AuthorRichard Burden

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.

Latest arguments about what happened at MG Rover in 2005 must not obscure what was important then, and what is important now

Birmingham, Local, Motor industry, Motor industry / motorsport, News, Northfield area, West Midlands
29 July 2013
4 minute read
1,386 views
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The accountants Deloitte have lost an appeal over a regulatory ruling that it failed to manage conflicts of interest in its advice to the MG Rover Group and the "Phoenix Four" directors, who bought the UK carmaker before it collapsed in 2005. It is highly concerning that the Tribunal found Deloitte and Mr Einollahi, the partner involved, to have demonstrated “a persistent and deliberate disregard …

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Sun shining on South West Birmingham

Birmingham, Jobs, business & economy, Local, National issues, News, Northfield area, West Midlands
26 July 2013
3 minute read
1,496 views
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In the glorious sunshine of the last few weeks I have been privileged to visit some major new redevelopments in our area – including the near completion of the Sainsbury’s store within Longbridge which will be providing 320 new jobs, and the start of work by Barratt to build over 100 new homes in Kings Norton. As MP’s have left Wesminster for the Parliamenary recess, the sun is certainly shining …

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Postcards for saving our post

Birmingham, Jobs, business & economy, Local, National issues, Northfield area
25 July 2013
2 minute read
1,431 views
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Over the past few weeks my postman in Westminster has been delivering a steady stream of postcards and letters from local people opposing the privatisation of Royal Mail. I completely agree. Along with my Labour colleagues I opposed the privatisation of this 372 year old British institution when the Government first introduced early in this Parliament – and oppose it now.

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Let’s make it work for lone parents

Birmingham, Equalities, Jobs, business & economy, Local, Northfield area, West Midlands, Young People
23 July 2013
2 minute read
1,526 views
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Today, I’m pledging my support for a campaign to boost single parent employment, run by the charity Gingerbread. 42 per cent of families in Birmingham Northfield are headed by lone parents, and many struggle to balance work with caring for their children.  As the cost of childcare increases, finding a decent job that fits in with school hours can become an almost impossible task.  Add in to this …

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National Audit Office report is a big step forward in tackling rip-off phone rates

Culture, media and sport, National issues
18 July 2013
3 minute read
895 views
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A National Audit Office report concluded today that the use of high cost phone lines across government is complex, ineffective, and leaving vulnerable individuals with the highest charges. After I held a debate on this issue, calling on the Cabinet Office to urgently improve the government’s performance in this area, the NAO has now concluded that government departments should eliminate the use …

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Richard Burden

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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.

Get in touch

You can reach me by email at richard@richardburden.com or use the form on the Contact page to send me a message.