We finally entered Gaza through its Rafah border crossing with Egypt mid Sunday morning and spent the next 22 hours in the strip. As ever, Gaza was surreal. Things that logically could not sit side by side do so. To understand the place, you have to suspend disbelief. For the next 22 hours we did so.
I have just returned from a parliamentary delegation to the Gaza Strip. I will write more about the visit later this week but, for now, here are two videos filmed in Gaza – the first on a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and the second at the fish market on the seafront of Gaza City.
I was last in Gaza almost exactly three years ago. I was part of one of the first groups of MPs to enter after Israel's ‘Operation Cast Lead’ which left over 1,300 Palestinians dead, the majority of them civilians and 352 of them children. Over 5,000 more were wounded.
Three years on, I had hoped by now to see how much had changed. But I write this near to - but not inside - Gaza.
The hot topic in Westminster this week is, once again, the NHS.
Not surprising, perhaps, given that the NHS is facing the biggest financial challenge in its history and, at the same time, the government has launched the biggest top-down reorganisation since 1948.
Lots of constituents have contacted me about the Cities fit for cycling campaign being led by The Times to improve cycling safety in British cities.
I have joined them in supporting this campaign and have added my name to a parliamentary motion calling on the government to take further action to improve cycling infrastructure and reduce the number of casualties on roads.
Pleased to have the chance to talk to racing driver Jason Plato at the launch of the MG KX Momentum BTCC Racing Team at the MG factory in Longbridge.
I was Labour Member of Parliament for Birmingham Northfield between 1992 and 2019 and a former Shadow Transport Minister. I now chair Healthwatch in Birmingham and Solihull, and the West Midlands Board of Remembering Srebrenica. I also work as a public affairs consultant. I am an effective community advocate and stakeholder alliance builder with a passion for human rights. I am a trustee of the Balfour Project charity and of Citizens Advice Birmingham, and a former Chair of Medical Aid for Palestinians.