Preet Kaur Gill MP - My Weekly Update - 4 April
- Preet Kaur Gill MP
- 16 hours ago
- 6 min read
Immigration Summit
With Prime Minister Keir Starmer
On Monday, Keir Starmer hosted a landmark summit with over 40 countries to unite behind a new approach to crack down on organised immigration crime. Our summit will strengthen our collective efforts to disrupt criminal networks and protect borders.
Our Labour Government has deported 24,000 people with no right to be in the UK, including 3,500 criminals. We are securing our borders.
Labour has also announced plans to force companies employing people in the gig economy to carry out eligibility work checks. This means rogue firms will no longer be able to take advantage of flexible working arrangements to turn a blind eye to illegal working. We will fine companies failing to carry out these checks up to £60,000 per worker. You can read more here.
Community Pharmacy
At a pharmacy in my constituency
People in Birmingham will now benefit from more services delivered at their local pharmacy following record investment from our Labour government, boosting funding to £3bn a year.
Our investment will end the postcode lottery for women by making the ‘morning-after pill’ available free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS for the first time, boost mental health support in the community by offering patients suffering from depression convenient support at pharmacies when they are prescribed antidepressants, and boost funding for medicine supply so patients have better access to the medicines prescribed for them. Read more here.
Politics Live
On Tuesday, I appeared on BBC’s Politics Live to discuss the tariffs announcement anticipated from the White House that evening, the future of British steel, satisfaction in the NHS and Just Stop Oil.
You can watch the episode here.
Business and Trade
With Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds
On Thursday, the Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds made a statement in the House of Commons responding to Donald Trump’s announcement on tariffs. He launched a four-week “request for input” from businesses on imposing retaliatory tariffs on the US if a trade agreement cannot be reached.
The US's decision on global tariffs will be concerning for many businesses in Birmingham and across the country. This government will always support UK industry, and we will continue our engagement with businesses as we determine our next steps. I would urge businesses who are concerned by the announcement on tariffs to visit GREAT.gov.uk for the latest updates.
A trade war with the US is not in the interests of working people, and this Government will never play politics with people’s jobs. We will keep negotiating, keep cool and keep calm, rather than rushing into a kneejerk reaction.
Decisions we take in coming days and weeks will be guided only by our national interest, in the interests of our economy and in the interests of putting money in the pockets of working people. We are prepared. Indeed one of the great strengths of this nation is our ability to keep a cool head. You can read more here.
School-based Nurseries
With school children in my constituency
On Tuesday, we announced 300 new school-based nurseries will open this September. They will help parents get to work, provide access to childcare when they need it, and will save parents money.
The rollout of 30 government-funded hours of childcare will save parents up to £7,500 on average, and £450 a year will be saved through our free breakfast clubs in schools, which are launching this month.
We’re raising the bar for early years, delivering on our manifesto commitments and building a system that gives every child the best start in life. You can read more here.
FE Colleges Funding
Speaking to students
The government has announced that further education colleges in my constituency will receive a £2,279,244 funding boost, reflecting the government’s priority to train the next generation of skilled workers and grow the economy. This funding is the first capital investment in two years, and will bolster the Labour government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity.
Not only will the welcome cash injection fix crumbling buildings, it will also enable colleges to attract and retain learners, boosting the local economy and inspiring the workforce of the future. Read more here.
Cost of Living
From 6th April, 12 million pensioners will see an uplift in their state pension by up to £470 this year. That’s because we are keeping our promise to protect the triple lock. The Pension Credit Standard Minimum Guarantee will also increase by 4.1% from April 2025. This will mean that more of the poorest pensioners will become eligible to receive pension credit.
From 6th April, help to save – which supports those on low incomes to build savings with a 50% tax free bonus up to 1,200 – will be extended to all Universal Credit claimants who are in work.
From 7th April, the government will increase the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit from £150 to £196. Alongside this, Carer’s Allowance will increase by 1.7%, rising to £83.30 per week.
From 7th April, millions of families will also see their Child Benefit increase. From 7 April 2025, parents will receive £26.05 per week - or £1,354.60 a year - for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per week - or £897 a year - for each additional child. Read more here.
We have also capped bus fares to £3, frozen fuel duty for another year and provided a £1 billion boost to extend Household Support Fund, which supports people with the cost of essentials like groceries, toiletries, and warm clothes, as well as providing further support with energy bills.
Wage Boost
On Tuesday, 3 million workers got a pay rise worth up to £1,400 a year and millions more will benefit from rising wages.
The National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage has risen to £12.21 for those 21 and over, and £10 for those aged 18-20. This represents a record increase in the minimum wage for those aged 18-20.
In our manifesto we promised to Make Work Pay. We are delivering on that promise.
NHS
By ending resident doctor’s strikes, our Labour government has saved half a million appointments and operations and waiting lists have come down by almost 200,000.
The progress the Government has made in starting to fix the NHS after 14 years of decline shows the transformatory effect of Labour's Plan for Change.
Since July, over two million extra appointments have been delivered – seven months early – and the waiting list slashed by 193,000, with patients up and down the country beginning to feel a real difference after a decade of neglect – and in some cases after waiting years to get the care they need. Read more here.
LTA
A good catch-up with the LTA to discuss launching tennis, padel and multi-sport hubs in my constituency.
I support the LTA in their mission to provide year-round opportunities to play tennis and padel.
TikTok
I had an interesting meeting with TikTok in Parliament this week. It was great to chat about how their shop is supporting 1.5 million SMEs in the UK.
Local News
Birmingham Bin Strikes
Speaking to ITV Central about the Birmingham bin strike
Earlier this week, the council declared a critical incident in Birmingham regarding the ongoing bin strike.
The Minister for Local Government, Jim McMahon, made a statement in Parliament and visited Birmingham yesterday in an effort to end the bin strike. He said the Government will not hesitate to act if the Council needs support.
I have been calling on Unite and the Council to get back around the table and end this dispute. 17 bin workers should not be holding a city of 1.2 million people to ransom. Unite should accept the fair deal that 80% of affected workers have taken.
I also raised my constituents’ concerns in Parliament, after a constituent wrote to me to say that a resident had been bitten by a rat.
Lordswood Boys School Visit
With students at Lordswood Boys School
It was great to visit Lordswood Boys School this week, to meet students who have been working to produce 67 Easter hampers from the most vulnerable families across Birmingham. It was inspiring to see their commitment to providing care and support in the community.
Harborne Hospital
It was great to visit Harborne Hospital, an exciting new healthcare facility in my constituency. It was a pleasure meeting staff and having a tour around the site.
Kenrick Centre
I’ve been campaigning to save the Kenrick Centre, which supports adults with various needs and is a vital step-down service to support discharges from hospital. I’m glad that the Council has extended its Care Centres Consultation. Have your say here.
Street Surgery
On a street surgery in Bartley Green
Last week, I conducted a street surgery in Bartley Green. I asked constituents about the issues that mattered most to them and have started working on some new cases.
Best wishes,
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Preet Kaur Gill MP
Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, covering Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston and Quinton
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