Former
Welcome to my website and blog.
You can read a bit more about who I am and what makes me tick here. A summary of the work I did when I was Labour MP for Birmingham Northfield between 1992 and 2019 can also be found here.
The older posts on here date from my time as an MP but I have continued to blog since leaving Parliament.
The opening paragraphs of my blog posts appear at the bottom of this page in reverse date order. The “Read on” buttons take you to what I have written in full. My posts below also contain links to articles I have written and which have been published elsewhere, together with posts imported from my own Facebook page.
To view posts on a specific subject, from both during and after my time in Parliament, please click one of the buttons below.
These are the main subjects on which I’ve written. Click here to view the full list of categories.
Here is the link to my Bluesky account, and here is the link to my Twitter/X account. You can also view my Facebook page and LinkedIn profile.
Click on ‘Contact’ below to get in touch with me.
This feed refreshes intermittently. Please log in to X (Twitter) to view my newest tweets in full.
Why the voice of patients must stay independent.
My response to important new report from @TheKingsFund
While the eyes of the world are on Iran, Israel is using the opportunity to deepen its illegal occupation of the West Bank…
BREAKING: Overnight, under cover of the Israel–Iran war, Israel allocates another 574 million ILS (≈$155m) to settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, and 9 million ILS (≈$2.4m) to the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, spearheading attacks on humanitarian organisations.
In
People in #Gaza are still living in dire conditions while humanitarian aid is being blocked.
On 28 February, the Israeli authorities closed all crossings into the Gaza Strip, raising concerns about food security and fuel supplies needed to sustain humanitarian operations.
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 …
Tomorrow - 5th July 2013 - marks the 65th anniversary of the founding of the NHS. The NHS remains an incredible institution to this day, providing free health services to millions of people every day. But the NHS today is suffering from an A&E crisis that proves that the Tories just can’t be trusted with our health service. The creation of the NHS in 1948 is one of the country's - and Labour’s …
As the economic landscape continues to look bleak, and long term unemployment continues to rise, today I’m outlining my plan to get people in the Northfield area back into work. Named “The Climb Project”, the initiative aims to develop a new economic vision for the area and drive action on jobs and growth today. The foundation of the Climb Project is a new local multi-sectoral partnership that …
Following the success of my first ‘Ask Me Anything’ session I am delighted to announce that my second AMA will take place between 5.30 – 6.30pm on Monday 15th July. For those of you who did not take part first time around, I will be online, waiting to give live answers from anyone who posts on my Facebook & Twitter Pages during the hour. As the title of the event suggests, I will take …
Opening a debate on the controversial use of 0845 and 087 numbers by ministerial departments this morning, I called for the government to end the use of high cost phone lines. I have been contacted by local people understandbly irate that calling government departments leaves them with sky high bills. After questioning government departments about their use of these numbers, I have been shocked …
Today there are hundreds of thousands of disabled and older people who are not getting the social care support they need to live their lives with dignity and independence. What is more, carers up and down the country are not receiving the recognition or rewards they so thoroughly deserve. The need for a Care and Support Bill has been long overdue. So I am glad the Coalition has put forward …
Labour leader, Ed Miliband and Shadow Housing Minister, Jack Dromey MP for Birmingham Erdington, joined me on a visit to St Modwen’s development at Longbridge on Saturday (22 June).
Ed was here to see the progress being made in the area before making his speech to the National Policy Forum in Birmingham.
Today I was at Sainsbury’s Northfield for the announcement that the Lifeline Food Bank is the store's Charity of the Year. The food bank will receive a year’s worth of fundraising and awareness support from the retailer. Joined by the founder of the food bank Pastor Stephen Merrick, local Labour councillors and Sainsbury's staff, we kicked off fundraising with a food donation drive in the store …
Alongside 17 other Midlands MPs from across all parties, I signed a letter calling for George Osborne to use next week's spending review to announce major new funding for regional development. Coined the 'single pot' by Lord Heseltine in his No Stone Unturned report on growth last year, the fund aims to revive regional economies in places such as the West Midlands.
Yesterday in parliament we debated the importance of the arts and creative industries - not only for the economy but for people's lives. I called on the government to invest and harness Birmingham's innovation and talent - especially by ensuring the BBC has a real and long term presence in our region. We need more programmes produced here, and more representation of local people on the TV screens …
Welcomed local @unibirmingham students Claire and Becky to Parliament today for 2nd stage of their #Parliamentors programme placement
— Richard Burden MP (@RichardBurdenMP) June 18, 2013
Health for Life event – children from Forestdale and Fisher schools on course for healthy future pic.twitter.com/Bjx20XFNNo
— Richard Burden MP (@RichardBurdenMP) June 18, 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.
