Thank you for visiting my website. You will find information about my work and activities as the Member of Parliament on behalf of the people of Walsall and Bloxwich. You can contact me directly through the website and find details about my office and how to meet me at surgeries. I use the Parliamentary answering service when my office is busy or out of hours. Please leave your message with them and remember to give your name, address and contact details. The answering service will send me an email with your message.
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Press Releases
Keep updated with the latest news locally, media coverage and news from Parliament.
I have received a number of emails about the SNP opposition day debate on Wednesday 21 February 2024. I want to start by explaining the procedure that took place that evening. The Opposition parties are allocated Opposition Days which means the Opposition can choose their debate. As it was the SNP Opposition day, the usual
It was wonderful to attend the discussion with Elizabeth Hallam Smith and Mari Takayanagi who work for the House and are the authors of Necessary Women over lunch on Monday 5 February 2024. The book recounts the many women who have worked behind the scenes in the Palace of Westminster ensuring the place works.
At
On Tuesday 5 February 2024, the House of Commons debated the Finance Bill. The Bill enacts various tax measures announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement 2023. One measure included in the Bill is full expensing – a capital allowance tax scheme that lets UK companies deduct 100% of the cost of capital equipment
The House of Commons approved the Electoral Commission Strategy and Policy Statement on 31 January 2024. I note that, during the debate, the Minister for Elections claimed, “This statement and the previous legislation that this House has put through will augment the accountability of the commission to Parliament and, in so doing, serve this as
On the 31 January 2024 I hosted a IKEA UK & Ireland, Parliamentary Reception in the Terrace Pavillion. I opened the event with a speech and said: “Ambassador Gullgren, Minister Kevin Hollinrake Peter Jelkeby Country Retail Manager, and colleagues from both Houses and other guests for coming to Parliament to celebrate 80 years of Ikea
On Tuesday 30 January 2024 the Media Bill underwent the Report Stage and Third Reading. This Bill updates the legislative framework for public service broadcasting (PSB), sets out provisions to deliver content on digital platforms, and updates the commercial radio framework. While I support this Bill, I believe it has been far too long in
Lord Meghnad Desai was instrumental in the campaign to have a fitting memorial, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square. Overlooking the House of Commons, the Gandhi statue commemorates the role he played in the peaceful and nonviolent movement to gain independence for India. Lord Desai set up the Gandhi Memorial Trust
The full delegation at the meeting on 29 January 2024 at NATO HQ Brussels of the NATO Ukraine interparliamentary council to discuss the current position in Ukraine and the release of much needed funds.
The UK delegation consisted of my colleagues l-r Lord Donald Anderson, Lord Archie Hamilton and James Sunderland MP. (below)