In recent months I have been contacted by numerous constituents who share concerns over the upcoming welfare reform changes that are being introduced by the government, and how these changes will impact them.
Many Birmingham residents will be affected by the changes. Birmingham City Council have published a guide to the changes, which can be found online here.
Delighted to join Jaguar Land Rover apprentices from the West Mids at @smmt event celebrating #NAW2013 twitter.com/RichardBurdenM…
— Richard Burden MP (@RichardBurdenMP) March 11, 2013
Over 13,000 households in Birmingham will be hit by the government’s new Bedroom Tax.
New figures released by the National Housing Federation this week estimate that 13,315 households in Birmingham – including 1,375 here in the Birmingham Northfield constituency – will be affected when the tax starts in April.
Parking has been an issue facing both passengers and residents near Northfield Railway Station for some time. The overspill of vehicles, unable to use the often full station car park, is having a knock on effect on those living in the vicinity of the station who wish to park near to their homes.
As a frequent passenger using Northfield and Longbridge stations, I too share these frustrations.
Pupils of Kings Norton Primary School took part in a sponsored tree planting in Kings Norton Park last week.
The pupils, joined by staff from Deutsche Bank in Birmingham, helped to plant 10 standard trees and several hundred small trees. Local Labour Councillor and Birmingham’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Steve Bedser, was also there to lend a hand.
Local Gov Sec Eric Pickles refusing to meet leaders of England’s 8 largest cities to discuss concerns about cuts: birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-new…
— Richard Burden MP (@RichardBurdenMP) February 28, 2013
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.