Earlier today (8th May) was the State Opening of Parliament, where the Queen formally opens the new Parliamentary Session with a speech setting out the Government’s agenda and priorities for the next year. Unfortunately as anticipated the Queen’s Speech, which was one of the shortest in years, failed to recognise many of the problems concerning real people. It was a stark reminder that this out …
Thanks to @mybcu School of Engineering, Design & Manufacturing for hosting me today. Innovation in @ideabirmingham twitter.com/RichardBurdenM…
— Richard Burden MP (@RichardBurdenMP) April 26, 2013
I am pleased to share with you the work that Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children have been doing in partnership with HSBC. A total of £91,000 has been raised which has directly benefitted 92 disabled and terminally ill Midlands children, including my own constituent Stephen. The project has funded a specialist panda chair for Stephen, helping him to sit upright. The family can see a real …
Met with @ofcom on proposed changes to @itvcentral region. To maximise local impact & reach, must link withbirminghamculture.org/news agenda
— Richard Burden MP (@RichardBurdenMP) April 23, 2013
Last Friday (12th April) I met with senior representatives of Birmingham City Council to discuss how the City can take up the challenge issued by the Birmingham Commission on Youth Unemployment in January to create at least 1,000 jobs for young people in Long Term Unemployment. The Commission called for a Birmingham Jobs Budget to be set up. Not long after its report was published, people were …
One bit of good news in today’s Budget (read my main response here) was that the government said they are backing Lord Heseltine’s report for a new pilot which will allow the Birmingham area to decide local priorities when it comes to investment in jobs and infrastructure.
Again, though, this will not work properly without the resources to make it happen.
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.