2018

This week I raised the quarterly police figures which show a 14% rise in recorded crime in England and Wales. Domestic burglary is up 32%. That is mirrored in Walsall South: a young couple who just got married had their wedding jewellery stolen, and another constituent gave me a video of a gang entering a home and marching people upstairs to rob them. There is only one police station in Darlaston, and that is closing. It is unfair to say that the Government are protecting the police budget. I asked for an urgent debate or a statement from the Minister on how much more money will be given to local councils to protect local services?

On Wednesday 31 January 2018, as Shadow Leader of the House I responded to the motions on the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster.

Local businesses in Shropshire came to the Jubilee Room in the House of Commons on Wednesday 31 January 2018.

I opposed Walsall MBC’s closure of Pheasey, Pleck and South Walsall libraries last year. Despite these closures, Walsall Central Library is now closed and will be for the next 10 months whilst refurbishment work is being carried out. I am concerned that an important resource is being lost.