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 former Facebook page. My current Facebook account is here.
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Never forget the crimes against humanity that international inaction allowed Radko Mladic to commit in Bosnia and Herzegovina. When the world says “Never Again” we have to mean it.
He was held responsible for the killing of over 8,000 Muslim men and boys
Read in full: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/rakto-mladic-dead-bosnia-serbia-genocide-b3040343.html
RIP Dolly
More than 100 French and British former diplomats have said Palestine is being erased in front of the world’s eyes and called for urgent action including trade and arms sales bans to press Israel to accept a Palestinian state.
This is pitch-perfect.
Skepticism over statements on these matters is appropriate, but this appears to be different. We cynics on Jerusalem matters are always right – until we aren't.
The real test comes when the actual measures are announced and put in place. Let's hope.
E-1
Today I was pleased to welcome the Environment Secretary Hilary Benn to the Northfield constituency. He was here to visit Frankley – one of the local areas severely hit by floods last year. The government has earmarked funds for the area under its flood protection scheme. During the visit we met with community leaders, Frankley Parish Councillors and staff from Birmingham City Council and the …
Richard Burden MP last night confronted Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Barak at the Labour Party Conference. Mr Burden called on him to respond to the findings of the recent UN report that Israel committed war crimes in Gaza during ‘Operation Cast Lead’. Mr Burden, Chair of the Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group, also presented the Israeli Minister with a copy of the group’s …
Richard Burden MP, Chair of the Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group (BPAPPG), has welcomed the findings of a United Nations’ investigation into the conduct of Israel and Hamas during Operation Cast Lead. The 22-day long conflict claimed the lives of over 1,300 Palestinians, 352 of them children. The civilians and infrastructure of the Gaza Strip bore the brunt of Israel’s assault …
The long awaited report of the independent inquiry into the collapse of MG Rover has finally been published today. Like most other people, I have found it frustrating that we have had to wait over four years for this inquiry to be completed and astonishing that it has cost around £16m. I have always supported publication of its findings and I am relieved that today we can finally see what is in …
The long awaited report of the independent inquiry into the collapse of MG Rover in 2005 was published at 9AM this morning. The report is now available online: Read Volume I of the report Read Volume II of the report The report is over 800 pages long. There is a 20 page conclusion which provides an overview of some of the matters discussed in far greater depth earlier in the report. Read the …
The MG Rover inqury report will be published at 9AM today. A copy of the report will be made available online here as soon as possible.
Below is an article I wrote for today’s Birmingham Post ahead of the publication of the report – about MG Rover, the report and looking forward to a new and sustainable future for Longbridge.
Local people have waited over four years for the MG Rover Inquiry to be completed. I have always supported publication of its findings. That will finally be happening on Friday. Like most other people, I have found it frustrating that the inquiry has taken so long and astonishing that it has cost around £16m. Lessons should be learnt from this about the conduct of future Companies Act …
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has today announced that it does not intend to begin a criminal investigation into the collapse of MG Rover. The SFO was asked to review events which led to the collapse of the MG Rover Group following a report by the independent investigators appointed by the government following the collapse of MG Rover in April 2005. I’m pleased the SFO has looked at this matter …
Earlier today I raised the issue of the report into the collapse of MG Rover with Harriet Harman – Leader of the House of Commons – during Business Questions. I asked her to confirm that the report would be published as soon as possible and that the government will do everything they can to ensure former workers can receive money from the trust fund. The minister assured me that “if …
The government has today announced that the findings of the independent inquiry into MG Rover will be referred to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). The announcement – confirmed in a written statement to the House of Commons earlier today – said that the SFO has been asked to review events which led to the collapse of the MG Rover Group. It follows a report by the independent …
I have today learnt that the report into the collapse of MG Rover has finally been submitted to the government. Following the collapse of MG Rover in 2005 an independent inquiry was established to investigate what led to the collapse. After over four years, the independent inspectors appointed by the government have submitted their report to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and …
One thing has been missing from so much of the comment that has followed last week’s European and local elections results – a debate about Labour’s policy. People on both sides of the debate about Gordon Brown’s leadership have claimed the argument is about leadership style and communication, not policy. It’s just that one side claims a change of leadership is necessary to convince the electorate …
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.
