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Securing our Borders President Macron in Parliament This week it was fantastic to be in the room for the French President Emmanuel Macron’s address to Parliament. On taking office, the Government wasted no time in rebuilding Britain’s relations with our old ally France. This week, the PM invited the French President to a series of discussions focused on migration, defence, security and trade. Because of the measures the Government have taken, the French have prevented 12,000 small boat crossings this year alone. With a new specialist unit patrolling the northern French coastline and a new intelligence unit at Dunkirk, we’re undoing the damage the Tories left, making arrests and prosecuting the organised criminal gangs smuggling vulnerable people to Britain. Since last July, we have deported 30,000 people with no right to be here and illegal working raids and arrests are up 50%. By resetting our relationships across Europe, our government has made new levels of co-operation possible. This week it was agreed that for the first time, migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France - helping us to smash the business model of the people smuggling gangs. Since the small boat crossings began six years ago, returning people to France who have arrived in the UK illegally has not been possible. Now it is with this groundbreaking deal. Big win for West Boulevard! Community speed watch in Quinton After years of campaigning, I’m proud to announce that an averaging speed camera has finally been approved for B4121 West Boulevard. This is a huge win for our community, and it would not have been possible without your support. Back in 2021, I launched a speeding survey across Quinton and Bartley Green after hearing from many of you about the dangers posed by reckless driving. I received over 350 responses to the survey, which helped us build a powerful case which we took directly to West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council, lobbying for an averaging speed camera to be installed on West Boulevard. This campaign has always been about protecting lives. The tragic death of Lucy Atkins, a 20-year-old student who was struck and killed while walking her dog on West Boulevard in June 2024, brought the urgency of this issue into heartbreaking focus. This new camera is a step toward ensuring such a tragedy never happens again. Thanks to everyone who worked with me. Read more coverage about the campaign here . Birmingham Botanical Gardens Visiting the Botanical Gardens I was thrilled to learn this week that Birmingham Botanical Gardens has been awarded over £9 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards its major restoration Growing Our Green Heritage. I wrote to the National Lottery earlier this year to support their bid, and am delighted it has been a success. Growing Our Green Heritage aims to restore the garden’s historic glasshouse estate, alongside additional visitor and community recourses, in order to create place of horticultural excellence and outstanding green space. Please visit the Gardens' website for more information here . Investing in Britain At Lancaster House reception for the International Investment Summit last year First we raised a record £63 billion inward investment at the UK Investment Summit in October 2024. Then last month Amazon announced £40 billion investment in the UK over the next three years. This week, our partnership with France has led to another huge investment, this time by EDF into Sizewell C nuclear power station. It follows £14.2 billion funding confirmed at the Spending Review and takes Britain closer to ‘golden age’ of nuclear power. Altogether it means that since taking office, Britain has secured £120 billion of private investment. At peak construction, Sizewell C will support 10,000 jobs, and thousands more in the nationwide supply chain, and create 1,500 apprenticeships.  Lower energy bills, thousands more jobs and apprenticeships, energy security for Britain for the long term. Community Right to Buy Power has been hoarded in Whitehall for too long. Labour’s Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill - introduced to Parliament this week - changes that. With a new Community Right to Buy for local people with skin in the game. Proud to back this Co-op Party idea. Real power in the hands of local people. Best Start I’m absolutely delighted with the Prime Minister’s investment in early years provision. It’s exactly what our communities need. As a former Children’s Services Manager in Birmingham, I witnessed first-hand the transformative power of the last Labour government’s Sure Start Programme. It made a huge difference supporting families, and providing the foundations children need to flourish. Early years support boosts school readiness, fosters emotional resilience and confidence and reduces gaps in opportunity. Building on the legacy of Sure Start, we are opening Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority and joining up family services. 🧑🏻‍🍼 1,000 new Best Start Family Hubs will be up and running across the country by 2028 🏫 Strengthening partnerships between nurseries and schools to deliver more places in every community 👩‍🏫 A tax-free payment of £4,500 to attract and retain 3,000 more early years teachers in nurseries in the most disadvantaged communities. The difference a Labour government makes. Children's homes As a former Children's Service Manager in this city for over 18 years, I was really pleased to learn that Birmingham has been successful in securing a share of £53 million of capital match funding to create up to 200 additional open children’s home placements across England. This funding is to create safe, high quality, specialist open children’s homes provision to meet local need. This is intended to address a national shortage of suitable provision for children who have been deprived of their liberty. Under the last government, children have often been placed in unregistered children’s homes at high cost to local authorities (up to £63,000 per week) where their needs are not met and they remain a risk to themselves and others. This new investment demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to support local authorities to address the challenges they face in providing the right type of care for looked-after children. Transport funding for our region This week the Transport Secretary gave the green light to a raft of new projects, providing a huge boost for road and rail in our region. Backed by £92 billion investment, our Government is delivering the biggest boost to England’s transport infrastructure in a generation. Working people will gain better access to jobs and housing, with upgrades and road schemes supporting 25,000 jobs, 39,000 new homes and connecting 50,000 more people to the rail network.  With major funding for over 50 rail and road upgrades, Labour are cutting journey times and connecting millions of people across the country. Key projects in our region include: 🚗M54-M6 Link Road given the go ahead 🛣️Local roads, such as the A4123 Birchley Island 🚆The Midlands Rail Hub in Edgbaston Banning water boss bonuses Message from the Environment Secretary Steve Reed Labour has banned bonuses for water company bosses who let sewage pollute BournBrook and the River Rea in our constituency. Delighted to have spoken with Environment Secretary Steve Reed and will work closely with him to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas, for good. Bereavement leave for mums Labour's New Deal for Working People I’ve had three miscarriages. The last at 20 weeks. Until now, there was no legal right to time off for that grief. However, this week, through our Employment Rights Bill, the Government announced that it will recognise miscarriages before 24 weeks for the first time, giving women time off to grieve. A real, human shift. Proud to be a part of the government delivering this change. Read more about this news here . Tackling the climate crisis Meeting constituents in Whitehall It was great to speak with constituents this week about how Labour is tackling the climate and nature crisis. We have set up GB Energy, started a solar rooftop revolution on new-build homes, and are unlocking investment in clean energy through the National Wealth Fund. Read more about our Clean Power mission here . Pensions reform You work hard, and your money should too. That’s why in Parliament this week I backed the Government’s new Pension Schemes Bill, which could boost the pension pots of 1.6 million workers across the West Midlands by up to £31,000. Birmingham Bin Strike Earlier this week I spoke to the BBC about the news that talks with Unite have broken down. Unite have rejected every single offer put to them. Their demands risk leaving Birmingham with another equal pay liability like the one that has already caused havoc for residents. Coffee morning At the coffee morning on Saturday On Saturday, I held a great coffee morning at St John’s Church, Harborne. It was a pleasure to hear directly from constituents about the wide range of issues that matter to them, and how we can work together to tackle them. Thanks to everyone who attended, and to church staff for so warmly hosting us. I will be doing more coffee mornings across all our constituency's wards, so look out for the next one coming near you. St Germain's Community Fun Day Take a look at the flyer to see what's on at St Germain’s tomorrow. Weekly round-up Here’s eight things Labour’s Plan For Change delivered last week: ❤️‍🩹 10 Year Health Plan launched to make the NHS fit for the future and benefit every community across the country. This includes: More care delivered in communities through new Neighbourhood Health Centres Better dental care for your children Better GP access, and no more 8am scramble World-first partnership with food retailers and manufacturers to make the healthy option easier and bring down obesity Revamped NHS app to make managing healthcare as easy as online banking 🩺 4.2 million additional NHS appointments since July – that’s 100,000 more appointments a week than the Tories 🏡 300,000 social and affordable homes to be delivered through our new £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme 👷380,000 jobs created since July 🚔 500 towns to benefit from Safer Streets summer blitz with increased police controls and local action to tackle town centre crime and anti-social behaviour 🎨 On track to deliver over 4,000 places in school-based nurseries in September, saving working parents £7,500 and giving children the best start in life 👶 Full review of parental leave launched 👷 45,000 jobs to be created by 2030 as party of Labour’s Onshore Wind Strategy Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

One Year of a Labour Government 🌹 Today marks 365 days since you re-elected me as the MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, and the first Labour government in 14 years. To mark the occasion, I wanted to tell you about ten things we have delivered for our constituency so far. 1)   NHS The Tories left our NHS broken – the highest waiting times in history and patient satisfaction at an all-time low. I was elected on a pledge to change that. I’m proud to say that in Birmingham, we’re already making great progress. Since July, nearly 20,000 people have come off waiting lists at our local NHS Trust already. And with the launch of our 10 Year Health Plan this week, this is just the start. Waiting Lists at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust 2)   Crime I promised you safer streets and more police back on the beat. The Conservatives gutted neighbourhood policing. From 2010, West Midlands Police lost 2,200 officers under Tory austerity. This year under Labour, West Midlands Police has funding to put over 300 neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs back on our streets. 3)      Living standards After Liz Truss crashed the economy, the cost of living soared. For people in Birmingham, it meant higher rents, higher mortgages, and higher prices at the shops. After 14 years of the Conservatives, most workers hadn’t had a proper pay rise in years. We’re changing that. Wages grew more in our first 10 months in office than in the last 10 years under the Tories.   And because we raised the national minimum wage in April, 44,800 Brummies got a pay rise worth up to £1,400 a year. 4)      Opportunity We promised to give children the best possible start in life. 1 in 3 children in Birmingham are growing up below the poverty line – limiting their life chances and holding them back. As well as introducing school nurseries, capping school uniform costs and rolling out free breakfast clubs in every primary school, this government has expanded eligibility for free school meals too – putting £500 into the back pockets of parents. In Birmingham, Edgbaston, that means up to 7,450 children will receive free school meals in the 2026 school year. 5)      Jobs We’re delivering good jobs for Brummies too. Earlier this year, the threat of US tariffs put thousands of jobs in the West Midlands’ proud automotive sector at risk. But thanks to the deal negotiated by our Prime Minister with President Trump, those jobs have been protected. The UK-US trade deal that came into effect this week has helped secure 12,200 jobs at the Jaguar Land Rover site in Solihull alone. While Nigel Farage said JLR deserve to go bust, Labour is protecting British jobs. 6)     Transport Under the Tories, places like Birmingham were let down. Across our city, bus routes were cut, fares went up, and journey-times lengthened. The last government’s promise of upgrades along Hagley Road in 2014 delivered only 300 metres of tram line in 10 years. At the Spending Review, Labour announced a new £2.4 billion transport treasure chest for our region. This will fund vital projects over the coming years – including a tram extension to the new Sports Quarter in Birmingham that can catalyse £3 billion of wider investment and create over 8,000 jobs. 7)     Homelessness Last year, the Labour government announced a record £1 billion of funding to tackle homelessness across England. £17.7 million was allocated specifically to Birmingham, including money for pilots to reduce the use of B&Bs as temporary accommodation. 8)     Education Children should go to school with hungry minds, not hungry bellies. For this reason I was thrilled that three schools in our constituency were selected to be early adopters of the government’s free breakfast clubs scheme, with more to come. At World's End Infants to launch their breakfast club 9)     Childcare On childcare, the last government made promises but not a plan. We’re getting on with the job. From September, parents can apply for 30 hours of free childcare, which will be available to up to 4,000 children across our constituency. 10) GPs At the election, I met dozens of constituents who complained that they couldn’t get an appointment with their GP. Under Labour in our first year, we have recruited 1,900 more GPs. And we have allocated £102 million for surgery repairs, including at Lordswood House Medical Centre, Bartley Green Medical Practice, the Quinborne and Ridgacre House Medical Centres. Since July, I have helped over 10,000 constituents, held 64 surgeries, voted 190 times and made nearly 200 contributions in Parliament. Brick by brick, we are building a better Britain. I will fight every day to make sure Edgbaston continues to get its fair share. BBC Politics Midlands Last Friday, I joined Elizabeth Glinka on Politics Midlands to talk about the week’s news. We discussed the national maternity scandal, welfare reforms and the Birmingham bins strike. My response on National Investigation into NHS Maternity Services Latest on the Birmingham Bins' Strike 10 Year Health Plan With Health Secretary Wes Streeting This week the government launched our 10 Year Health Plan to make the NHS fit for the future. We all know our health system is in crisis. If we don’t act now, we risk the NHS ceasing to exist as a publicly funded service, free at the point of use. But if we seize the opportunities provided by new technology, medicines, and innovation, then we can deliver better care for all patients - no matter where they live or how much they earn. Our plan will deliver three big shifts in how the NHS works: From hospital to community. From analogue to digital. From sickness to prevention. And it will tackle some of the enduring health inequalities plaguing our country, making sure that those in working class communities are no longer served last. In the years to come, we will be rolling out Neighbourhood Health Centres – a one-stop shop on your doorstep, providing health, care and employment support in every community. You can read the plan here . Protecting leaseholders Talking to constituents From talking to my constituents, I know that too many leaseholders are suffering from unreasonable service charges that turn homeownership dreams into nightmares. Our Plan for Change will give leaseholders the power to better hold their landlords to account, while we take steps to end this feudal system for good. Today we have launched a consultation on strengthening protections over these charges. Please have a look and respond if you’re affected here . Reform UK in Warwickshire Asked about Reform UK's antics on BBC Politics Midlands On Politics Midlands I was asked about the bizarre story that because Reform UK, who won in Warwickshire in the local elections, have just appointed an 18 year old as their Council Leader. As I said to the BBC, this isn’t work experience. Councils deliver incredibly important and complex statutory services including adult social care, children’s services and support for people with SEND. The people of Warwickshire deserve better. Read more here . Gov.UK App This week, the Government has just launched the GOV.UK App – one of the many tools we're developing to help build a modern digital government. The app: Makes it easier to access information about your local area. Helps you quickly find the services and updates you need. Lets you choose topics and personalise the app with the content that matters most to you. Please download it and let me know what you think , here . 20 Years of the APPG for British Sikhs Speaking at the event It was a great pleasure to celebrate the 20th birthday of the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Sikhs this week. The APPG is a cross-party group campaigning on issues that matter to Sikhs across the UK.  I chaired the APPG for seven years, from 2017-24. It was great to join Chairs past and present, the Faith Minister Lord Wajid Khan and the Minority Affairs Minister Arora from Punjab, Pakistan, as well as other MPs and the Vice-Chair of the Board of Deputies Andrew Gilbert, there to support. It was a great opportunity to reflect on we did with the APPG over the years. In 2019, we led on amendments made to the Offensive Weapons Bill to ensure that Sikhs can possess the Kirpan without facing discrimination.   We campaigned for a Sikh ethnic tick box in the 2021 Census, working with 112 Gurdwaras across the UK, to ensure the Sikh community is counted and government has an accurate picture of the people it serves. We promoted a Code of Practice on the Sikh Five Ks for employers and service providers, to ensure our beliefs and practices are respected in public life and in the workplace. In 2020, we published a report into Anti-Sikh Hate. After the fall of Kabul, we worked with the UK Government to get Afghan Sikhs out of the country to safety from the Taliban. We have campaigned since 2017 for the release of Jagtar Singh Johal from detention in India. We have hosted annual events to mark Gurpurab and Vaisakhi in Parliament. We continue to campaign to ensure that comprehensive data on Sikhs is gathered so policymaking is better informed where Sikhs have all too often been forgotten or ignored.   Here's to many more to come! Parental Leave Review This week, my Department launched the Parental Leave Review — a major step towards giving millions of families a better start in life. We’re committed to supporting working parents to make the choices that work for them, while simplifying a system that currently fails too many mums, dads and businesses alike. Read a write-up of the review here . Affordable Homes Doorknocking in the constituency Last month at the spending review, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a £39 billion investment to build more affordable homes - almost double what the Conservatives invested over the same period. This week, we have set out how this funding will deliver 300,000 social and affordable homes - with at least 60% for social rent – using the investment made possible by the Chancellor. Full details are here . Centenary Action Can you spot me? This week it was lovely to join fellow female parliamentarians in Westminster Hall to mark 97 years since women won the vote on equal terms with men. I'm extremely proud to be the 480th woman ever elected to Parliament, and the first ever Sikh woman. There’s still more to do, but it's important to honour how far we’ve come. Nursery Places from September At the election, we pledged to create thousands of new nursery places in schools, to relieve some of the strain from young families. From September, 4,000 new nursery places are coming under Labour. -          More support for working parents -          Better start for our children -          Practical change families can feel Welfare Reform Visiting Midland Mencap last month Earlier this week in Parliament I voted for the PIP and Universal Credit Bill at second reading. Hundreds of constituents have written to me about this in recent months, and I am very grateful to everyone who has got in touch to share their views. The current welfare system is broken and change needs to be made. However, as a result of opposition from MPs, campaigners and constituents, the changes to PIP originally included in the Bill are now going to be removed. Instead, the core changes in the Bill now focus on: Ending repeated assessments for people with severe or progressive conditions, tackling a long-standing concern about unnecessary reassessments. Delivering the biggest boost to out-of-work support since 1980, including the largest ever permanent increase to the base rate of Universal Credit. A single adult (25+) will see a £725 annual increase from UC, significantly boosting financial support for low-income households. These reforms are in addition to wider commitments already announced, including: £1 billion per year investment in employment, health, and skills support The new ‘Right to Try’ reforms, so people receiving disability benefits who want to try work can do so without fear or face reassessment. Reforms to employment rights to help more disabled people join or stay in work. Ongoing efforts to improve NHS access, so people disabled by treatable conditions get the care they need. Local News Phonebox Appeal With Rupert at the Harborne phonebox It was a pleasure to meet up with my constituent Rupert recently, who is campaigning to get the old phonebox in Harborne converted into a defibrillator hub. Already the appeal has raised nearly £700 of the £3,500 target. Let’s restore this piece of our heritage and save lives! You can donate here . Meeting LNR and West Midlands Railway This week, I met with London Northwestern & West Midlands Railway to discuss improving frequency of service on the Cross City Line and improving reliability across the whole network. Labour is putting customers first and bringing the railways back into public ownership. Chancellor's Dinner It's always wonderful to attend the Chancellor’s Dinner, marking 125 years since the founding of the University of Birmingham. An inspiring evening celebrating the global impact of this great institution. From ground-breaking research to generations of graduates changing the world. And I also bumped into the West Midlands Mayor! With Richard Parker, the West Midlands Mayor Weekly round-up Here’s nine things Labour’s Plan for Change delivered last week: 👩‍🏭 In an era of global economic instability, our Industrial Strategy delivers the certainty British businesses need. Labour is creating wealth, jobs and growth to change the lives of working people 🏥 Our NHS reforms will invest more money in areas experiencing the greatest poverty to tackle health inequalities and end the postcode lottery 💷 With our Labour Government, over 380,000 jobs have been created since July meaning more opportunities for working people 🚆 Our new landmark partnership will tackle mobile signal blackspots on trains with ultra-fast fibre optic cable on major rail lines. We're improving connectivity, productivity, and helping ensure more reliable and efficient rail services 🌍 Our Trade Strategy will deliver growth and prosperity, building on our trade deals with the EU, US, and India ✈️ We are investing in our national security by purchasing new F-35A fighter jets. This will support 100 businesses across the country and create more than 20,000 jobs 👨‍⚕️ Since last July, more than 6,700 additional mental health workers have been recruited so more people can access the support they need 🎥 We are investing £380 million in Britain's world leading creative industries to drive growth across our regions 🚢 For the 77th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush, Labour has appointed a Windrush commissioner, Reverend Clive Foster MBE, to be a trusted representative Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

Industrial Strategy launched Myself with business leaders at the Industrial Strategy launch This week the Government launched Britain’s new Industrial Strategy. The modern Industrial Strategy sets out a ten-year plan to boost investment, create good, skilled jobs and make Britain the best place to do business by tackling two of the biggest barriers facing UK industry: high electricity prices and long waits for grid connections. The government will back eight key sectors to drive long-term UK growth in partnership with business. These are: Advanced Manufacturing; Creative Industries; Clean Energy Industries; Digital and Technologies; Professional and Business Services; Life Sciences; Financial Services; and Defence. Across the country, Labour's plan means more than 7,000 British businesses will see their electricity bills slashed by up to 25% from 2027, as we continue to deliver our Plan for Change. The industrial strategy is huge for the West Midlands. Across our region, nearly a million people are employed in growth-driving sectors targeted by the strategy. It was therefore my pleasure to join business leaders in London for its launch, which I attended with the Business Secretary. Among others, it was my pleasure to bump into my constituent, Michaela, who is the CEO and founder of a company that has pioneered new fuel cell technology in green hydrogen! The Strategy has been warmly welcomed by industry, business leaders, thinktanks and unions alike. MAKE UK said it was “one of the most important days for British industry in a generation,” while the IPPR thinktank said “this government’s clear focus on clean energy, defence and advanced manufacturing shows it’s serious about going green to boost the economy and create good jobs outside of London.” After years of decline - factories shut, jobs offshored, communities left behind - it’s time to turn the page. Read more about what this means for our region here . Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds speaking at the launch in London Backing British Jobs British jobs and skills will be prioritised in the construction of new roads, railway lines, hospitals and schools across Birmingham and the West Midlands. Under Labour plans, announced this week, companies who bid for public contracts to build new infrastructure will have to show that they will create high quality British jobs or skills before winning a contract. It means £2.4 billion in local transport funding announced at the Spending Review won't just improve connections across our city and region, but spread good jobs and opportunity too. Read more about what this means for the West Midlands here . Myself, Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips visiting new hydrogen buses in Birmingham Awaab's Law introduced After I wrote to Birmingham City Council in 2022 This week, the Labour Government laid regulations to start the process to bring Awaab’s Law into effect. The tragic death of the toddler Awaab Ishak in 2020, caused by dangerous levels of damp and mould in his home, shocked the country. In Birmingham, we face widespread issues with damp and mould, due to the nature of our housing stock. Last year I discovered that more than 11,000 local authority homes in Birmingham have damp and mould. Awaab’s law will be a lasting tribute to his life and his parents’ courageous campaign on behalf of thousands of tenants living in unfit homes. No tenant should have to live with dangerous damp, mould, or other hazards. Labour promised that we would make housing safe and decent for everyone. That is exactly what we are doing. This Labour Government will make housing safe and decent for everyone. Tackling health inequalities Outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham As part of Labour’s Plan for Change, this week the Health Secretary set out how Labour’s investment and reform will accelerate the rebuilding of the NHS in working class communities. Billions freed up to move critical resources like medicines and equipment to regions that most need them. Major changes to how GP funding is distributed to help working class communities and coastal areas In parts of Birmingham, life expectancy can drop seven years in the space of a dozen bus stops. This Labour government is building a fairer Britain where everyone lives well for longer. Read more here . New National Security Strategy PM Keir Starmer at NATO Summit At the NATO Summit in the Hague, the Prime Minister made an historic commitment this week, alongside Allies, to spend 5% of GDP on defence and national security. Deepening our commitment to NATO and driving greater investment in our wider security and resilience. Working people will be more secure because of the historic commitment made by this Labour government at the NATO Summit to spend 5% of GDP on national security. Across the NATO Alliance, we stand united in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security. You can read more about our new National Security Strategy here . Iran Earlier this week, the Prime Minister spoke to the country after the US struck nuclear facilities in Iran. The PM is clear: Iran can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon - that is a threat to international peace and stability. In an interview the PM said it is crucial that we now de-escalate the situation, stabilise the region, and get all parties back around the table to negotiate. Recruiting 8,500 mental health workers At YoungMinds Parliamentary reception We promised to recruit more mental health workers. We have. Less than a year in, we're already 79% of the way to our target, with 6,700 recruited since July. And we're making it easier for patients to access support as part of our 10 Year Health Plan. Not getting the right support for your mental health isn’t just debilitating, it can hit a painful pause button on your life – stopping you working, enjoying time with family and friends, or living day-to-day life.    Patients have faced the crisis of access to mental health services for far too long, and this government is determined to change that through our plan to rebuild the NHS.   We are already over halfway towards our target of recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers, and through our upcoming 10 Year Health Plan we will get more people back to health and back to work. Read more here . International Trade Strategy Launched Speaking at a Trade Remedies Authority event in Parliament last year In addition to the launch of our Industrial Strategy earlier this week, the Labour Government has announced its first Trade Strategy since the UK left the EU.   In a world closing in, Britain is opening up. The new UK trade strategy backs exporters with: -          Modern digital tools -          Streamlined borders -          £20 billion boost for UK Export Finance Smart, ambitious, and built for growth. Read more about how we’re protecting small firms from cheap imports here . Reform UK's tax breaks for billionaires HMRC sign in Whitehall, London On Monday Reform UK announced a golden ticket for foreign billionaires to avoid the tax they owe in this country. Their so-called “Britannia Card” would let wealthy foreigners pay a £250,000 fee to live here exempt from all tax on their foreign assets, which tax experts estimate would cost the UK £34 billion. This would reduce revenues raised from the rich that would have to be made up elsewhere, through tax hikes on working families or through Farage’s promise to charge them to use the NHS. Farage has already racked up £80 billion in unfunded tax cuts. Just like the Tories, they have learnt nothing from the disastrous Liz Truss mini budget. It would be working people who pay the price. Quinton Street Surgery Windswept and interesting in Quinton! Earlier today, it was great to be out in Quinton for my weekly street surgery there — listening to residents and tackling local issues all year round. King Edward VI Foundation Awards Teachers at Lordswood Girls' School in our constituency Yesterday it was my pleasure to join the King Edward VI Foundation Awards at Edgbaston Stadium — an inspiring evening honouring the amazing staff and teachers who power the Trust’s success. Tech Accelerator success Visiting WMHTIA with West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker This week I was thrilled to learn that the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA) has exceeded its investment target, raising over £50 million. It means it has delivered £3.40 for every £1 of funding from Innovate UK. I met with start-ups receiving government funding through the Accelerator with West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker earlier this year. You can read more here . Political Therapy 1000 Trades in the Jewellery Quarter On Thursday 10th July, I will be taking part in a panel event with John Slinger MP and Alex Ballinger MP to discuss one year on from the 2024 General Election. Tickets are £10 and more details can be found at their website here . Weekly round-up Here’s some things Labour’s Plan for Change has delivered last week: 💷 Labour’s expansion of the warm homes discount means millions more families will get £150 off their energy bills this winter. 🏡 Labour is setting up the National Housing Bank. This will unlock £53 billion of private investment to build over half a million homes as a step towards building 1.5 million homes this Parliament. 🚆 Our new deal between British Steel and Network Rail will provide 337,000 tonnes of British Steel to build our railways - backing British manufacturing to rebuild the UK. 🎾 To inspire the next generation, we’re investing £900 million to back world-class sporting events and invest in grassroots facilities in every corner of the UK. 🏫 To drive growth in every part of the country, our 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy sets out this Government's long-term plan to renew our country including safer hospitals and modernised schools. As part of this, we have committed at least £725 billion of funding over the next decade. ⚽ Labour’s new School Sport Partnerships will ensure all young people have equal access to high-quality sport and extracurricular activity and give girls the same opportunity as boys to play sports at school. 🌊 £100 million in water company fines will be invested in local environmental projects to clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good. 🌍 The Prime Minister attended the G7 to deliver security for people back home. Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

Preet Kaur Gill MP has welcomed the news that British jobs and skills will be prioritised in the construction of new roads, railway lines, hospitals and schools across Birmingham and the West Midlands. Under Labour plans, announced in full today, companies who bid for public contracts to build new infrastructure will have to show that they will create high quality British jobs or skills before winning a contract. The news could see hundreds of billions of pounds of public money harnessed to boost jobs and drive growth across the country. The news will be particularly welcome in the West Midlands. In the Spending Review earlier this month, Labour announced billions of pounds worth of investment in new infrastructure. This included major investment in the West Midlands, with the government announcing £2.4 billion in local transport funding for the West Midlands Combined Authority, enabling the extension of the metro from East Birmingham to Solihull – as well as new funding for the Midlands Rail Hub, better linking Nottingham, Leicester, Birmingham and Cardiff. The changes proposed by Labour will mean that - where public contracts are awarded through this funding – companies will be expected to create good, British jobs or unlock skills in the local area. It’s estimated that £385bn worth of public contracts are awarded every year. Labour is also driving through changes to ensure that those delivering public contracts fulfil their obligations. A new process will see major contractors reporting on how they have boosted jobs, opportunities or skills in the building of major infrastructure. Preet Kaur Gill MP, Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said: “I’m delighted that Labour are making this common-sense change that will create good jobs and spread opportunity across Birmingham and the West Midlands. “Labour is rebuilding Britain with record funding for roads, schools and hospitals. It’s only right that the companies delivering these projects demonstrate how they’ll create good local jobs. “This is Labour’s Plan for Change in action.” ENDS Editor’s notes: In Labour’s consultation, launched on Thursday, the government will propose: Requiring contracting authorities to set at least one award criteria in major procurements which relates to the quality of the supplier’s contribution to jobs, opportunities or skills. Requiring contracting authorities to set at least one social value Key Performance Indicator (KPI) relating to jobs, opportunities or skills in major contracts and report on delivery performance against this KPI in contract performance notices. Requiring contracting authorities to use standard social value criteria and metrics selected from a streamlined list (to be co-designed with the public sector) in their contracts to make it easier to track the impact of social value commitments made by suppliers and to help them plan longer-term interventions.   Allowing contracting authorities to specify the area in which the social value is to be delivered by choosing between the location of a contracting authority’s area of responsibility, the location where the contract will be performed, or the location where the supplier is based.

Government slashes energy prices by 25% for manufacturers This Modern Industrial Strategy will double business investment in growth sectors to £240bn a year by 2035. This Industrial Strategy will make the UK the best country to invest in and grow a business, delivering on the Plan for Change.   The government has today unveiled the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, a bold 10-year plan to tackle the barriers holding back British businesses and unlock investment across the country.   As part of the announcement, energy costs will be slashed by 25% for eligible manufacturers, bringing prices in line with Europe and accelerating grid connections through the new Energy Price Relief Scheme.   Key measures include:   Energy prices cut by 25% for 1000s of businesses across the country Unlocking billions in business finance, including for SMEs through the British Business Bank and National Wealth Fund. Reforming the skills system to prioritise digital, engineering, and defence skills. Investing over £20bn in R&D for growth sectors Cutting regulation costs by 25% and streamlining planning for major projects.   The Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to promote business investment and growth and make it quicker, easier and cheaper to do business in the UK, giving businesses the confidence to invest and create 1.1 million good, well-paid jobs in thriving industries – delivering on this government’s Plan for Change.   The Strategy will focus on eight key growth sectors including advanced manufacturing and digital and technologies which support 917,000 jobs in the West Midlands.   The Strategy also identifies life sciences as a ‘growth-driving sector’, building on work led by Preet Kaur Gill MP and Al Carns MP to support life sciences by bringing together partners across the public and private sector.   Commenting on the announcement, Preet Kaur Gill MP, Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said:   “This is a game-changer for the West Midlands. By cutting energy costs and unlocking investment, this strategy will help local businesses grow, create high-quality jobs, and boost our economy.   “This means our proud manufacturing sectors can expand operations, and new investments in automotive, clean energy, digital and tech will bring opportunities for young people and skilled workers alike.   “The Strategy builds on the Spending Review and Infrastructure Plan, targeting support where it’s needed most and making it easier for all businesses to thrive. It aims to double business investment in growth sectors to £240bn annually by 2035.   “This is proof that Labour is delivering on its Plan for Change and committed to delivering the long term stability and investment that industry needs to grow.”   Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said :   “We’ve said from day one, Britain is back in business under this government and our Plan for Change is already delivering for working people.   “This Strategy will ensure the UK is the best place to invest and do business, delivering growth that puts more money in people’s pockets and pays for our NHS, schools and military.”   Regional Jobs in the West Midlands   Industrial Strategy growth-driving ‘ IS-8 ’ Sector Number of Jobs Advanced Manufacturing 279,000 Creative Industries 90,000 Clean energy 83,000 Defence 7,100 Digital and technologies 132,000 Financial services 60,000 Life Sciences 21,294 Professional and business services 245,000   ENDS   You can read more about the benefits of the Industrial Strategy in the West Midlands here.

Grooming Gangs Speaking to LBC about grooming gangs in April This week, Baroness Louise Casey concluded her national audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, commissioned by the Home Secretary. The Government has decided to accept all 12 of the recommendation in the report, including a new national criminal operation to get more perpetrators behind bars, and a new national inquiry, co-ordinating a series of targeted local investigations, to hold institutions to account for historic failings.  Group-based child sexual exploitation, committed by grooming gangs, is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable. Having spent years as a children’s services manager, I’ve witnessed first-hand how vulnerable young lives can be overlooked—trapped in a system slow to respond, and hesitant to confront the true scale of abuse.  Victims and survivors deserve justice, abusers need to be in jail and the public needs to know the truth. You can read the Home Secretary’s full statement here .  Welfare Reform Bill Welfare and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall The Government has introduced our welfare bill to Parliament, which will protect the most vulnerable and help households with an income boost.  The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill will provide 13-weeks of additional financial security to existing claimants affected by changes to the PIP daily living component, including those who their lose eligibility to Carers Allowance and the carer’s element of Universal Credit.  The 13-week additional protection will give people who will be affected by the changes time to adapt, access new, tailored employment support, and plan for their future once they are reassessed and their entitlement ends. This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP.  This government inherited a broken social security system, with costs spiralling at an unsustainable rate and millions of people trapped out of work. That’s why, through the introduction of this Bill; the government is fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot - putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.  Our Bill will also provide that:  Universal Credit standard rate will rise each year by CPI + 2.3–4.8% until 2030  UC & Employment and Support Allowance sickness/disability payments + ESA premiums are frozen until 2030  New sick UC claimants (after April 2026) will get £217 - current claimants keep £423  Severely disabled & terminally ill UC claimants will be protected from reassessment unless new evidence  Existing PIP claimants keep payments unless they fail the new test at reassessment (scoring four points on one task), then lose them after 13 weeks  You can read more  here .   Energy Bills The Government is expanding the Warm Home Discount meaning 250,000 more families in the West Midlands will get £150 off their energy bills this winter. Over 6 million households in total, including 900,000 families with children, will now be eligible for the discount.  Our Government is providing families with vital support with the cost of living and putting money in people’s pockets. Read more here .  National Housing Bank With Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner The Government has announced that 500,000 homes will be built through a new National Housing Bank, a publicly-owned body with £16bn of investment power. The trailblazing approach will see Homes England, the national housing and regeneration agency, able to issue government guarantees directly and have greater autonomy and flexibility to make the long-term investments that are needed to reform the housing market and deliver strong returns. Read more here .  Middle East Crisis Speaking in the Chamber The Prime Minister has held calls with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump and other world leaders to urge both Israel and Iran to step back and deescalate.  The Government is asking all British nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to register their presence with the Foreign Office. Our government is also sending Rapid Deployment Teams to Egypt and Jordan to bolster our consular teams in the region who are already supporting British nationals.   Air India Crash My intervention in Parliament in the Air India Crash I am deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic Air India crash in Gujarat. My thoughts are with the victims and all their families.  In the Chamber, I asked the Minister what reassurances he can provide my constituents that the UK government is supporting efforts to determine the cause of the crash.  The Minister informed me that the UK is supporting with an ongoing investigation to determine the reason for the crash. Foreign Office staff and expert teams are in Ahmedabad, offering support and guidance to British nationals and their families affected by the crash. The Government has set up a UK reception centre at the Ummed Hotel, close to Ahmedabad airport, where UK staff are on hand to help. You can read more here .     G7 Summit Prime Minister Keir Starmer with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy This week, the Prime Minister joined world leaders at the G7 summit in Canada.  The UK, along with other world leaders, recommitted their unwavering support for Ukraine in the fight against Russia’s illegal invasion.  The UK and US also added more to our Economic Prosperity Deal, with the Prime Minister securing commitments from President Trump on automotive and aerospace, in another boost for British jobs in industry and manufacturing.  Our deal will secure the future of our automotive sector and protect tens of thousands of jobs, including in the West Midlands. The CEO of JLR, who have manufacturing sites in the West Midlands, told the PM that their 44,000 workers are extremely relieved and pleased with our deal.  Our trade deals, like the ones with the US, India and the EU, are creating tens of thousands of jobs across various sectors and will deliver benefits to businesses. Read more here . British Steel With Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds I welcome the news that British Steel will be providing Britain’s rail tracks, protecting the jobs of thousands of steel workers.  The £500 million 5-year contract will see British Steel supply over 337,000 tonnes of rail track, helping cement the company’s future just 2 months after the government took emergency action to save the Scunthorpe plant from closure. You can read more here.   Aerospace The Government has announced over £250 million of joint industrial investment with industry for cutting-edge green aerospace tech projects at companies including Rolls-Royce and Airbus.  Figures show the UK aerospace sector supports 100,000 direct jobs and contributed £13.6bn to the economy in 2024, almost 50% up on 2014.  This investment will keep aerospace at the forefront of innovation, not only delivering economic growth but boosting the charge to net zero 2030. Read more here .  Decriminalising Abortion MPs voted to remove criminal penalties for women who end their own pregnancies outside of the existing legal framework, usually in crisis, often alone.  Abortion remains regulated, but women will no longer treated as criminals for making desperate decisions about their own bodies. Decriminalisation means treating abortion as a healthcare matter, not a criminal one.  I gave lengthy consideration to the new clauses which would decriminalise abortion. I do think that the current criminal law provisions are not fit for purpose now, and certainly not in relation to some of the cases referred to as part of the debate.   Consequently, I decided to abstain on these votes, with the view that further consideration of the key issues will be presented in due course.   Assisted Dying My speech opposing the Assisted Dying Bill This week, MPs voted in favour of the assisted dying bill. At Third Reading, I voted to oppose the assisted dying bill. Please read my full statement that I issued ahead of this historic vote: As we consider whether to put this Bill into law, now is the time for us to reflect on our solemn duty as legislators to protect the wellbeing of our communities and safeguard them from harm.   I have heard from nearly a thousand constituents, nearly all of whom oppose the Bill for a range of reasons.   I opposed the Bill at Second Reading. I set out my reasons, including those of principle, but also of a major concern about safeguarding that I could not see a way to being addressed through amendments to the Bill.   Far from issues of safeguarding being improved in Committee, many of the provisions have been weakened.   My concerns about the Bill are very clear.   I am greatly concerned that despite the early insistence on the importance of the High Court stage safeguard, it has been removed from the Bill, fundamentally altering the basis on which Members voted at Second Reading.   Both the panels that would replace the Court approval stage, and the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Commissioner who would oversee them, are new and untested concepts. They would not have the powers or functions of a court or tribunal. They would not be required to question witnesses and could not compel them to attend. The doctors who are intended to have assessed people’s capacity and freedom to choose an assisted death would not give evidence on oath, and there would be nobody to cross-examine them. The new VAD Commissioner would run the assisted dying system and, at the same time, be responsible for monitoring, investigating, and reporting on its work, replacing the role previously given to the independent Chief Medical Officers. The very definition of “terminal illness” has proved to be seriously flawed, as it would allow people with anorexia to qualify once their physical condition deteriorates to the point where they are considered to have less than six months to live. Many people have written to me about this point. At the very beginning of the Committee Stage, amendments were tabled to introduce an enhanced test of a person’s mental capacity to make the choice to die. These amendments recognised the need to protect vulnerable people such as those with learning difficulties or dementia, and even people with no prior vulnerabilities who are at risk of shock and depression upon learning they have a terminal illness. At Second Reading, Members were assured that our existing laws in the Mental Capacity Act were tried and tested. However, in February, the Chief Medical Officer wrote to the committee to clarify that there is no enhanced test for life and death decisions under this Act. The amendments had been rejected three days earlier.   Unlike other legislation, this Bill completed its Committee Stage without Members being given information about its impact. This means they have been unable to consider either the costs or additional pressures that the Bill would place on the NHS. The potential impact on equalities – the impact on disabled people, ethnic minority communities, those on lower incomes and victims of domestic abuse – had not been published either.   Only once we reached Report Stage was an impact assessment produced, which makes the point that disabled people are at a high risk of feeling like a burden and being subtly influenced into choosing to die.   The Committee voted to allow a future Health Secretary to change the Act of Parliament which established the founding principles of our NHS at will. This language, first passed into law in 1946, established an NHS to “secure...the physical and mental health of the people of England, and...in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental illness.” However, because this does not include assisting people to end their own lives, the Bill as amended now contains a power for these foundational words to be changed by secondary legislation.   Following the Committee Stage, I chaired a session titled “Committee of the Unheard,” to hear from experts who had not been invited to give oral evidence at Committee Stage. At this Committee, we discussed the impact of excluding family and loved ones which is this Bill’s position too. Importantly, it gave an opportunity to explore issues around people with disabilities, people from other jurisdictions and BAME communities. There were also impacts on suicide prevention and the anorexia ‘loophole’; evidence regarding coercive relationships and of palliative care. Had the Committee received this oral evidence, it may well have come to different conclusions.   Medical professionals and associations continue to have serious concerns and reservations about this Bill. The Royal College of Psychiatrists say they cannot support the Bill.   One thing the Bill has highlighted for me is around the promise of choice.   For choice to be real, there must be options to choose from. For many, there are no options now and wouldn’t be if the Bill came into force. What has been highlighted is that palliative care provision is woefully inadequate. The worst served are also the most disadvantaged from the most deprived communities. Worse, should the Bill come into force, the provision of palliative care is likely to be compromised without hospices having a legal right to opt out of assisted dying. There is no such proposed opt-out in the Bill.   This brings me back to our role as legislators.   The question for us now is “after all the consideration through to Third Reading, can we be satisfied that our duties towards people to protect their well-being and safeguard them from harm are fulfilled if we pass this Bill?”   From everything I have seen, heard and read, the answer must be “no”.   NHS Outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital The Government has announced that millions will be able to take part in clinical trials via the NHS app under the 10 Year Health Plan. This will speed up clinical trials, so the UK becomes a hotbed of innovation.   Eventually the plan will see the NHS App automatically match patients with studies based on their own health data and interests, sending push notifications to your phone about relevant new trials to sign up to. You can read more here .   Infrastructure Strategy With Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves The Government has published its 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, committing to fund at least £725 billion of infrastructure over the next decade, ensuring that infrastructure spending continues to grow at least in line with inflation after the current spending review period.  The strategy sets out this Government's long-term plan for economic, housing and social infrastructure to drive growth in every part of the country. This will be achieved alongside vital planning reforms and the creation of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). The strategy aims to restore confidence and drive economic growth by providing stability on funding and improving how infrastructure projects are planned and delivered. You can read the full strategy here .  The Chancellor has also committed £1 billion to enhance and repair run down transport infrastructure and futureproof England’s road network.  This package includes a further £590 million to take forward the long-awaited Lower Thames Crossing, improving road connectivity between Kent and Essex, and follows a record £15.6 billion in city region transport ahead of the spending review. The funding will ensure vital upgrades are made to tired bridges, flyovers and tunnels across Britain, supporting highly skilled job opportunities. You can read more here .  AI Leading tech firms have partnered with government to deliver AI skills training to 7.5 million UK workers.   Amazon, BT, Google, IBM, Microsoft and Sage are among the companies that have been called together for discussions to agree a programme of work. If we want to realise AI’s incredible potential, we must make sure people of all ages and from all parts of the UK have the skills they need for jobs both in and with the technology. Read more here .  Ethnicity Speaking about my bill - the Public Body Ethnicity Data (Inclusion of Jewish and Sikh Categories) Bill I’m delighted that this week, Birmingham City Council passed a motion to become the first council in the UK to routinely collect Sikh and Jewish ethnicity data.   It is absurd that public bodies don't include Jews and Sikhs in equalities data, despite being legally recognised ethnic groups for over 40 years and in the Equality Act 2010.   To deliver for its citizens, the Government must have an accurate picture of the people it serves. Collecting ethnicity data is key to addressing disparities in areas such as education, health, policing, and employment.  I have presented a Bill that is progressing through Parliament (the Public Body Ethnicity Data (Inclusion of Jewish and Sikh Categories) Bill which would provide that where a public body collects data about ethnicity for the purpose of delivering public services, it must include specific 'Sikh' and 'Jewish' categories as options for a person’s ethnic group.  By backing my Bill, Birmingham City Council has ensured that our wonderful Jewish and Sikh communities are counted and will help certify that each community's needs are met. You can read more reported by the BBC here , and by Jewish News here . Homes for Heroes With Veterans Minister Al Carns Al Carns, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Veterans and People, has built a consumer charter for families in Military Homes. This includes: Better move-in conditions  More reliable repairs and renovation of the worst homes  A named housing officer for every family  36,000 military homes brought back into public ownership  New Defence Housing Strategy to be published later this year delivering on the government’s Plan for Change  An extra £1.5 billion to fix forces housing through the Strategic Defence Review, a record uplift  To all our service families: your concerns matter, your standards should be met, and your service should be honoured not just in words—but in action. Jo Cox At the Great Get Together It was an honour to attend The Great Get Together in Parliament in memory of Jo Cox. Jo believed “we have more in common than that which divides us” — a message that feels more now important than ever. As MPs we can bridge divides, build respectful debate and unity in public life.  Missing the Mark  At the Young Minds event in Parliament It was great to attend the Missing the Mark event and meet young people with lived experiences of mental health problems, who've worked with Young Minds to develop the campaign. The campaign addresses the harmful impact of the current assessment system on young people’s mental health.  Baby Box  At the Baby Box It was a pleasure to attend the the Children's Charity Foundation Baby Box event in Parliament today.  The scheme provides first-time parents in need with a carefully curated box of essential baby items, books, and developmental toys. In my constituency Elaine Hook runs a baby bank, which is a lifeline for many.  Fight Bladder Cancer   At the Fight Bladder Cancer Event It was eye-opening to attend the Fight Bladder Cancer event in Parliament.  Bladder cancer is the 9th most common cause of cancer death in the UK, and there are around 5,600 bladder cancer deaths in the UK every year.  Trussel Trust  With my constituent Patrick Saunders It was great to meet with my constituent Patrick, my local representative from the Trussel Trust during their mass lobby in Parliament.  Their work is nothing short of essential. Across the UK, they support a network of food banks, with one based in Quinton at St Boniface’s church, which I have visited.  Teenage Cancer Trust  At the Young Person's Unit in the QE Today, I visited the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Young Person’s Unit to see the support that Teenage Cancer Trust provides for young people with cancer.  They fund 28 specially designed units across the UK, along with NHS posts including expert Cancer Nurses and Youth Support Coordinators.  West Midlands APPG launch At the APPG for the West Midlands launch It was great to speak at the launch of the APPG for the West Midlands at the Edgbaston Park Hotel — bringing together voices from across the region to champion our shared priorities. From transport and skills, to investment, innovation, and regeneration, the West Midlands has so much potential. Local News Here are 10 major announcements that the Labour government has made this year that impact Birmingham – specifically Edgbaston — from infrastructure and jobs to innovation and community investment: 🚝 £2.4 billion transport boost to East Birmingham, extending metro services to the new Sports Quarter at Bordesley Park/Edgbaston CFC site  ⚽️ £100 million Knighthead Sports Quarter investment in East Birmingham — includes a 60,000-seat stadium, training campus, and 8,400 jobs  🏏 £42 million redevelopment of Edgbaston Stadium, adding a new 3,191-capacity stand and a 146-room Radisson Red hotel — plans approved Feb 2025, ready for 2027 Ashes  💷 £18 million WMCA loan backing the stadium upgrade project  🏠 £76 million integrated city funding, including transport, housing retrofit, skills, and cultural regeneration across Birmingham, boosting East Birmingham and Edgbaston zones  👷🏼‍♀️ £4 million Severn Trent hub investment in Edgbaston, creating over 300 jobs and revamping the historic waterworks site  🧬 West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator extended with £4 million region-wide (including Edgbaston/University of Birmingham), supporting AI surgery sensors & biotech spin-outs  🧱 Construction training package (£165 million for courses + £100 million Tech College fund) benefiting Edgbaston residents entering construction roles  🌎 Defence Industrial Strategy driving defence spending to 2.5 % of GDP by 2027 — supports skilled jobs/apprenticeships in Edgbaston/West Midlands region  🚋 West Midlands Metro Eastside extension, bringing trams from Bull Street through Digbeth and on toward Edgbaston Village — on track to open in 2025–26 Edgbaston Reservoir Festival There is a free festival happening at Edgbaston Reservoir from 26-29th June. E njoy a packed programme of free nature connection, thought-provoking activity, workshops, conversations, art and family-friendly performance. Find more  here.     Highfield Day Nursery With Highfield Day Nursery It was a privilege to join students from Highfield Day Nursery to plant a tree in the new community garden in the Edgbaston Village. The children have been researching how to combat traffic pollution, and have learnt that trees help by acting as natural air filters and green barriers. Read more here .  Thank a Teacher Day  Wednesday was Thank a Teacher Day. To every teacher in schools, colleges, and communities in Birmingham, Edgbaston — thank you for your dedication, resilience, and the life-changing impact you make. Hospitality SMEs    With Anna Tonks at Chapter Restaurant Great to meet Ann Tonks, owner of Chapter Restaurant in Edgbaston Village, for a great conversation about the vital role hospitality SMEs play in driving the UK economy. From creating local jobs to enriching communities, businesses like Chapter are at the heart of it all. Artisan Market  Every second Saturday of the month, Edgbaston Village comes alive with Birmingham's biggest artisan market. There are over 80 independent stalls offering locally sourced food, handmade treasures, and one-of-a-kind arts and crafts – there’s something for everyone!  Job Vacancy I'm looking for an enthusiastic and talented communications and campaigns officer to join my team! If you're interested, find out more and apply here . Deadline Sunday 22nd June. Here’s some things Labour’s Plan for Change has delivered last week: 🥣 Free school meals for more than half a million more children in families on Universal Credit, lifting 100,000 children out of poverty and putting £500 back in the pockets of parents who need it. 🚌 £15.6 billion bus, tram and train infrastructure investment across our regions. This public transport boost will power cities, towns and communities forward, opening up new access to jobs and opportunities alongside more investment in Britain’s renewal. 🌊 Bonus payments banned with immediate effect for bosses at water companies that don’t meet high standards. 🪖Strategic Defence Review making Britain secure at home and safe abroad by ensuring HM Armed Forces have the right equipment they need, whilst boosting 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the country. 🏠£1.5bn additional funding to repair and renew military housing, helping improve lives for armed forces personnel and their families. ⚖️ Launched pilot scheme to give survivors of rape and serious sexual assault the right to have cases reviewed, as part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. ☀️ New build homes to have solar panels by default, saving people hundreds of pounds off their energy bills. Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

As we consider whether to put this Bill into law, now is the time for us to reflect on our solemn duty as legislators to protect the wellbeing of our communities and safeguard them from harm.   I have heard from nearly a thousand constituents, nearly all of whom oppose the Bill for a range of reasons.   I opposed the Bill at Second Reading. I set out my reasons, including those of principle, but also of a major concern about safeguarding that I could not see a way to being addressed through amendments to the Bill.   Far from issues of safeguarding being improved in Committee, many of the provisions have been weakened.   My concerns about the Bill are very clear.   I am greatly concerned that despite the early insistence on the importance of the High Court stage safeguard, it has been removed from the Bill, fundamentally altering the basis on which Members voted at Second Reading.   Both the panels that would replace the Court approval stage, and the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Commissioner who would oversee them, are new and untested concepts. They would not have the powers or functions of a court or tribunal. They would not be required to question witnesses and could not compel them to attend. The doctors who are intended to have assessed people’s capacity and freedom to choose an assisted death would not give evidence on oath, and there would be nobody to cross-examine them. The new VAD Commissioner would run the assisted dying system and, at the same time, be responsible for monitoring, investigating, and reporting on its work, replacing the role previously given to the independent Chief Medical Officers. The very definition of “terminal illness” has proved to be seriously flawed, as it would allow people with anorexia to qualify once their physical condition deteriorates to the point where they are considered to have less than six months to live. Many people have written to me about this point. At the very beginning of the Committee Stage, amendments were tabled to introduce an enhanced test of a person’s mental capacity to make the choice to die. These amendments recognised the need to protect vulnerable people such as those with learning difficulties or dementia, and even people with no prior vulnerabilities who are at risk of shock and depression upon learning they have a terminal illness. At Second Reading, Members were assured that our existing laws in the Mental Capacity Act were tried and tested. However, in February, the Chief Medical Officer wrote to the committee to clarify that there is no enhanced test for life and death decisions under this Act. The amendments had been rejected three days earlier.   Unlike other legislation, this Bill completed its Committee Stage without Members being given information about its impact. This means they have been unable to consider either the costs or additional pressures that the Bill would place on the NHS. The potential impact on equalities – the impact on disabled people, ethnic minority communities, those on lower incomes and victims of domestic abuse – had not been published either.   Only once we reached Report Stage was an impact assessment produced, which makes the point that disabled people are at a high risk of feeling like a burden and being subtly influenced into choosing to die.   The Committee voted to allow a future Health Secretary to change the Act of Parliament which established the founding principles of our NHS at will. This language, first passed into law in 1946, established an NHS to “secure...the physical and mental health of the people of England, and...in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental illness.” However, because this does not include assisting people to end their own lives, the Bill as amended now contains a power for these foundational words to be changed by secondary legislation.   Following the Committee Stage, I chaired a session titled “Committee of the Unheard,” to hear from experts who had not been invited to give oral evidence at Committee Stage. At this Committee, we discussed the impact of excluding family and loved ones which is this Bill’s position too. Importantly, it gave an opportunity to explore issues around people with disabilities, people from other jurisdictions and BAME communities. There were also impacts on suicide prevention and the anorexia ‘loophole’; evidence regarding coercive relationships and of palliative care. Had the Committee received this oral evidence, it may well have come to different conclusions.   Medical professionals and associations continue to have serious concerns and reservations about this Bill. The Royal College of Psychiatrists say they cannot support the Bill.   One thing the Bill has highlighted for me is around the promise of choice.   For choice to be real, there must be options to choose from. For many, there are no options now and wouldn’t be if the Bill came into force. What has been highlighted is that palliative care provision is woefully inadequate. The worst served are also the most disadvantaged from the most deprived communities. Worse, should the Bill come into force, the provision of palliative care is likely to be compromised without hospices having a legal right to opt out of assisted dying. There is no such proposed opt-out in the Bill.   This brings me back to our role as legislators.   The question for us now is “after all the consideration through to Third Reading, can we be satisfied that our duties towards people to protect their well-being and safeguard them from harm are fulfilled if we pass this Bill?”   From everything I have seen, heard and read, the answer must be “no”.   Watch my speech here:

Spending Review With Chancellor Rachel Reeves This week, the Chancellor delivered her Spending Review, setting out how we will invest in your security, health and economy so you and your family are better off.   The first job of this Government was to stabilise the British economy and the public finances. Now, we move into a new chapter to deliver on the promise of change.  The Chancellor’s Spending Review is a vote of confidence in our region.  Last week, I joined the Chancellor on a visit to Birmingham, where she announced £2.4 billion of funding for our local transport infrastructure .  This will fund the metro extension, connecting the City Centre to the new sports quarter in Bordesley, and then out to Solihull.  The Chancellor has also confirmed that the Government is backing the Midlands Rail Hub , which will will enable a 50% increase in the number of Cross-City Services, providing 100 extra trains in and out of Birmingham every day. Five Ways and University station in my constituency are set to benefit, which will support the growing demand for travel to the University of Birmingham, the new life sciences park and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.   Bus users are to be protected from price hikes thanks to the Chancellor extending the £3 fare cap until 2027.  I’m proud that the Government is investing £39 billion over the next decade in a new Affordable Homes Plan – the biggest cash injection into social and affordable housing in a generation. This will make a real difference in Birmingham, where 26,000 people are currently on the housing register.   The Chancellor also announced a record cash investment in the NHS, because this Spending Review is about prioritising your health. We are investing an extra £29bn per year for the day to day running of the NHS, and increasing the NHS technology budget by 50%. This investment will enable us to deliver more appointments, build new hospitals and new equipment to provide more efficient, productive and high-quality care.  Schools will also receive an extra £4.5bn a year in this week's spending review, taking the funding for each pupil in England to its highest-ever level. We are investing to keep our country safe, with a £20bn increase in defence spending and a £2bn uplift for our security and intelligence agencies across the spending review period. Defence spending will now rise to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027. This is the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. At the Budget last year, we announced £150m to establish the new Border Security Command. Now, funding for the Border Security Command will rise by an additional £280m per year by the end of spending review period.  We will end the costly use of hotels to house asylum seekers in this Parliament; and cut the asylum backlog to save the taxpayer £1bn a year.  You can read the Chancellor’s full speech here .  I asked the Chancellor if she agreed with me that this investment will be transformational to deliver a decade of renewal and growth. Watch my intervention below.  I spoke to BBC Politics Midlands about the benefits of the Spending Review for our region. You can watch that here.  Sizewell C As part of the Spending the Review, Government is investing £14.2 billion to build Sizewell C nuclear plant, ending years of delay and uncertainty.  This investment will go towards creating 10,000 jobs, including 1,500 apprenticeships, and support thousands more jobs across the UK.  The equivalent of around six million of today’s homes will be powered with clean homegrown energy from Sizewell C. The investment in clean, homegrown power brings an to an end to decades of dithering and delay, with the government backing the builders in the drive for energy security and kick-starting economic growth.  Read more here .  Nuclear Reactors A mock up of Rolls-Royce's SMR Rolls-Royce SMR has won the competition for a new small modular reactor in Britain. As part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy to revive Britain’s industrial heartlands, the government is pledging over £2.5 billion for the overall small modular reactor programme – with this project potentially supporting up to 3,000 new skilled jobs and powering the equivalent of around 3 million homes with clean, secure homegrown energy.  The biggest nuclear rollout for a generation will support the clean power mission – boosting energy security and protecting families’ finances.  Read more here .  Hydrogen The Government has confirmed over £500 million for hydrogen infrastructure today, creating thousands of clean energy jobs in Britain’s industrial heartlands.  The Spending Review has allocated landmark new funding to create the UK’s first regional hydrogen transport and storage network, connecting hydrogen producers with vital end users, including power stations and industry for the first time. This major infrastructure boost will create jobs in regions such as Merseyside, Teesside and the Humber, as well as in the supply chain. This will ensure communities across the country benefit from Labour’s plan while reducing reliance on volatile international fossil fuel markets. Read more here .  Air India Crash Keir Starmer's message after the Air India crash I am deeply devastated by the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 en route from Ahmedabad to London. The scale of this loss is almost unimaginable - 241 lives lost, including 53 British nationals, many with deep roots in our vibrant British Indian community. My thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with every family mourning loved ones today. If you have been affected by this incident, you can contact the dedicated FCDO helpline on 0207 008 5000. I would also encourage you to get in touch with my office by emailing preet.gill.mp@parliament.uk  or calling 0121 392 8426.   Israel-Palestine Speaking in the Chamber The UK Government along with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway have announced sanctions and other measures targeting Israeli Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Settler violence is incited by extremist rhetoric which calls for Palestinians to be driven from their homes, encourages violence and human rights abuses and fundamentally rejects the two-state solution.  We are committed to the two-state solution, which is the only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long term stability in the region. We are taking action against these individuals who are undermining Israel’s own security and its standing in the world. You can read the full joint statement from the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway here .  Winter Fuel The Government has listened and announced that 9 million pensioners will now automatically receive Winter Fuel Payments this winter. Pensioners with an income of, or below, £35,000 a year will be eligible to receive the payment. This will mean no lower or middle-income pensioners will miss out. You can read more here .  NHS Outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital It’s brilliant news that thanks to our Labour government, nearly 250,000 people have been taken off NHS waiting lists since July.  Across the country, NHS waiting lists have fallen to their lowest level in two years. Since July, we've delivered 3.6 million extra appointments. We are increasing appointments, providing more doctors and delivering on our promise to get the NHS back on its feet.  The Government has also announced that sickle cell patients will get better treatment after a £9 million funding boost. This is part of a plan to transform apheresis services - a specialised set of treatments which remove harmful components from a patient's blood - by funding more specialist treatment centres, as well as expanding access to cutting-edge technology. Read more here . Planning and Infrastructure Bill Showing my support for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill This week, I voted in favour of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Our Labour government is serious about building homes, upgrading infrastructure, and cutting red tape to deliver faster. This is how we build a fairer, greener Britain. Vagrancy Act Helping out at a food bank The Government has confirmed it will repeal the outdated Vagrancy Act to ensure rough sleeping is no longer a criminal offence. Instead, the Government will concentrate its efforts on getting to the root causes of homelessness, backed by major funding.   The Government has boosted funding for homelessness services by an extra £233 million this financial year, bringing total investment for 2025-26 to nearly £1 billion. This support will prevent more families from entering temporary accommodation and tackle rough sleeping head-on. You can read more here .  Gibraltar The UK, alongside the Government of Gibraltar, has reached a political agreement with the EU which will protect British sovereignty, UK military autonomy and secure Gibraltar’s economic future.   The government inherited a situation which left Gibraltar’s economy and way of life under threat. Gibraltar was not included in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement negotiated by the previous UK government following Brexit.   Approximately 15,000 people – over half of Gibraltar’s workforce – cross the land border between Spain and Gibraltar every day. Without a new agreement, the EU’s incoming system of entry and exit controls would have introduced a ‘hard border’ under which every individual passport was checked.      Today’s agreement provides a practical solution to avoid the need for onerous checks and long delays at the border which would have proved ruinous for Gibraltar’s economy – costing hundreds of millions a year and placing pressure on the UK taxpayer for fiscal support, underlining the government’s commitment to economic stability. Read more here .    Southport The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister with the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie The Government has pledged £5 million to transform public space in memory of Bebe King, Elsie Stancombe and Alice Aguiar. The funding will contribute to the renovation of Southport’s Town Hall Gardens, which became a beacon of support and solidarity in Southport last year.  The strength of everyone in Southport has been beyond words. This investment will help create a safe community space for connection, reflection, and renewal – a lasting symbol of hope, guided by the strength of the families and wider community. Read more here .  Frontline Workers With West Midlands Police Emergency workers are to be better protected from violence and racial abuse when visiting homes as the government introduces new laws to support frontline staff.   The new measures, tabled today as amendments to the government’s landmark Crime and Policing Bill, will close an existing loophole that allows people to get away with racial and religious abuse towards police, fire and ambulance workers making house calls. You can read more here .  Skills With students in my constituency The Prime Minister has launched a new skills programme that will give young people across the country the tools needed to get the AI-powered jobs of the future.  At the heart of the skills drive, and as part of the upcoming modern Industrial Strategy, is a new £187 million government “TechFirst” programme to bring digital skills and AI learning into classrooms and communities and train up people of all ages and backgrounds for the tech careers of the future.    This is about breaking down barriers, driving innovation, and giving every young person the chance of a good, well-paid job and a bright future. Read more here .  At the start of tech week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a speech on how technology can create a better future. Read more here . Darlington Nurses This week, we've seen a vital win for Darlington nurses, following a landmark court ruling and ⁦intervention from Wes Streeting asking the hospital to implement it. Clarity in Equality Act that ‘sex’ means biological sex is crucial for protecting women’s single-sex spaces. You can read more here . Local News Funding for SMEs C reative freelancers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the West Midlands can now apply for up to £10,000 of funding to develop innovative ideas through collaborative Research and Development (R&D).  The deadline for applications is Monday, 4 August. Find out more or register an interest on the CreaTech Frontiers website,  here .   Street Surgery On my street surgery It was great to talk to the residents of Gordon Road about the issues that matter most to them.   I am out all year round speaking to my constituents, not just at election time.   Job vacancy I'm looking for an enthusiastic and talented communications and campaigns officer to join my team! If you're interested, find out more and apply here . Here’s seven things Labour’s Plan for Change has delivered last week: 🥣 Free school meals for more than half a million more children in families on Universal Credit, lifting 100,000 children out of poverty and putting £500 back in the pockets of parents who need it. 🚌 £15.6 billion bus, tram and train infrastructure investment across our regions. This public transport boost will power cities, towns and communities forward, opening up new access to jobs and opportunities alongside more investment in Britain’s renewal. 🌊 Bonus payments banned with immediate effect for bosses at water companies that don’t meet high standards. 🪖Strategic Defence Review making Britain secure at home and safe abroad by ensuring HM Armed Forces have the right equipment they need, whilst boosting 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the country. 🏠£1.5bn additional funding to repair and renew military housing, helping improve lives for armed forces personnel and their families. ⚖️ Launched pilot scheme to give survivors of rape and serious sexual assault the right to have cases reviewed, as part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. ☀️ New build homes to have solar panels by default, saving people hundreds of pounds off their energy bills. Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

Strategic Defence Review Prime Minister Keir Starmer at British defence business BAE Systems On Monday, the Prime Minister unveiled his government’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) with an increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, the largest sustained increase since the Cold War. This increase in defence spending will see taxpayer’s money invested into Britain’s industrial base, creating tens of thousands of new jobs and apprenticeships, right across the country.  The Prime Minister announced:  £1.5bn of additional funding to repair and renew armed forces housing  Up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons for the UK Armed Forces, supporting around 800 defence jobs, and boosting our military capabilities.  12 new attack submarines, to transform the UK’s submarine building industry following the £15 billion investment in the warhead programme, supporting 30,000 highly skilled jobs up-and-down the country well into the 2030s  30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles across the next ten years.  Everyone should feel safe and secure at home. That’s why this government is making serious, long-term investment in our armed forces, creating thousands of jobs and supporting working people across the country.  Read more here .  West Midlands Transport Investment With local leaders and the Chancellor as she made her announcement at the Blues stadium The Chancellor has announced Birmingham is set to benefit from a huge £2.4 billion investment for our transport infrastructure. This is a major vote of confidence in Birming ham’s potential, improving how we move, work and live. For 7 years, I’ve been campaigning for better connectivity in my constituency, so I’m glad that this Labour government is giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so everyone is better off. I will work with the mayor and our Labour government on my campaign to improve rapid transport along the Hagley Road.  £400 million will fund an extension of our metro, connecting the city centre to the new sports quarter in Bordesley Green. This will unlock £3bn from private investors and bring more jobs and opportunities to our region.   The game-changing funding comes ahead of next week’s Spending Review when the Chancellor will set out how this government is investing in the country’s future and the priorities of working people to make every part of Britain better off. The Chancellor is also expected to confirm “a step change in how government approaches and evaluates the case for investing in our regions” following a review of the Treasury’s Green Book and how it is used, “to make sure that this government gives every region a fair hearing when it comes to investments”. Read more h ere . Bus Services Bill   Speaking in the second reading of the Bus Services Bill This week, I spoke in Parliament welcoming Labour’s Bus Services Bill. After decades of failed deregulation, my constituents in Birmingham, Edgbaston will welcome the Government bringing buses back into public control.  In Birmingham, most of our bus services are run by National Express West Midlands. Over the years, I have exchanged countless letters and had many meetings with NXWM. When I was first elected, I campaigned to extend the X21 bus in Bartley Green, improving connectivity in our area, I surveyed Bartley Green residents on changes to the 23 and 24 buses, and I have continued to fight for NXWM to restore the iconic 48 bus route that my constituents relied on, before it was rerouted.  However, the problem remains that in a privately-run bus network communities have no democratic control over routes, and feel shut out of the process. That will change with this Bill.  Our Bill will:  Tighten requirements for cancelling bus routes  Give local leaders more power to ensure residents’ needs are prioritised when planning bus routes  Empower councils to identify local services that are necessary to the community  In the West Midlands, a Labour mayor, working with a Labour government will bring our buses back into public control, giving communities powers to set routes, fares and services. Read more here .  Free School Meals With schoolchildren in the constituency I’m so proud this Labour government is extending free school meals to the children that need them most - 8,700 children in my constituency alone will now be eligible for free school meals, as the government expands eligibility to every pupil whose household is on Universal Credit. Across the country, this unprecedented expansion will lift 100,000 children across England completely out of poverty. Giving children access to a nutritious meal during the school day also leads to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes – meaning they get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life. Read more here .  Violence Against Women and Girls   At an International Women's Day event about VAWG at University of Birmingham A new Government pilot in Birmingham means victims of rape and serious sexual assaults who face their cases being dropped by prosecutors will, for the first time, be given the right to have it reviewed by a different prosecutor, as part of the Government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls. The move will help to restore confidence in the justice system, get victims the answers they deserve and put perpetrators behind bars.  I’m glad that the scheme’s pilot is launching this week in the West Midlands, with the intention of it to be rolled out nationwide. You can read more here .  Pensions   This week, the Government introduced the Pensions Schemes Bill, which will enable 20 million workers to get more from their pension pots and will make pots easier to manage. The Bill will tackle schemes delivering poor returns for savers, combine smaller pension pots, and create bigger and better pension funds. This will drive costs down and returns up on workers’ retirement savings – putting more money in people’s pockets as part of the Plan for Change. Read more here .  Prisoners With West Midlands Police Frontline prison officers working in the highest risk areas of the prison estate will now be i ssued protective body armour to improve their safety. Following the horrific attack on three officers at HMP Frankland on 12 April, the Lord Chancellor has now confirmed new protective vests will be made mandatory for prison officers working in Close Supervision Centres and Separation Centres which hold the most dangerous offenders in the estate.   Read more here .  Home Office At a morning briefing with West Midlands Police A new criminal offence of ‘coerced internal concealment’ is to be introduced as an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, to crack down on anyone, including gang leaders, who force people to hide items inside their bodies to avoid detection. This practice is typically used by organised gangs to transport items like drugs, money and SIM cards from one location to another. It relies on forcing or deceiving children and vulnerable adults into ingesting or hiding items inside their bodily cavities and is often linked to county lines drug running. This new offence will go alongside other measures in our landmark Crime and Policing Bill to turn the tables on the gang leaders and hold them to account for exploiting children and vulnerable adults. Read more here .  Here's an update on some other work that is being undertaken by the Home Office: 💪 Stronger police powers to crush vehicles seized for antisocial behaviour after 48 hours. 🚓 Suspected people smuggling gang detained in nationwide crackdown – with arrests in Cheltenham, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Bradford. 🚨 New criminal offence to tackle county lines gangs who exploit children and vulnerable people by forcing them to hide objects in their bodies. ▶️ Stalking Protection Orders strengthened – ensuring that the police work with support services to give victims the protection they deserve. 📈 Enforced returns up 23% – compared to the same 12-month period under the Tories. 🍬 Scammer who duped elderly victims into smuggling meth hidden inside sweets jailed for over 9 years following NCA investigation. 📊 29% increase in penalties issued to rogue employers hiring illegal workers - the highest level since 2016. Business and Trade With Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds This week, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been in Paris discussing economic growth with our international partners. Reynolds spoke at the OECD and caught up with counterparts around the world to discuss how we can take our trading relationships even further. He also spoke to the European Commissioner at the Economic Security Form to discuss the UK-EU strategic partnership and how it ties in with our global trade agenda. You can read more here . This week, the UK became the only country in the world that has not been subjected to additional steel tariffs by the United States. We have agreed a deal with the US that will bring steel tariffs down to zero – the UK is still the only country to have secured a deal with the US. Vaping My latest speech in the House about the Tobacco and Vapes Bill Over the weekend, the ban on single-use vapes came into force. The new crackdown makes it illegal to sell single-use vapes at corner shops and supermarkets, putting an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation’s streets. This government is moving to protect young people from getting hooked on nicotine, as young people are particularly likely to use disposable products due to their attractiveness, affordability, and marketing. Under the last Government, youth vaping trebled in two years. An estimated one in three vapes on the market were illicit, and products often contained harmful chemicals, heavy metals or even drugs. For years, I have been campaigning to pr otect young people from the dangerous of youth vaping. I'm glad that the Government has now introduced a testing regime for vapes, a proposal that I championed in the last Parliament. You can read more here .  Asian Women Mean Business  Speaking at the Asian Women Mean Business event Asian women remain underrepresented in leadership roles across sectors. It was a pleasure to host Asian Women Mean Business's Parliamentary event to champion growth, visibility, and collective empowerment.  Parliamentors  Speaking at the Parliamentors event It was a privilege to speak at the graduation ceremony for Parliamentors, a leadership programme I have been involved with mentoring students from different faith and belief backgrounds.  I was very pleased to get to hand my mentees Becky, Umar and Jordh their certificates!  Midland Mencap  On a visit to Midland Mencap It was lovely to visit Midland Mencap, a charity based in Bartley Green, and meet their CEO Dave Rogers.   Midland Mencap is doing amazing work to support individuals with learning disabilities and autism through a variety of programmes and initiatives. My visit provided me with a valuable insight into the work they are doing to promote inclusivity, independence, and opportunity for participants.  Nonacus  On a visit to Nonacus It was inspiring to visit Nonacus, a healthcare company based in my constituency which provides rapid, inexpensive and pain-free bladder cancer diagnostics. These diagnostics, developed with the University of Birmingham and Cancer Research UK, can be taken at home, provide genetic analysis, cost 75% less than an invasive cystoscopy and have the potential to save the NHS £100m+ per annum if implemented nationwide. Local News Severn Trent Water company Severn Trent is repurposing its site in Edgbaston to establish a Midlands hub, which will create new jobs.  It's great to see businesses like Severn Trent investing in new facilities in my constituency. We have a very young city, and new job opportunities will generate hope for young people in Birmingham, Edgbaston. Read more here .  Best wishes, . . . . Preet Kaur Gill MP Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton

Outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital Preet Kaur Gill MP has welcomed the news that Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Institute for Biomedical Research at the University of Birmingham in Birmingham, Edgbaston constituency are to get a clean energy upgrade, cutting bills and delivering savings for the taxpayer.   The funding, provided by the Labour Government, will allow Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the University of Birmingham to make savings on their energy bills and allow more to be spent on delivering the services people rely on.   More than £14 million has been awarded to the Acute Building at Queen Elizabeth Hospital to pay for a heat pump. The Acute Building delivers a range of outpatient, diagnostic and day surgery services.  £1.96 million has also been granted to install a heat pump at the University of Birmingham’s Institute for Biomedical Research.  This forms part of £84 million package for the region, for measures including heat pumps, solar panels, and energy efficiency, helping to make Britain energy secure as part of the Plan for Change.  The scheme will deliver an estimated £650 million in savings for UK taxpayers every year on average over the next 12 years.   This follows Great British Energy’s first major project to put solar panels on around 200 schools and 200 NHS sites, including sites in the West Midlands, helping them to reinvest savings on their energy bills in teaching and healthcare.   Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston said:   “This funding will deliver the benefits of clean power to communities across my constituency of Birmingham, Edgbaston and the wider West Midlands, through cheaper bills and more money for our public services.  “Labour is delivering the clean power system that will ensure families, businesses and the services we rely on have energy security and lower bills for good."   Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said:   “We’re delivering a clean energy upgrade for communities - from schools to museums to galleries and swimming pools – helping to rebuild vital public services as part of the Plan for Change.   “This investment will see local communities benefit from our sprint to clean power, with warm public buildings run more affordably and taxpayer money spent on vital services.”   ENDS Notes to Editors: ● Decarbonising the public sector with low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures will save the public sector an estimated £650 million per year on average to 2037. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is contributing towards delivering these savings for public sector organisations

With students from St Paul's Girls School • School mental health support rollout to reach up to 900,000 more pupils this year, covering six in ten children across the country   • Intervention marks major step forward in delivering the change that families voted for and fulfilling Labour’s manifesto commitment   • 500 schools with weak attendance and poor behaviour to get new intensive support, as Labour drives forward further progress on the 3.1m more days in school to tackle the absence epidemic and deliver Plan for Change   Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston has today come out in support of plans to ensure almost one million more young people will have access to mental health support in school this year, as Labour gets on with delivering its manifesto promise for a national rollout taking a huge step in fixing the inherited challenges facing our children.   Under Labour’s plans, all pupils will have access to mental health support in school by 2029/30, delivering on its Plan for Change to improve children's life chances and tackle the root causes of poor attendance and behaviour.   The support teams are made up of specialists who offer a range of help to identify and tackle issues early on, from group sessions to build children’s resilience to 1:1s helping to manage anxiety - not only tackling the crisis of poor mental health among young people, but also driving up school attendance. They work directly with school and college staff alongside NHS services to provide professional advice, easing the pressure on school staff and allowing them to help young people get the right support and stay in education. New research has shown a direct link between the severity of children’s mental health problems and their likelihood to miss school.   Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said:   “Poor mental health is something that is raised with me time and again by young people and parents alike when I’m out on the doorstep and running surgeries in my constituency.  “Children suffering from untreated mental health conditions are much more likely to persistently miss school, which seriously impacts their future job prospects. Since I was elected, I’ve been raising concerns about poor mental health and persistent absence from school and have repeatedly called on previous governments to provide more support for young people.  “The number of children persistently missing out on education is deeply concerning. In 2021/2, 1 in 4 students in Birmingham missed out on 10% or more of their education. Of course, many students miss out on much more than 10% of their schooling and disappear altogether from the system. I have written to the council to ask them what is being done to address this issue.  “Young people growing up in Birmingham deserve the best start in life. That’s why I’m so proud that, through our Plan for Change, this Labour government is making good on our promises and expanding access to vital mental health support. I also welcome the Government legislating to create a register of all home-schooled children so that no child falls through the cracks of the system.” The new investment of up to £49m means six in ten pupils will have access to a mental health support team by March 2026, with the rollout prioritised based on NHS identification of local need and reaching the most vulnerable children first.   It comes as Labour unveils a new programme to provide intensive support for 500 schools with significant attendance and behaviour challenges. New attendance and behaviour hubs, built around 90 schools with a track record of improving attendance and behaviour standards, will directly target the schools with the highest need as well as providing wider support for a further 4,500 in all corners of the country.   These will work alongside new attendance and behaviour ambassadors who will be the link between schools and the government, identifying challenges and working jointly toward solutions.   This move builds on the progress Labour has already made to turn the tide on school attendance, with green shoots already being seen with over three million more days in school than last year.   Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:   “We inherited a system full of challenges and breaking the vicious cycle of poor mental health, low attendance and bad behaviour among children and young people is the most urgent one facing our schools – and this government is already turning the tide.   “Expanding mental health support for young people is one of the single biggest steps we can take to improve children’s life chances, make sure all pupils are getting the very most out of school and deliver excellence for every child.   “Taken alongside new intensive support for schools that are struggling, our free breakfast clubs for millions of children and our wider work to drive up school attendance, this government will continue using all available levers to break the destructive link between background and success and deliver on our Plan for Change.”  Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:   “Facing mental health problems when you’re young can hold you back in school, damage your potential and leave you with lifelong consequences. It’s devastating and it’s got to change.   “That’s why this government is bringing in vital services to schools, so they can intervene early, support pupils, and help prevent conditions from becoming severe.   “Backed by an extra £680 million in government funding this year, we are transforming mental health services for children – hiring more staff, delivering more talking therapies, and getting waiting lists down through our Plan for Change – so children can have the best possible start in life.”   ENDS

With students from Lordswood Boys School • Labour announces radical skills reforms giving young people opportunity to develop skills in priority areas for the country   • MP comes out in support of ‘skills revolution’ to deliver Plan for Change   • Construction and healthcare workforce to be bolstered by plans   Young people are set to benefit from 120,000 new training opportunities as part of a radical skills revolution, giving them the chance to develop skills where they are most needed across the workforce to rebuild Birmingham and the West Midlands.   More skilled brickies, carpenters and healthcare support workers will soon be trained up as Labour continues drive to get Britain working, with landmark reforms announced today that refocuses the skills landscape towards young, domestic talent.   Labour’s measures, backed by a record-breaking £3 billion apprenticeship budget, will open up opportunities for young people to succeed in careers the country vitally needs to prosper. More routes into skilled work means more people building affordable homes, more care for NHS patients and more digital experts to push our economy forward.   This includes an additional 30,000 apprenticeship starts across this Parliament. This unprecedented investment is a critical step in delivering Labour’s Plan for Change mission to create a decade of national renewal. We are backing our young people and investing in skills as an engine of economic growth – putting more money in people’s pockets across [area] and breaking down barriers to opportunity.   Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, said:   “I regularly visit schools and universities and hear directly from young people who tell me they want access to good quality jobs. These landmark reforms backed by investment will ensure we give young people the best start. Labour is delivering with more chances to go into key sectors like construction and healthcare.   “Labour is backing young people in Birmingham so they can learn a trade, earn a wage and rebuild our country.”  Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said:   “A skilled workforce is the key to steering the economy forward, and today we’re backing the next generation by giving young people more opportunities to learn a trade, earn a wage and achieve and thrive.   “When we invest in skills for young people, we invest in a shared, stronger economic future – creating opportunities as part of our Plan for Change.   “But everyone has a role to play in a thriving economy, and we’re taking our responsibility seriously providing more routes into employment, it’s now the responsibility of young people to take them.”   To support this, Labour is:   • Implementing a 32% increase in the Immigration Skills Charge, which will deliver up to 45,000 additional training places to upskill the domestic workforce and reduce reliance on migration in priority sectors, as announced in the recent Immigration White Paper.   • Refocusing funding away from Level 7 (masters-level) apprenticeships from January 2026, while maintaining support for those aged 16-21 and existing apprentices. This will enable levy funding to be rebalanced towards training at lower levels, where it can have the greatest impact.   • Launched 13 new Level 2 construction courses for adults in non-devolved areas under the Free Courses for Jobs scheme. In addition to the £3 billion apprenticeship budget, Labour is backing the new generation of workers through:   • £14 million of adult skills funding for construction to be devolved to local mayors for next academic year, expected to support up to 5,000 additional adult learners.   • £136 million for Skills Bootcamps across a range of priority sectors in 2025-26, providing training to over 40,000 learners.   • £100 million over four years to expand Construction Skills Bootcamps.   • Ten Technical Excellence Colleges specialising in construction skills, opening in September 2025. As part of Labour’s Plan for Change, the reforms are a vital step in delivering the youth guarantee and addressing skills shortages to drive growth while creating better opportunities for young people and adults across England.   Today’s announcement comes following a dramatic fall in the number of apprenticeship starts over the Conservatives’ last decade in power, with ONS statistics show as many as one in eight 16-24 year olds are not in employment, education or training. Labour is also confirming Board appointments to the new national body for skills, Skills England, which will work with employers and local leaders to shape training policy and delivery  ENDS    Notes to editors:   • Department for Education newsdesk is contactable at 020 7783 8300.   Teacher recruitment in Further Education   • This announcement comes after government published figures earlier this month which showed that around six thousand Further Education teachers received Targeted Retention Incentive (TRI) payments last year.   • These payments are worth up to a £6,000 after tax on top of their salaries.   • The majority of claims were in subjects critical to the government’s Plan for Change, such as construction (1,700), maths (1,400), and engineering (1,200).   • The government also announced last week that we are investing an extra £160 million this year so that colleges and other 16-19 providers can recruit more expert teachers – and keep the ones they’ve got too. This will support high quality skills training for indemand sectors.   • This is part of the government’s push to boost FE teaching and recruit 6,500 new teachers in schools and colleges across England. Construction training   • Building on the over £600 million of investment announced by the Chancellor in March, the government is also boosting job prospects for adults interested in jobs in construction by expanding construction training via Skills Bootcamps and Free Courses for Jobs.   • The Department will devolve around £14 million of additional adult skills funding for the construction sector to local mayors for next academic year, giving them the freedom to make the right choices for their areas.   • For providers in non-devolved areas, 21 new construction courses at Level 2 will be added to the Free Courses for Jobs offer available for adults so more people can upskill, improve their job prospects and earn a higher wage.   • This recognises the urgent need of employers in the sector for skilled workers, who are crucial to driving growth and delivering the government’s housebuilding targets.