Richard Burden

Former Member of Parliament for Birmingham Northfield

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.

To view posts on a specific subject, from both during and after my time in Parliament, please click one of the buttons below.

Local
National
Motor
WORLD

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 view my latest Facebook posts here. I also have a LinkedIn profile.

Click on ‘Contact’ below to get in touch with me.

Contact
Recent tweets

This feed refreshes intermittently. Please log in to X (Twitter) to view my newest tweets in full.

Richard Burden Follow

Former MP/Shadow Minister.Chair https://t.co/0IKRce2GXY. Chair @RemSrebWestMids.Trustee @BritPalProject.Fellow @The_IMI. Ex Chair @MedicalAidPal.Own views

RichardBurden27
Retweet on Twitter Richard Burden Retweeted
johnsimpsonnews

John Simpson

Verified account @johnsimpsonnews ·
22 Aug

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.

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Retweet on Twitter Richard Burden Retweeted
danielseidemann

Daniel Seidemann

Verified account @danielseidemann ·
20 Aug

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

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Retweet on Twitter Richard Burden Retweeted
ed_miliband

Ed Miliband

@ed_miliband ·
19 Aug

The Israeli Government’s launch of tenders for the E1 settlement project is unacceptable and destructive. Britain will not stand back and accept the destruction of the two state solution. My statement:

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richardburden27

Richard Burden

@richardburden27 ·
27 Jul

Protecting the independent voice of patients and the public: How Yvette Cooper can demonstrate Andy Burnham’s new approach to government in practice:

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Latest posts

March Newsletter Brexit Update

Brexit
29 March 2019
3 minute read
1,406 views
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You may have already seen that I recently sent out my latest Brexit update covering recent developments in Parliament, which you can read here. Since then, we have had another tumultuous week with a lot going on in and around Parliament. On Monday, I spoke in the debate in the Commons about Brexit, and you can watch my speech here or read it here. I highlighted my concerns about a no deal Brexit …

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STATEMENT ON UK GOVT VOTES AT HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Middle East, World
22 March 2019
2 minute read
1,888 views
S

Any viable peace deal for Israel and Palestine needs to be based on respect for international law and human rights. Today’s decision by the UK Government to vote against all but one resolution on Israel-Palestine at the UN Human Rights Council is an unwelcome step away from that rights-focused peace. In one day, the Government has reversed years of policy on the self-determination and human …

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The UK government must vote to investigate Israeli actions in Gaza

Middle East
21 March 2019
2 minute read
1,633 views
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If the UK gives licence to violate international law with impunity, how does that reflect our promotion of human rights? By Lisa Nandy and Richard Burden First published in the New Statesman, March 21, 2019 Last year the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) voted to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate killings on the Gaza border. The UK government, regrettably, abstained on that …

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BREXIT UPDATE – MARCH 2019

Brexit, National issues, News
20 March 2019
5 minute read
2,016 views
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Brexit continues to dominate Parliament.  Regardless of your views on it, if you are confused by what is going on and frustrated with the seemingly unending Parliamentary wrangles, you are not alone. Many of us inside Parliament share those frustrations. In this update, therefore, I will try to explain the past week’s developments in as plain language as I can. Last Week’s events On Tuesday 12th …

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KNIFE CRIME

Birmingham, Local, National issues, News, Northfield area, West Midlands
5 March 2019
1 minute read
1,889 views
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Knife crime is nothing short of a national emergency and the Government need to treat it as such. Yesterday I said they should listen to Labour’s and the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposals for an emergency funding package so that we can address this problem in a consistent and effective way. My question to the Home Secretary here:

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STATEMENT ON HONDA SWINDON PLANT CLOSURE

Brexit, Motor industry / motorsport, News
19 February 2019
2 minute read
1,898 views
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The loss of Honda’s Swindon plant is a bitter blow to the automotive sector in the UK and devastating for the 3,500 people who work there. Representing the area of Longbridge, I know the impact that closure of car plant has on families whose livelihoods depend on it. The reasons for Honda’s decision today are very different to MG Rover back in 2005, but the affected families will today be …

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BREXIT REPORT

Brexit, Local, Motor industry / motorsport, National issues, News
31 January 2019
12 minute read
2,305 views
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  Where we are now In the Birmingham Mail in December, I set out my thoughts on the issues facing the country. I tried to address the real possibility that if Parliament remained unable to agree a way forward – there may be little alternative but to put the choices facing the UK back to the people for a final decision. So what has happened since then? The Brexit deal that Theresa May …

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JANUARY NEWSLETTER

Local, National issues, News
28 January 2019
10 minute read
1,793 views
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In Birmingham Northfield Police and crime meeting Last week I held a meeting on crime and policing in response to residents’ concerns in the Frankley and Great Park area of Longbridge. The meeting was well attended by local people and we were joined by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson as well as the Longbridge Neighbourhood Police Team. Thank you to all those who …

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HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

News
23 January 2019
1 minute read
1,586 views
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It was a privilege this week to add my name to the Holocaust Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust UK. It is important to commemorate those who died, but it is also important that we pay tribute to extraordinary individuals who survived and whose testimonies we must never forget.

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Recent Posts

Richard Burden

Avatar photo

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.

Get in touch

You can reach me by email at richard@richardburden.com or use the form on the Contact page to send me a message.