2020

I was delighted to attend the Gurdwara on West Bromwich Road on Sunday 2 February 2020. Following my re-election, I wanted to thank the Sikh community for their support.

I was delighted to welcome pupils from Grace Academy, Darlaston to Parliament this week. During our Q&A, students asked me thoughtful and engaging questions about Parliament and our democracy.

I responded to the Government’s Business Statement on 30 January, on the eve of Britain’s formal departure from the European Union. You can read my speech below:

A second Opposition Debate was held on 29 January about homelessness. The national shame of high and rising homelessness is a direct result of decisions made by successive Conservative Governments: a steep drop in investment for affordable homes, crude cuts to housing benefit, reduced funding for homelessness services, and a lack of action to help private renters. The measure of any country is the way that it treats its most vulnerable citizens – in 2018, 726 people died homeless in England and Wales. The Government voted against our motion, which called on them to re-invest in local homelessness services. You can read the motion in full here: 

On 29 January, we held our first Opposition Day Debate. Parliament debated our motion on cuts to policing. The Tories have presided over a rise in serious violent crime, with key crimes such as knife crime still rising following extensive cuts to the police, PCSOs and police civilian support staff. Instead of fulfilling their duty, the Government have tried to ensure safety and security on the cheap. The Government voted against our motion which called on them to recruit 2,000 more frontline police officers than they have proposed and re-establish neighbourhood policing.