This week, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed to start a new chapter for Britain’s economy.
After 14 years of Conservative mismanagement of the economy, working people are worse off. Ordinary people have been paying the price for Tory failure, with rising bills, soaring rents and mortgage payments, and prices still going up in the shops.
The next Labour government will change this narrative. We will deliver economic recovery on strong and secure foundations to unlock growth, spread prosperity across the UK and make working people better off. Labour’s approach will be guided by three imperatives:
Guaranteeing stability
Stimulating investment through partnership with business
Reform to unlock the contribution of working people and the untapped potential throughout our economy
Business investment is the lifeblood of economic growth, yet the Tories’ mismanagement of the economy has led to a loss of business confidence. Labour will promise a new partnership with business to create jobs, build infrastructure and spread prosperity beyond the South East.
Planning reform, strengthening devolution and a new industrial strategy will take centre stage in Labour’s plan for growth.
Our new National Wealth Fund, set up to invest in the industries of the future, will also create half a million jobs across the UK.
The Conservatives cannot be trusted on the economy. Labour is the party of economic growth and fiscal responsibility.
Dentistry
The Primary Care Minister revealed this week that there’s a “high likelihood” that the Government will be unable to meet its pledge to deliver 2.5m dental appointments.
It’s clear that the Tories so-called “dental recovery plan” is already falling apart. This is a Government that is out of ideas and out of time. NHS dentistry won’t survive five more years of Conservatives.
Only Labour will be able to rescue NHS dentistry and reform it in the long term. We will deliver 700,000 urgent dentists appointments, a targeted recruitment scheme for areas most in need, a supervised toothbrushing scheme for 3–5-year-olds and reform to the dental contract.
More in the Independent:
14 years of Conservatives has left NHS dentistry to rot. The inability to access an NHS dentist has meant that many patients are suffering from dental problems that could have been treated or avoided, and 1 in 10 people have attempted their own dental work.
If you have a story about the consequences of being unable to access NHS dentistry that you’d like to share with me, please e-mail preet.gill.mp@parliament.uk or ring my office at 0121 392 8426.
Public Health Conference
It was great to deliver a keynote speech at the LGA/ADPH/FPH Annual Public Health Conference, in which I talked about Labour’s plan to build a prevention-first health service.
Mentoring
This week, it was lovely to meet with students as part of a mentoring programme I’m involved in, run by The Faith Belief Forum.
The topic the students have chosen is international development, a brief I was privileged to cover in Labour’s Shadow Cabinet. It was great to listen to their views and answer their questions on the topic.
Labour Women's Network
Last Sunday, I was proud to attend the graduation of Cohort 6 from the Jo Cox Women in Leadership Scheme.
Years ago, I graduated from the Jo Cox Women in Leadership scheme. The programme is brilliant and plays a key role in ensuring women are visible across politics; in local government, Parliament and unions.
University of Birmingham
It was great to pay another visit to students at the University of Birmingham this week. I really enjoyed speaking to Politics students about my journey into politics and how I represent residents of Birmingham Edgbaston in Parliament.
Avanti West Coast
Earlier this week, Northern leaders called for Avanti to be stripped of the West Coast Mainline Franchise.
It’s shocking that, despite failing passengers again and again, the Government recently awarded Avanti West Coast a nine-year contract extension.
Labour has been clear that that if Avanti is in breach of its contractual obligations, then it should be stripped of that contract. Ministers need to explain whether this is the case and why they are refusing to act.
With Labour passengers will come first. Rail franchises will be brought back into public ownership as contracts expire or are broken.
My letter to the Transport Secretary:
Local News
MHWC
Next week, the council’s Mobile Household Waste Centre will be visiting Simmons Drive, B32 1SL, on Monday 25th March, and Ferncliffe Road, B17 0QG, on Wednesday 27th March. The centre will be open from 7am to 12:30pm, so do come along if you have bulky household waste to dispose of!
Campaigning
It was great to do my weekly doorknock in Harborne this Friday. Chatting to constituents on the doorstep, it’s clear that people are ready for change and believe that Keir Starmer’s Labour is the party that can give Britain its future back.
If you would like to support me campaigning and join me doorknocking, please contact: officeofpreetgill@gmail.com.
Best wishes,
Preet Kaur Gill MP
Birmingham Edgbaston covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne and Quinton