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.
Good Growth in every postcode and hope in every heart.” Thoughts on Andy Burnham’s Manchester speech
Today’s report from the Independent Inquiry into white Working Class Educational outcomes, chaired by Baroness Estelle Morris, is welcome. The issues are long-standing – as I identified from my own experience as a Birmingham MP over 15 years ago
Birmingham Commemoration of Srebrenica Genocide, organised by @bhuknetwork Wednesday 1st July:
Wow! Over 5,000 majority over the total vote for Reform, Restore and Conservatives combined. Well done Andy! Thank you, people of Makerfield! 🌹
For the last two years I have been raising concerns about Formula 1's decision to go ahead with the Bahrain Grand Prix at a time when there are such profound issues with the country's human rights record, and when the race has been a focus for discontent. I was therefore surprised to read two articles on the UK Embassy in Bahrain’s website giving a very one sided and – I thought – questionable …
On Monday and Tuesday next week (20th & 21st May) the House of Commons will debate and vote on the Report Stage and Third Reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. I have received many letters and emails – both for and against the Bill – urging me to vote one way or another. Marriage is an important means through which couples can publicly make a long term commitment to …
To celebrate the forthcoming launch of Carers Week, 10-16 June 2013, I teamed up with actress Lynda Bellingham to recognise the contribution carers make to Northfield.
Attending an event in Parliament to launch the national awareness campaign, Carers Week, I wanted to show my support to the hundred thousand carers who are provide vital support to people in Birmingham today.
With Jenny Wilkes of #BBC on set of “Doctors”: Birmingham’s Drama Village #CreativeBirmingham birminghamculture.org/news twitter.com/RichardBurdenM…
— Richard Burden MP (@RichardBurdenMP) May 10, 2013
At @covcampus: Students learning on Harrier jets of yesterday, building hydrogen cars today & designing for tomorrow twitter.com/RichardBurdenM…
— Richard Burden MP (@RichardBurdenMP) May 9, 2013
Earlier today (8th May) was the State Opening of Parliament, where the Queen formally opens the new Parliamentary Session with a speech setting out the Government’s agenda and priorities for the next year. Unfortunately as anticipated the Queen’s Speech, which was one of the shortest in years, failed to recognise many of the problems concerning real people. It was a stark reminder that this out …
On Friday 3rd May I opened Northfield’s first ever ‘Time Bank.’ It is a bank that rewards people for sharing skills within the community – with time. Anyone can exchange an hour of their time for credit to withdraw when they require. Activities that are shared range from cooking, budgeting, gardening, childcare and arts training. I am proud to support a project that enables people of all ages …
Thanks to @mybcu School of Engineering, Design & Manufacturing for hosting me today. Innovation in @ideabirmingham twitter.com/RichardBurdenM…
— Richard Burden MP (@RichardBurdenMP) April 26, 2013
I am pleased to share with you the work that Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children have been doing in partnership with HSBC. A total of £91,000 has been raised which has directly benefitted 92 disabled and terminally ill Midlands children, including my own constituent Stephen. The project has funded a specialist panda chair for Stephen, helping him to sit upright. The family can see a real …
Today I went along to a local care home in the constituency as part of Good Care Week; a UK-wide annual awareness campaign which sees local initiatives come together to create a national presence with which to celebrate and promote excellence in social care and influence Government. It was great to meet residents and find out how important their carers are in enabling and supporting them in …
Met with @ofcom on proposed changes to @itvcentral region. To maximise local impact & reach, must link withbirminghamculture.org/news agenda
— Richard Burden MP (@RichardBurdenMP) April 23, 2013
Last Tuesday (16 April) I attended the launch event for Holocaust Memorial Day 2014. Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is commemorated each year on 27 January, marking the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death and concentration camp. HMD provides an opportunity for everyone to learn lessons from the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and subsequent genocides (in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and …
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.
