Welcome to my website. This website is regularly updated with news of my work both in Birmingham and in Parliament. You can also keep up to date with what I’m doing by signing up to receive a copy of my regular newsletter here.

I am always keen to hear from constituents. If you would like to let me know your views, or you have a case that you would like me to look in to then please do get in touch.    
 

• Green light for Bournville College (26 June 2009)
  We have today heard that the relocation of Bournville College to the former MG Rover site at Longbridge has been given the green light. Earlier today the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) announced that 13 college projects – including Bournville College – will progress to the next stage of development. I am delighted by the news. Everybody knows of the recent difficulties with LSC budgets for further education. Lots of people have been working hard to take up the case of Bournville College – and particular praise is due to the College themselves for the work they have done. As...
  
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• MG Rover Inquiry (25 June 2009)
  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 Skills. In reply to a parliamentary question I tabled asking about the progress of the inquiry, the Business Minister Ian Lucas said: ‘The inspectors delivered their report on 11 June 2009. It will be for my...
  
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• Labour’s future – yes it is about our politics (9 June 2009)
  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 in the Parliamentary Labour Party about Gordon Brown’s leadership have claimed the argument is about leadership style and communication, not policy. In contrast to the problems that Labour faced in the decades before 1997, both sides argue that Labour now has a settled consensus. It’s just that one side claims a change of leadership is necessary to convince the electorate about what we are saying, while...
  
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I publish a regular newsletter to keep you up to date with my work in Birmingham and in Parliament. Sign up to receive a copy by email here.

I write a monthly Westminster Diary
column that is published in the Bromsgrove Standard and online here.

Here is a selection of what I’ve doing in the past week. It is not fully comprehensive, but I hope it gives you a flavour of some of the things I have been up to.

16TH - 22ND MAY 2009

• Joined the Unite for Jobs March through Birmingham and spoke at the rally in Centenary Square (read more here)  
• Held a debate in the House of Commons calling more action to tackle educational underachievement of white pupils from disadvantaged areas (read more here)
• Met with Birmingham City Council's Development Department to monitor progress on the regeneration of South Birmingham
• Met with Job Centre Plus to discuss actions being taken and possible improvements to service to constituents during the recession
• Published a report of the findings from the delegation of MPs led I to Israel, Gaza and the West Bank earlier this year (read more here) and chaired a discussion meeting with international lawyers and academics from around the world on the legality of the Israeli occupation
• Co-sponsored a Bill in the House of Commons introduced by Tom Levitt MP to ensure that proper standards are upheld in arrangements between government agencies and voluntary and community organisations
• Made various representations and took up a range of issues on behalf of constituents including housing, benefits, the economy, animal welfare, discrimination and education

- - -  NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING SURVEY NOW ONLINE  - - -  NHS SURVEY NOW ONLINE  - - -
I am always keen to hear from constituents and I regularly send out surveys on various issues - like crime or health - to find out your views. You can now also complete these surveys online here.