At a Birmingham Made Me panel discussion on "the regional sustainable economic model" today I had one key point to make. Alongside other MPs, business leaders and policy makers, I wanted to stress that the exciting creative economy emerging in Birmingham must unlock growth and innovation across the city- and reach places like Northfield, Longbridge and Frankley if we are all to prosper.
Sainsburys have recently put in a planning application for a biomass boiler at their new Longbridge store. This is the letter that 3 local Labour Councillors – Andy Cartwright, Jess Phillips and Ian Cruise – and I have sent to Birmingham City Council in response.
201306 – Biomass letter June 2013
On Tuesday evening (4th June) I held my very first “Ask Me Anything” using my Twitter and Facebook pages. As promised I did my best to answer as many questions from Northfield constituents as possible within the intended hour-long chat. In the end I stayed on for an extra 15 minutes and answered a total of 25 questions. Topics that were discussed ranged widely. Local issues that were brought up...
Just 5 days until my first Ask Me Anything! 4 June, 5.30- 6.30pm, visit my website for more info: richardburden.com/2013/05/ask-me… #ASKRB
— Richard Burden MP (@RichardBurdenMP) May 30, 2013
Amazing generosity from local people for #LifeLineFoodBank. Thanks to Northfield @sainsburys for hosting collection twitter.com/RichardBurdenM…
— Richard Burden MP (@RichardBurdenMP) May 30, 2013
Today I am leading a ‘food drive’ for the Northfield Lifeline Food Bank after it was burgled last month. We will be raising awareness and stocking food as the news hits home that half a million people had to rely on food banks in the past year.
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.