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News

6 May 2015

1 minute read

1,160 views

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Why does the Northfield area have the worst record on low pay in the country?

Birmingham, Communities, Housing, Jobs, business & economy, Local, Local government, National issues, Northfield area, Young People

5 May 2015

7 minute read

2,193 views

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Earlier this year it was revealed that the Northfield constituency has the worst record in the country for low pay. Over 50% of people in this area are paid less than the living wage of £7.85 an hour – reaching up to 63.1% for women. As I said at the time, it is an absolute scandal that over half of local working people are not being paid enough to provide properly for themselves and their …

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STOP PRESS – Planning Inspector Rejects Sainsbury’s Appeal

Birmingham, Communities, Local, News

30 April 2015

2 minute read

1,499 views

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VICTORY FOR LOCAL PEOPLE AS PLANNING INSPECTOR REJECTS THE APPEAL BY SAINSBURYS TO BUILD SUPERMARKET ON SITE OF NAVIGATION PUB… News has just come through that the Independent Planning Inspector has rejected an appeal by Sainsbury’s to build a supermarket on the site of the Navigation pub, near Kings Norton Green. Your local Labour team – Richard Burden, Councillor Peter Griffiths and …

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The Sikh Manifesto – 2015

Birmingham, Communities, Foreign Affairs, Local, Northfield area, West Midlands

29 April 2015

1 minute read

1,210 views

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Sikhs are a valued part of our community both here in the West Midlands and nationally. It is really important that the voices of Sikhs are heard, so I welcome the publication of the Sikh Manifesto which rightly highlights the enduring historical bonds between Sikhs and the UK – as well as key present and future issues. These range from better recognition of Sikhs in public life here in the …

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Dave drops by and ignores food banks again

Birmingham, Communities, Local, National issues, Northfield area, Welfare, West Midlands

29 April 2015

3 minute read

1,301 views

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Well, well. I hear David Cameron has parachuted into Longbridge today. You know the kind of thing: quick photo opportunity with hard hat, Tory candidate in tow and meet as few local people as possible. We've seen quite a few of these flag waving visits from Tory ministers in recent months. It's a pity the rest of us couldn't ask Mr Cameron a few questions during his whistle-stop today, about what …

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Labour’s 10 point plan to tackle tax avoidance

Jobs, business & economy, Labour Party, National issues, World

24 April 2015

3 minute read

1,309 views

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I am very concerned with the huge amount of money that big companies avoid paying in taxes. This is not just a problem here in the UK but across the world. Countries are losing billions each year and the impact of globalisation has made it ever more difficult to pin down dodgers. The UK tax code is very extensive and technical. The loopholes which companies exploit are technically legal and when …

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Northfield Community Response

Communities, Crime and safety, Local, Northfield area

20 April 2015

1 minute read

1,566 views

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Community leaders in Northfield have joined together to co-author a response to the tragic events last week (Friday 24th).
Read it here: Northfield community response – 20 April 2015

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Zero Hours Contracts

Birmingham, Jobs, business & economy, Local, National issues, News

19 April 2015

3 minute read

1,852 views

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Millions of people in this country are struggling on low pay at the moment. The economy may now be recovering – but it is the slowest recovery the country has seen in a hundred years and I know that many people in the Northfield area just are not feeling the benefits of it all. People are on average £1,600 a year worse off since the Conservative-led Government was elected in 2010. Far too …

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My Views on Fracking

Environment, energy & climate change, National issues

16 April 2015

3 minute read

1,856 views

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Lots of local residents have written to me with their concerns about shale gas extraction – or fracking.
Firstly, I am absolutely clear that shale gas extraction – or ‘fracking’ – should only go ahead in the context of robust regulation, comprehensive monitoring and strict enforcement, and in a way which is consistent with decarbonising our electricity supply by 2030.

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Have you registered to vote?

Young People

11 April 2015

1 minute read

539 views

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It only takes 5 minutes to #RegisterToVote online, do it now: .

Unless you register to vote, you lose your voice on issues that directly affect you, your family and your friends.

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MG Rover – Ten Years On

Birmingham, Jobs, business & economy, Local, MG/Rover/Longbridge, Motor industry / motorsport, News

8 April 2015

3 minute read

1,714 views

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Today is ten years to the day since the collapse of MG Rover in Longbridge. Like other people who live around here, I will never forget the scenes at Q Gate at the plant on the morning of 8th April, 2005. 6,000 people lost their jobs. But it wasn't only that loss that was devastating. The collapse affected whole families, and the community here that MGR had been at the heart of for so long.

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Manor House Update

Local, Local government, Northfield area

8 April 2015

1 minute read

2,618 views

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Last year's fire at Northfield's Manor House was devastating news for everyone concerned about the heritage of our area.

Since then I have pressed Birmingham University for updates. You can see here a briefing I received from them last month shortly before Parliament was dissolved. This gives an outline of the work which is being carried out.

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