War crimes and other fundamental breaches of international law are not simply issues to be tackled in the countries in which they take place. The issues they raise are of such significance to humanity as a whole that every country has an obligation to ensure that justice is done. That is what the principle of universal jurisdiction is about and I am pleased that Gordon Brown has endorsed that …
The importance of investing in our children’s future is more crucial now then ever before. We as adults realise the importance of saving and managing our own finances and the Child Trust Fund now allows us to do this for our children. The benefit of the scheme introduced for all children born on or after 1st September 2002 enables us to give our children a financial start moving into adult life …
This week I joined fellow Labour MPs to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the ban on fox hunting.
It is now five years since the Fox-Hunting Bill received Royal Assent, ending the cruel practice of hunting with dogs. In that time, dozens of prosecutions have been brought under the Act, showing that this ban is making a real difference.
Earlier today I led a House of Commons debate on the results of the independent inquiry into the collapse of MG Rover.
Today’s debate was the first opportunity for the House of Commons to debate the report of the inquiry since it was published on 11 September 2009.
Today I was pleased to welcome the Environment Secretary Hilary Benn to the Northfield constituency. He was here to visit Frankley – one of the local areas severely hit by floods last year. The government has earmarked funds for the area under its flood protection scheme. During the visit we met with community leaders, Frankley Parish Councillors and staff from Birmingham City Council and the …
Richard Burden MP last night confronted Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Barak at the Labour Party Conference. Mr Burden called on him to respond to the findings of the recent UN report that Israel committed war crimes in Gaza during ‘Operation Cast Lead’. Mr Burden, Chair of the Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group, also presented the Israeli Minister with a copy of the group’s …
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.