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 …
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 …
Yesterday the South Birmingham Community Credit Union Ltd (CommuniSave Credit Union) announced that it has gone into liquidation. The credit union has over 2,000 members and serves the Northfield constituency as well as other areas in South Birmingham, Bromsgrove and Redditch.
I was delighted to join pupils at St Laurence Church Junior School on Monday as they designed their pictures for Royal Mail’s 2013 Christmas Stamp competition. An unusual time of year to be thinking about Christmas! But a fantastic opportunity for pupils in my constituency and across the country to take part in such a rare opportunity to design a picture which could feature on the stamps …
A few weeks ago, a constituent contacted me asking why I was seeking a £10,000 pay rise for MPs. My answer was simple: I had not done so and I am not doing so. MP’s do not set our own pay. MPs’ salaries are decided by a body which is completely independent of Parliament called IPSA - the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. So what do I think about it? First, when people are feeling the …
I’m throwing my weight behind a Private Member’s Bill that seeks to challenge the unscrupulous practices of high-cost credit companies offering pay day loans. The High Cost Credit Bill will come before Parliament on Friday 12 July. It is sponsored by one of my oldest friends Paul Blomfield MP, and I hope to be there to give my support. The bill seeks to end some of the worst practices of pay …
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.