My Weekly Update - 5 April

I hope everyone had a pleasant and peaceful Easter weekend. 

This week, Labour has exposed the Tories’ tax double whammy, warning families that they are set to be £870 worse off under Rishi Sunak’s plans.  

Every time the Tories claim that they’re cutting taxes they insult the intelligence of working families. For every extra £10 people are set to pay in higher tax they are only going to get £5 back, and the average household will still be £870 worse off. 

Income tax and national insurance thresholds have been frozen under Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt, leaving millions more British families to pay more in tax. The Conservatives are also imposing a £5 billion hike on council tax on households across the UK. 

Britain deserves better than 14 years of Conservative economic failure. Rishi Sunak should end the chaos and call an election. It's time for change – it's time for Labour. 

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The House Magazine

This week, I penned an article for The House magazine about the Government’s terrible record on tackling youth vaping.  

Legal loopholes and weak enforcement mean that, on this government’s watch, children are getting hooked on nicotine. The number of habitual young vape users has trebled in just 3 years – that's 140,000 more children addicted to nicotine. 

Labour will come down like a ton of bricks on companies profiting at the expense of our children’s health and make sure the vaping industry can’t market to kids. 

The link to read the article online will be made available shortly. 

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Dentistry 

After 14 years of the Conservatives, new polling shows public satisfaction in NHS dentistry has hit a historic low. 

NHS dentistry won’t survive 5 more years of Conservatives. Only Labour has a plan to rescue NHS dentistry and reform it in the long-term. We will deliver 700,000 urgent appointments, a targeted recruitment scheme, supervised toothbrushing for 3-5-year-olds, and contract reform. 

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Local News

Brsk

Broadband provider Brsk have erected poles in my constituency despite residents’ clear objections. I am continuing to push for more input from residents and local authorities over the siting of these poles, especially since there are other means to provide these services without having obstructive infrastructure.  

See my letter to the Secretary of State below:

More in The Guardian:

The Guardian

Library Closures

This week, the council launched a public consultation inviting people who live, work, or study in Birmingham to input into the future of the library service. 

The current budget challenges facing the council has meant the authority has had to reassess the library services it will be able to provide. Libraries play a vital role in enriching communities, so I will be campaigning for all the libraries in my constituency to stay open. 

Link to the consultation: 

Have Your Say

See my letter to the council about library closures:

Carers  

On Saturday 6 April, unpaid carers who are balancing their caring responsibilities with paid employment will have a new statutory right to take up to five days of unpaid Carer’s Leave from work each year. 

For more information, you can find advice and guidance from Carers UK here:

More Info

Job Vacancies

I am currently hiring a policy assistant and constituency caseworker to join my team in Birmingham Edgbaston. 

If you want to be part of a diverse and dynamic team and are passionate about making a difference, please apply before 12th April. Job adverts linked below. 

Policy Assistant

Caseworker

Campaigning

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