Have you registered to vote?

Young People

11 April 2015

1 minute read

621 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

1,863 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

2,764 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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Why Labour will scrap the Bedroom Tax

Birmingham, Communities, Housing, Local, National issues, Northfield area, Welfare

3 April 2015

2 minute read

1,577 views

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Rachel has two children, aged 4 and 10. She is a care worker on the minimum wage. She recently had her hours cut and is now losing tax credits too. She is also being asked to pay £14 per week Bedroom Tax. It's difficult for her to make ends meet. Anne Marie, from Frankley, is also being charged Bedroom Tax since her marriage split up and her son left home. She is disabled. Her case exposes the …

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Mr Pothole visits Kings Norton

Birmingham, Local, Transport

30 March 2015

3 minute read

1,661 views

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Last Friday, Cllr Pete Griffiths and I welcomed “Mr Pothole” to Kings Norton. Mark “Mr Pothole” Morrell is national campaigner for better road maintenance who I have got to know and respect as Labour’s Shadow Roads Minister. The purpose of the visit was to look at how Birmingham City Council’s Highways contract is being managed by Amey PLC, using Rednal and …

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Calling all supporters: I need your help

Labour Party, Local, News, Northfield area, Young People

29 March 2015

2 minute read

962 views

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We all know how fed up people can be with the way the world of politics can seem. Often it can feel like political parties are speaking a different language and bombarding you with buzz words. In 2010, at the last general election 40% of those eligible chose not to vote at all in our constituency. That’s why I need your help. I need your help to help me reach all those people who are not engaged …

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Protecting our NHS

Health & social care, Local, National issues, News

25 March 2015

4 minute read

1,870 views

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Scores of local people have written to me over the past few weeks to ask where I stand on our NHS – whether I will fight privatisation and support a well-funded, public health service in the future. Put simply, as your Labour MP I will back the NHS as a public health service and ensure it can provide the care we all rely on. I am absolutely committed to protecting our NHS for the reason the …

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A tale of two clean ups…

Birmingham, Communities, Local, News, Northfield area

20 March 2015

3 minute read

1,472 views

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This week I joined City Council Cabinet member Lisa Trickett and Longbridge Councillor, Andy Cartwright on a visit to meet Frankley Street Champions. Frankley Street Champions are a brilliant example of local people getting together to make a difference in their area, organising community clean ups and projects to protect the local environment – as well helping lots of individual residents …

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How ‘dissolution’ affects you

Birmingham, Local

19 March 2015

1 minute read

1,499 views

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The General Election will take place on May 7th 2015. Parliament will be “dissolved” from March 30th and it will not sit again until after the result of the General Election is known. I have written to constituents who have contacted me during the past five years to explain how the dissolution of parliament affects them. You can read a copy of this letter here:  Ricard Burden …

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10 Years on from MG Rover Collapse – My Parliamentary Debate

Birmingham, Jobs, business & economy, Local, MG/Rover/Longbridge, Motor industry, Motor industry / motorsport, National issues, News, Northfield area, West Midlands

19 March 2015

3 minute read

2,083 views

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April 2015 will mark ten years since the collapse of MG Rover in Longbridge. I know people around here will never forget it. When the company closed in 2005 six thousand people lost their jobs and were left utterly exposed. But the impact went beyond those workers – the collapse affected whole families, and the community that MGR had been at the heart of for a century. This week I secured a …

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Northfield Pool to be rebuilt on existing site

Birmingham, Communities, Culture, media and sport, Health & social care, Local, Local government, National issues, News, Northfield area

17 March 2015

4 minute read

1,911 views

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News that the Birmingham City Council will rebuild Northfield Pool and Leisure Centre on the existing site puts an end to months of speculation following last year's public consultation on the issue. You can read some of the background to the issue here. During that consultation, many residents and traders emphasised the importance of retaining a central Northfield location for the new leisure …

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Labour’s animal welfare pledges

Animal welfare, Birmingham, Local, National issues

10 March 2015

1 minute read

1,661 views

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This weekend saw Birmingham host Crufts’ Dog Show, and with a large number of constituents regularly getting in touch about animal welfare, when better to share Labour’s animal welfare commitments!

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