EU Reset
This week, the Prime Minister visited Brussels for defence and security talks.
The Prime Minister urged our closest allies to step up and shoulder more of the burden in efforts to keep Europe safe from mounting threats from Russia. He also pitched an ambitious UK-EU defence and security partnership, with steps to increase co-operation on shared threats, and go further on cross-border crime and illegal migration, while delivering growth and security at home.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, also met with European partners to discuss how we can raise UK living standards by reducing barriers to trade and building export and investment opportunities. Co-operation drives innovation, boosts growth and reduces consumer costs.
For this Government, our reset with the EU means the UK being safer, more secure and increasingly prosperous. It does not mean hitting rewind. You can read more about the visit here.
Pay rise
In April, over 3 million workers will get a pay rise, putting thousands of pounds back in the pockets of working people.
The Government has laid legislation that confirmed a new National Living Wage of £12.21, and a new National Minimum Wage of £10.00 per hour from April.
The 6.7% increase to the National Living Wage, worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker, is a significant step towards delivering our manifesto commitment to deliver a genuine living wage. The National Minimum Wage for 18-20-year-olds is also set to rise by £1.40 to £10.00 per hour – a record increase which means full-time younger workers eligible for the rate will see their pay boosted by £2,500 a year. Read more here.
School Reform
The Government has set out new plans to target ‘stuck schools’ struggling to improve. There are 11 ‘stuck’ schools in Birmingham which have received consecutive poor Ofsted judgements.
They plans unveiled by the Education Secretary include an initial £20m investment in new regional improvement teams, known as RISE teams, which will prioritise schools struggling to improve. These teams will draw up bespoke improvement plans, with government making up to £100,000 available initially to each school for specialist support. This compares to a £6,000 grant that was previously available under the Conservatives. Find out more here. You can submit to the Government's Ofsted consultation here.
Fraud
Parliament debated the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error & Recovery) Bill, which introduces measures to be tough on criminals, fair for claimants, and provide confidence to the taxpayer.
Fraud against the public sector is a significant and constantly evolving challenge – with public sector losses of at least £55 bn per year in 2023-24. That’s almost as much as we spent on defence in 2024.
The Government’s Bill will give the DWP new search and seizure powers, bringing its investigatory powers into line with other public bodies like HMRC, and enable DWP investigators to apply directly to the courts for a warrant to enter fraudsters homes and take evidence to support the investigation.
The Bill will also help us protect claimants by stopping errors earlier and preventing those who have made genuine mistakes from unknowingly racking up massive debts. You can read more here.
Police Grant
The Government has announced a major funding increase for West Midlands Police Force to help deliver on its mission to create safer streets. West Midlands Police will receive an additional £54 million for 2025-26, equivalent to a 6.8% funding boost.
This is part of a national funding boost of up to £1.1 billion for police forces across England and Wales, including £200 million to kickstart the recruitment of 13,000 neighbourhood officers and £50 million for Violence Reduction Units to tackle knife crime. Read more here.
AI Sexual Abuse Offences
This week, the UK became the first country in the world to create new AI sexual abuse offences to protect children from predators generating AI images.
AI tools are being used to generate child sexual abuse images in a number of sickening ways, and are helping perpetrators disguise their initial identity and more effectively groom and abuse children online.
We are:
Making it illegal to possess, create or distribute AI tools designed to generate child sexual abuse material, punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
Making it illegal for anyone to possess AI “paedophile manuals” which teach people how to use AI to sexually abuse children, punishable by up to 3 years in prison
Introducing a specific offence for predators who run websites designed for other paedophiles to share vile child sexual abuse content or advise on how to groom children, punishable by up to 10 years in prison
Giving Border Force the necessary powers to keep the UK safe and prevent the distribution of child sexual abuse material which is often filmed abroad by allowing officers to compel an individual who they reasonably suspect poses a sexual risk to children to unlock their digital devices for inspection. Punishable by up to 3 years in prison, depending the on severity.
Read more here.
Flooding
The Conservatives’ flood defence negligence over the past 14 years was a dereliction of duty that left communities across the country exposed and cost the economy billions,
That’s why this week the Government has announced a record £2.65 billion investment in flood defences, supporting over 1000 projects including in the West Midlands. This will better protect 52,000 properties by March 2026 across the country. Read more here.
NHS
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, with around 55,000 people being diagnosed with the disease every year.
This week, the Government announced that nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how AI tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier. 30 testing sites across the country will be enhanced with the latest digital AI technologies, ready to invite women already booked in for routine screenings on the NHS to take part.
The technology will assist radiologists, screening patients to identify changes in breast tissue that show possible signs of cancer and refer them for further investigations if required. Read more here.
Devolution
With West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker in Parliament
The Deputy Prime Minister has announced that six new areas will get to elect Mayors for the first time.
Delivering on the government’s commitment to widen devolution, areas will be given sweeping new powers, putting them on the fast track to deliver growth, opportunities, transport and housing for local communities.
The new areas to come under mayoral devolution are Cumbria, Cheshire & Warrington, Norfolk & Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex & Brighton, and Hampshire & Solent. Read more here.
3D-printed firearms
Speaking to Times Radio
This week, I spoke to Times Radio about my Bill to make it illegal to possess the blueprints to 3D-print a firearm.
When I first began researching 3D-printed firearms, I was shocked to discover how easy it was for someone to produce homemade rifles. 3D printers cost as little as £200 and the blueprints to print firearms can easily be downloaded online after a quick google search.
I’m thrilled that the Government is taking my bill forward to make it illegal to possess the templates to 3D-print a firearm.
US-UK Relations
Speaking in the debate in Parliament
I spoke in a Westminster Hall Debate on the UK-US bilateral relationship.
While the Opposition is busy talking down the UK-US relationship, our government is putting national interests first. After the damage caused by the last government, I’m glad that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have made reconnecting with our allies a priority.
It is in the national interest to have a strong relationship with both the UK and the EU – this is not a case of ‘either or’. I was shocked to hear the Shadow Business Secretary say last week that improving relations with both the EU and the US was akin to trying to make love simultaneously to both a rhino and a sloth. It is exactly this destructive attitude that has caused so much damage to British businesses and UK trade over the past 14 years. Read more here.
Midlands Transport
At University Station with Midlands Connect
It was great to visit University Station with Midlands Connect, to support their investment in our railways, facilitating travel for work, study and leisure.
The Midlands Rail Hub will enable a 50% increase in the number of cross-city services. Our new life sciences park in the West Midlands is set to create thousands of jobs in the region – increasing capacity on our network will support those jobs. Read more here.
Innovation Visit
At West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator
It was great to meet local businesses who are driving innovation in health tech through the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA) programme, on a visit to the University of Birmingham with the West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker.
The accelerator programme, funded through Innovate UK, unites academia, business and the NHS to support innovative health tech start-ups with new novel treatments and technologies. The WMHTIA helps with everything from initial business planning and bespoke programmes of training, through to assisted prototyping and real-world NHS testing services. For several of the businesses I spoke to, their aim is to eventually be introduced into our NHS.
By working with Britain's brilliant life sciences sector, Labour aims to tackle the biggest killers, reduce the number of lives lost to heart disease, strokes and cancer, and improve healthy life expectancy for everyone across the country.
Birmingham City Council Funding Settlement
I welcome the confirmation this week that Birmingham City Council will receive £533.6 million for local services next year, including a record boost in homelessness funding and significant uplift to funding for social care.
As well as supporting vital local services, this settlement means that the Council will no longer put up council tax by 10%, something the last government insisted was a necessity.
After 14 years of cuts and fiscal mismanagement, councils of all political stripes are in crisis. But we now have a Government that wants to work with, rather than against, local authorities. Today's announcement of £5 billion of new funding for local services is a significant financial boost.
While Birmingham is not out of the woods yet, today's news demonstrates the progress the Council and the government are making to fix their finances. As always, I will continue to stand with residents to protect the services they rely on and get the essential support they need. Read more here.
Catch Up with Cancer Drop-in
In the UK, someone dies from cancer every four minutes. It was good to attend the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign event with Bryan Robson for #WorldCancerDay. Our Labour Government is committed to publishing a dedicated national cancer plan this year to save lives from this disease.
Children’s Mental Health Week
At Doddington's Children's Centre
This week is Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week. It’s vital that every child across the country can easily access the right support at the right time. But we know that there is more to do until we get there. I am pleased to show my support for this campaign.
Local News
UOB Labour Students
With University of Birmingham Labour Students
It was great to visit the University of Birmingham for an ‘In Conversation’ event with Labour students.
I enjoyed speaking about my career, discussing the different ways that young people can shape the future of Labour and engaging with various questions from students on a range of topics. It’s always a privilege to talk to young people engaged with politics and invested in the future of the Labour Party.
UOB Langar on Campus
With UoB Sikh Society
It was lovely to join the University of Birmingham Sikh Society for their annual Langar on Campus event. Thank you for sharing some of the teachings of the Sikh faith – such as serving society, equality and justice.
Harborne Day Centre
With Cllr Rob Pocock, Alistair Carns MP, Laurence Turner MP and local campaigners outside Harborne Day Centre
I had a productive meeting about the future of Harborne Day Centre with Cllr Rob Pocock, Alistair Carns MP, Laurence Turner MP and local campaigner James Cross.
Harborne Day Centre is a lifeline for carers and for those who rely on its services. It’s vital that we work to explore all options to ensure that these people continue to be supported in the community.
Transformative investment into new Sports Quarter
Mayor Richard Parker and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds at Birmingham City Football Club
It's brilliant news that Knightshead is investing £100m into a new Sports Quarter in East Birmingham, which will include a 60,000 seat stadium for Birmingham City Football Club.
It is a huge vote of confidence in Birmingham that global investors are committing to create thousands of jobs with billions of pounds of investment in our city. Read more here
Flytipping
The Government has launched the National Waste Crime Survey, which will be open until 24th February. I know that flytipping is an issue for many of my constituents, so I would encourage people to feed into the Government’s survey here.
NHS Consultation
We want your help to build a health service for the future. The Government has launched Change NHS to hear your views, experiences, and ideas which will shape a new 10 Year Health Plan for England. This will run until spring 2025.
Find out more and submit your views here.
Quinton PACT Meeting
On Friday 21st February, the Quinton neighbourhood police and community (PACT) meeting will take place between 6.30pm and 8pm at St Faith & St Laurence Church, B17 8RD. Please do come along if you have issued that you would like to raise with the police.
MHWC
Next Friday, 14th February, the MHWC will be visiting Kelmscott Road in Harborne, B17 8QW. The centre will be open from 7:30am until 1pm, so please do come along if you have bulky household waste to dispose of.
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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