I have secured a debate for later today in the House of Commons to highlight the issue of underachievement of white disadvantaged pupils. White pupils are the largest underachieving group in Birmingham and across the UK. Whilst almost half of White British pupils not on free school meals (FSM) achieved at least 5 A* – C grades at GCSE in 2007 – the same as the national average for all …
In the last recession young people were left on the scrapheap. I am determined that this should not happen this time. Every young person deserves a fair deal. That is why I have welcomed the government’s guarantee that every young person who would otherwise be long term unemployed gets a job or training. Labour’s Budget for Jobs announced a new £1bn Future Jobs Fund which aims to create 150,000 …
Over 120 Members of Parliament have expressed their astonishment at the BBC’s refusal to broadcast the Disasters Emergency Committee Gaza Crisis Appeal. Today I tabled a motion in the House of Commons with the support of 122 MPs from across all the main political parties (see latest version here). The motion says: That this House is astonished by the refusal of the BBC and Sky to broadcast the …
The UK Parliament today debated the ongoing military attacks on Gaza.
Gaza needs a real humanitarian lifeline and an immediate end to attacks, not just a three hour break in violence’, Richard Burden MP has said today.
The continuing slaughter in Gaza is an outrage. The international community has to make clear that respecting its calls for a ceasefire is not simply an optional extra for those launching attacks on either side. International humanitarian law must be upheld. That means protecting civilians from military attack. Common humanity also demands that food, medicines and other essential supplies must be …
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.