“Good growth in every postcode and hope in every heart.” The last words of Andy Burnham’s speech yesterday were quite something. Even for someone who has been around the world of politics for as many years as I have, this was the most inspirational speech I have heard from a prospective Party leader in a very long time.
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.