. This budget will be a test for the Chancellor. He’ll be worried about the public finances. Latest figures show borrowing, forContinue reading Budget Must be fair
The upcoming Budget on 3 March is an opportunity for the Chancellor to ease the issues families, the self-employed and business owners face. I know what I want to see, what about you? Two things have cheered me up recently – the vaccine rollout is going well and Cadbury Dairy Milk is coming home followingContinue reading What can the Chancellor’s budget do to help here?
