Last week I spoke in a debate organised by Politics in Brum about whether or not Birmingham should have an elected mayor. I am sure there will be many more such debates over the next six months as we move towards a referendum in May 2012 to ask the people of Birmingham whether or not they want an elected mayor. These next six months provide an important opportunity to address some fundamental …
I have heard from many constituents who disagree with the government's plans to cut feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar power. I have also heard from local community groups who are worried that their plans to install solar power panels may now be under threat. Labour has been leading the campaign against the government’s plans, which will put thousands of jobs and businesses in the solar industry at …
Labour in Birmingham has set up a policy commission to look at the future of housing in Birmingham and we want to hear from you.
Whether you are a council or housing association tenant, renting in the private sector or a home owner. We want to know your views online at birminghamhousing.wordpress.com.
I have just returned from a visit to Israel and the West Bank. Here are a few video reports from some of the places I visited. You can click on the menu button to scroll through the videos and also view them on YouTube here.
It’s hard to imagine living without something as simple – and vital – as a toilet. Yet just over 150 years ago this was the daily reality for many people in the UK. Without adequate sanitation or safe water to drink, disease was rife. It was the cause of child mortality levels found in Africa today.
On Monday evening I attended a public meeting in Longbridge about the City Council’s proposed budget for next year. There was a lot of anger at the meeting about the cuts the Conservative-led Council are proposing. It's the Conservatives and Lib Dems running the Council that are making these decisions and they should answer for them. Unfortunately, none of them turned up at Monday’s meeting to do …
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.