My first ever ‘Ask Me Anything’ session will be held on my Facebook & Twitter pages at 5.30 - 6.30 pm on Tuesday 5th June 2013 . I will be online, waiting to give live answers to questions from anyone who posts on my Facebook or Twitter pages during the hour. The intention is to give all the people of Birmingham Northfield the opportunity to ask a Member of Parliament any question about what I …
Fertility problems affect one in seven couples in the UK. NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (known previously as Primary Care Trusts) decide who is eligible to receive funding for fertility treatment. In South Birmingham, the present CCG guidelines dictate that couples are not eligible for funding for fertility treatment where one partner has a child from a previous relationship. The Department …
At the State opening of Parliament last week, Her Majesty presented the Government’s priorities for the year ahead. Outlined in just eight minutes, the Coalition’s programme of work included bills on issues from immigration to local audits. But something rather big was missing. The economy. On Wednesday, we saw that there are precisely 200 more young people in our community long term unemployed …
For the last two years I have been raising concerns about Formula 1's decision to go ahead with the Bahrain Grand Prix at a time when there are such profound issues with the country's human rights record, and when the race has been a focus for discontent. I was therefore surprised to read two articles on the UK Embassy in Bahrain’s website giving a very one sided and – I thought – questionable …
On Monday and Tuesday next week (20th & 21st May) the House of Commons will debate and vote on the Report Stage and Third Reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. I have received many letters and emails – both for and against the Bill – urging me to vote one way or another. Marriage is an important means through which couples can publicly make a long term commitment to …
To celebrate the forthcoming launch of Carers Week, 10-16 June 2013, I teamed up with actress Lynda Bellingham to recognise the contribution carers make to Northfield.
Attending an event in Parliament to launch the national awareness campaign, Carers Week, I wanted to show my support to the hundred thousand carers who are provide vital support to people in Birmingham today.
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.