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 have secured a debate for later today in the House of Commons to highlight the issue of underachievement of white disadvantaged pupils. White pupils are the largest underachieving group in Birmingham and across the UK. Whilst almost half of White British pupils not on free school meals (FSM) achieved at least 5 A* – C grades at GCSE in 2007 – the same as the national average for all …
In the last recession young people were left on the scrapheap. I am determined that this should not happen this time. Every young person deserves a fair deal. That is why I have welcomed the government’s guarantee that every young person who would otherwise be long term unemployed gets a job or training. Labour’s Budget for Jobs announced a new £1bn Future Jobs Fund which aims to create 150,000 …
As the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Electoral Reform I am very pleased to be able to announce the publication of the Review of Voting Systems (Condensed) which the Group has just published with the help of the Electoral Reform Society. The APPG on Electoral Reform exists to foster discussion on, and support the cause of, electoral reform. I am keen that it is voters …
I welcome today’s Government announcement of a £1billion package to help families cut their fuel bills. These measures will make a real difference for people – including many of my constituents in Northfield. I am particularly pleased that these programmes will be funded primarily by a £910 million contribution from the energy companies. As you may know, I am one of several Labour MPs who have …
The annual Northfield Constituency Convention took place on Saturday 28 June. This year’s theme focussed on community safety and what is being done to make Northfield safer. Knife crime has recently dominated the headlines. It is a very serious issue – Richard recently wrote about it in his Westminster Diary (online here). But it is not the whole picture. And at the end of June people in …
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.