The House of Commons Education Select Committee have published an important report on educational underachievement by children in white working class communities. This is a key issue for the Northfield area, and one that I’ve been looking into for years. In 2009 I held an adjournment debate on the problem after a report funded by Birmingham City Council revealed that a high number of white …
The World Cup has started and, to celebrate, it was good to visit St Brigid’s School in Northfield on Thursday. They were holding their own World Cup match. It was St Brigid’s England team against St Brigid’s Rest of the World team. It was a close match and England won 3-2. A good omen? I hope so.
Responding to the Government’s announcement for investment in Ultra Low Emission Vehicles from 2015-2020, Labour’s Shadow Roads Minister Richard Burden MP, said:
“We need to cut emissions on our roads if we are going to meet our climate change targets and improve air quality. But this Government has badly mismanaged funding for low emission vehicles, missing their investment target for 2010-2015.
Polling day is now less than a month away. On 22 May, people in Northfield have the chance to ensure your views are heard and make a real difference in local City Council and European elections.
On this Mothers day, families would be forgiven for thinking they’re in for a £2000 subsidy on their childcare costs under plans recently announced in the Budget. Whilst any new money to help families facing soaring childcare costs is welcome, this Coalition con should not fool mums and dads in Birmingham.
Last week, I joined Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt to visit Jervoise Primary School, near Weoley Castle, following their recent successful Ofsted inspection.
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.