2021 November

On Monday 15 November 2021 the House voted on the Lord’s amendment to the state pensions triple lock. The House of Lords amendment to the Social Security (Up-Rating of Benefits) Bill would have ensured that the triple lock for older people is reinstated. This was a promise made by the Government to soften the impact of the pandemic on pensioners amid rising bills and inflation. 

Kohima Tribute: When you go back, tell them of us and say , for their tomorrow, we gave our today. May they Rest in Peace. We will always remember them.

I was honoured to lead the procession through the town centre to the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. The Rev Mark McIntyre Rural Dean of Walsall conducted the service and the address was made by The Ven Julian Francis the Archdeacon of Walsall who touched on the life of Sir David Amess and all MPs work and the contribution by BAME service personnel. 

On Remembrance Sunday we remember the fallen and those who fight for equality and justice. This year there were still a few restrictions in place. There was no service at St Lawrence and Revd Peter Silvester explained that the March and the laying of wreaths would take place at 11.am. As I was attending the Service at the Town Centre Cenotaph, I laid my wreath in the morning. We will always remember them.  

I was delighted to meet Harpal Bhandal at his pharmacy on 101 High Street Moxley. I met Amar Sandhu and Sukhraj Gill, both trained vaccinators at the extremely efficient vaccination centre next door. Unfortunately Onkhar Singh was unable to join us. There are six bays and members of the public can walk in to have their vaccinations and boosters. So far they have undertaken 50,000 vaccinations and started up the vaccination centre in January 2021 supporting our NHS. This is now in the top 30 pharmacies in the country for the number of vaccinations carried out.