X protects this racist abuse

Birmingham hospitals declare 'critical incident' over 'flu admissions www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The Ping Pong on the Employment Rights Bill is about to begin. It's time for the House of Lords to stop blocking the Bill, so the Government can deliver the workplace rights it the country voted for at the election. We are ready to retire the Ping Pong Cats - now let's get this Bill on the books!

I'm glad @theobserveruk.bsky.social & the BBC have shone a light on the scandal of Supported Exempt Accommodation in Birmingham. There is good provision in the city but weak laws allowed SEAs to become a by-word for exploitation & fraud. Change is urgently needed. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

@umakumaran.bsky.social is right. We don't have a duty to open our doors to threats of rape and violence. I'm tempted to start screenshotting every bit of abuse I get and posting it weekly but there's literally not enough hours in the day.

For Small Business Saturday, it was a pleasure to visit the Saffron Lounge - winner of the Curry Life Best Restaurant Award 2025. A great family run business that is flying the flag for Northfield on the national stage.

Back out on the doorstep this morning with Northfield Labour. Lots of comments about how much better Shenley Road is since the potholes were fixed.

Really enjoyed being back at Victoria College Northfield for #ThePowerOfSpecialistFE week. The staff & trustees provide an essential service that improves life chances for young people across Birmingham & the West Mids. I'm glad we're making progress on funding in Parliament.

As we take forward proposals to strengthen the regulation of managing agents, we expect to see FirstPort and others taking action to improve their standards and quality of service. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

The latest Birmingham Commissioners' report is out. On the credit side, real progress has been made at the Council in some areas over the last six months - particularly on equal pay. It's welcome that an 'exit plan' will now be produced (1/3) www.gov.uk/government/p...

Sad news. Nigel de Gruchy, former General Secretary of the @nasuwt-official.bsky.social, president of the @tuc.org.uk and local #OrpingtonLabour stalwart passed away this morning. We send our love and condolences to his family and friends.

Great to be out talking to people in Kings Norton today with local councillor Carmel Corrigan

Frankley Library is staying open. A huge amount of work has gone on behind the scenes to get to this point. It meant a lot to join Northfield Community Partnership and King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy yesterday for the launch of the new, expanded services.

This aged like warm milk.

#SWBrumEVENTS TODAY: Join @NorthfieldPship for drop-in support sessions for #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay TWO LOCATIONS: 📍Oddingley Hall B31 3BS 📍Frankley Library B45 0EU 📆 10am-12pm Weds 26th November SEE: bvoices.uk/4oQXN9h#SWBrumEVENTS#FuelPovertyAwarenessDay #Frankley #WestHeath #Northfield #energy

Some more good news for local rail services. There were claims that Cross-City Line could lose its modern trains next year. The Department for Transport has confirmed to me that they are staying. (1/2)

Regulated fares are frozen next year for the first time since privatisation. 🛤️🧊 Under the Tories, Longbridge and Northfield commuters' costs went up by 63% (and by 86% from Kings Norton!). Great action from Labour to encourage more people onto public transport.

The main ward bloc at West Heath Hospital is being transformed to make it fit for the 21st century. £7 million in government funding is making the site warmer and cleaner for patients. It's seriously impressive to see the improvements that are being made in care. (1/2)

It was an honour to meet Belarus's President-in-exile Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya in Parliament this week. The Lukashenka regime continues to tighten its repression even as some prisoners are released. We continue to work on a cross-party basis to support democracy in Belarus.

Representation of disabled people in broadcast tv, both on and off screen, has doubled since 2018, as reported by the @tweetCDN. Earlier this week, I raised in Parliament the need to go further, to double disability representation again, both on and off our tv screens.

It’s great to see Labour holding firm against opposition Peers’ attempts to water down the landmark Employment Rights Bill. Our general secretary @joannegsusdaw.bsky.social has written to Labour MPs thanking them for their continued support ⬇️

For years, SEND specialist FE providers - like Victoria College in Northfield - have not had the same dedicated funding for equipment and building works as other colleges. I met Education Minister @joshmacalistermp.bsky.social this evening to press the case - it was a constructive discussion.

Residents in south Birmingham can get advice on everything from energy bills to health and wellbeing at community advice fairs this November. READ HERE:👉  bvoices.uk/3WZYz7Q - #B31VoicesSupportingLocal  #Birmingham #BirminghamUK #B31Voices #BVoices

Really good to be back out in Rubery & Rednal and Allens Cross wards today, talking to residents with Labour's candidates. Special mention for Ronnie owing to the unexpected display of football skills!

Great to be back at Bellfield Juniors and Infant Schools yesterday. It was good to hear the 'early adopter' free breakfast programmed is now going well. Investment is also going in for a new SEND inclusion unit and expanded nursery places. The school deserves a lot of credit for making it happen.

I am sorry to learn of the death of former Longbridge and Northfield Councillor, Randal Brew. He gave more than thirty years of service and was respected across political divides. Rest in peace.

I was very glad to welcome Wes Streeting to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital yesterday. It's an exceptional facility and we had good conversations on support for specialist trusts. Bham's NHS waiting lists are down 20% under Labour. Much done, much to do. www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...

It was very moving to join well-attended services arranged by Royal British Legion Austin Branch Northfield and God's Heart for Longbridge this weekend. It was a privilege to read from Revelation 21: 'Death will be no more. Mourning, and crying, and pain will be no more.'

Public awareness of dyspraxia is still too low, despite the efforts of campaigners over many years. I was glad to be able to raise the issue briefly in Parliament earlier this week. (1/2)

Really enjoyed visiting Colmers School and Sixth Form College earlier today and answering students' questions.

HIGHLIGHTS: Yesterday, Labour MPs stood firm to vote down Conservative and Lib Dem amendments that would water down the landmark Employment Rights Bill. See the highlights here 👇

The level of online radicalisation going on is far beyond what most people realise.

The votes are in: MPs have REJECTED the Conservative and Liberal Democrat attempts to water down Labour's landmark Employment Rights Bill. Time for the Lords to get out of the way, so the Government can deliver on their manifesto commitment to implement a New Deal for Working People in full.

Excitement builds for annual Christmas Lights Switch-On and festive market READ HERE:👉 bvoices.uk/49Do329 - #B31VoicesSupportingLocal #FestiveEvents #ChristmasEvents #Longbridge #Birmingham #BirminghamUK #B31Voices #BVoices

Heartfelt congratulations to Northfield constituent Andy DeComyn, whose design has been selected for the proposed new memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to Parliamentary staff and Parliamentarians who fell in conflict.

We’re updating what children learn at school so they’re ready for the modern world. That means strong foundations, plus new skills like spotting fake news online and understanding money, and access to arts and sport. Find out more. 👇

It's disappointing that an inquiry has not been granted. The history of the Birmingham Pub Bombings makes this a special case. The survivors and families have been repeatedly let down by public agencies (1/2) www.bbc.com/news/article...

Tory and Lib Dem Lords have voted to SCRAP Labour's new protections against being unfairly sacked from day one, meaning workers must wait 6 months for this to happen. But this isn't over. When the Employment Rights Bill returns to the Commons, MPs can safeguard day one unfair dismissal protections.

I was at West Midlands Pension Fund's headquarters yesterday to raise delays in payments. I've helped a number of constituents whose entitlements were delayed. If any former local government workers who are constituents are still affected then please let me know.

Hi Claire 👋 The workers need to be paid too - childcare costs money Hope this helps, 100,000 school support staff xx

This is what the Resolution Foundation actually said about the Employment Rights Bill in July: '[The Bill] is a big deal for low-paid workers, but will have a negligible impact on the economy... the UK’s labour market will remain lightly regulated by international standards.'

It's pathetic that Chris Philp and the rest of the Conservative frontbench will not (or cannot) call a racist statement what it is.

Enjoyed knocking on doors in Rednal with Steve Haynes, Labour's candidate next year.

Out late in support of Stephen Pihlaja, Labour's fantastic and energetic Moseley by-election candidate. Polls are still open until 22:00!

It's hard to understand why the Assisted Dying Bill Committee in the Lords won't take written evidence. The Bill has changed significantly since the Commons Committee took evidence, particularly in relation to younger people, and important voices will not now be heard.

Government right to rule out unfair tribunal fees, says UNISON unsn.uk/4qgPHIm “Tribunal fees are unfair and would deny low-income workers access to justice. That’s why UNISON went to court and got them scrapped" Christina McAnea, UNISON general secretary

#SWBrumEVENTS – Wave of Light Babyloss Remembrance Service 🕯️ INFO/BOOK:👉 bvoices.uk/4n5LJA6#SWBrumEVENTS 📅 Wed 15th Oct 🕚 6:30pm - 8pm 📍 St Michael's Church - #CoftonHackett 💷 Free 👤 All families who have experienced babyloss - #B31VoicesSupportingLocal #Babyloss #Birmingham #BirminghamUK

Great to be out supporting Labour's candidate in the Moseley by-election, Stephen Pihlaja, with activists from across the city.

A quick video about what this week's funding announcement means for Hawkesley 👇

I'm delighted that £20 million of new funding is coming to Hawkesley. Labour in government investing in neglected communities and changing lives for the better. laurence4northfield.com/posts/hawkes...