This morning, I joined the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast in Westminster Hall with Lord Boateng and Kingstanding’s Pastor Aaron Reyes. Politics can be challenging, but as a Christian, my faith and prayer give me strength and help me face each day with purpose.

Celebrated some incredible milestones at the Embark Learning Care Academy Awards! Honoured to present an award to a local constituent who’s thriving professionally after securing a role through our care employment programme. Congrats to all the winners!

Great to join Pastor Aaron and the team for the 90th anniversary of Charlton Road Church in Kingstanding. Fantastic to see locals enjoying the activities, including the vintage museum showcasing Kingstanding’s history, exactly what Pride in Place promotes. Congrats to all!

Happy birthday, NHS. 💙

🚨 Important: Birmingham waste collection changes Birmingham City Council is introducing a new waste collection pilot in parts of Erdington, Kingstanding, Castle Vale, Oscott, Stockland Green, Gravelly Hill, Pype Hayes and Perry Common. 1/4

It was great to welcome Eye Hut Opticians to Erdington High Street and meet their fantastic team. Every new business here is a vote of confidence in our community, and together, we can help Erdington thrive again. If you’re passing by, pop in and support this local business!

Great to meet our local Erdington Police team at the Community Hub on Erdington High Street. Their regular police surgeries let residents raise concerns & speak directly with local officers, while maintaining a visibility on our High Street. Find out more www.westmidlands.police.uk/area/your-ar...

📰 My June column for Erdington Local is online! I’ve lived in Erdington for nearly 40 years, so protecting our community is personal to me. The growing use of exempt accommodation is deeply troubling. We need a stronger response. Read in full: www.erdingtonlocal.com/opinion-a-me...

Exempt accommodation is becoming the new backdoor loophole for failed HMO applications, with neighbours given no say. Some properties house ex prisoners, sex offenders and people with complex needs, yet oversight is lacking. We must close this loophole. www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...

One thing I often hear is “I only do it when the camera’s around”… but half the time you just walk into it and end up on the front page anyway 😂 Seriously though, Andy Burnham is a genuine leader, so I’m backing him to shift power from Westminster back to communities like mine.

🚨 Casework Update | June 2026 My dedicated casework team continues to work hard every day to help residents resolve issues and access the support they need. If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]. We’re here to help.

✅ Some recent casework wins

🚨 Exempt Accommodation Campaign Exempt Accommodation is being used as a backdoor for failed HMO plans and local people have no say. It’s time to close this loophole. Sign my petition to give residents a real say 👇🏿 forms.gle/iJr6vdhjmyoZ...

Out in Stockland Green this morning with my team for our street surgery, speaking to residents about the issues that matter most. One concern came up time and again, tree pollen and the need for tree pruning. I’ll be raising these issues with the council and chasing them up!

Great to attend the Celebration of Life event, bringing communities together to celebrate life, culture & wellbeing. Black men’s mental health too often goes unspoken. We must do more to break stigma, tackle health inequalities & ensure everyone can access the support they need.

Great to attend the Celebration of Life event, bringing communities together to celebrate life, culture & wellbeing. Black men’s mental health too often goes unspoken. We must do more to break stigma, tackle health inequalities & ensure everyone can access the support they need.

It was fantastic to attend the cutting of the soil ceremony last week for the new Highcroft inpatient facility in Stockland Green. This vital investment in modern mental health services will provide better care closer to home. Proud to support this important development.

Congratulations to Ansar Ali Khan on his son’s wedding this weekend and it was wonderful to meet so many local residents who made me feel at home. Wishing the newlyweds every happiness for the future. It was also great catching up with my former colleague, Zafar Iqbal.

This Armed Forces Week, we honour all who serve: personnel, reservists, veterans, cadets, and families. Whether deployed, supporting from home, or inspiring the next generation you all play a part in keeping us safe. On behalf of us all, thank you.

Major changes to waste collections from Tuesday should never come as a surprise. Residents deserve clear information, genuine engagement, and a rollout that works. I urge a pause, proper engagement, and a commitment to ensuring everyone is fully informed before pressing ahead.

An absolute pleasure to mark the start of construction at Highcroft in Stockland Green. This new, purpose-built 32-bed inpatient facility will provide modern, high-quality care for our local community, ensuring patients have access to the facilities for generations to come.

Also at @commonshealth.bsky.social, we discussed with Baroness Casey the challenges between health and social care. As an NHS nurse, I saw how blurred the lines between the two could be. It wasn’t until I became Birmingham’s Cabinet Member that I understood the pressures facing each system.

At @commonshealth.bsky.social, we heard from Baroness Casey as part of the Casey Commission’s review of adult social care in England. As demand rises and our population ages, the Commission is examining how care can be improved and setting out a roadmap towards a National Care Service.

162 mothers and babies died where failings in maternity care were identified, and more than 500 cases of serious harm or death were uncovered by the Ockenden Review. The warning signs were already there in the Black Maternal Health Review. We need action, not more reviews.

Today at PMQs, I raised the rapid growth of exempt accommodation and highlighted how it is too often being used as a loophole when HMO planning applications have been refused. I urged the Government to close this loophole and bring forward tougher legislation.

National Grid Electricity Distribution’s Community Matters Fund is offering grants of up to £5,000 to help improve local green spaces, boost biodiversity and make nature more accessible for everyone. Applications close 26 June. Find out more and apply: localgiving.org/community-ma...

It was a pleasure to host the Midlands Turkish Society Investment & Leadership Reception, helping to build partnerships and unlock new opportunities across Erdington, Birmingham & the West Midlands. Thanks to @sarahcoombesmp.bsky.social & @taiwoowatemi.bsky.social for their valuable contributions.

From speaking to voters in Makerfield last week, many were voting tactically to keep Reform out and back a candidate seen as able to bring investment locally. This by-election shows a political crossroads. A choice between division or rebuilding our communities for the future.

Andy Burnham’s resounding victory in the Makerfield by-election shows our movement at its very best, offering a positive message of hope, unity and a determination to stand up to division. Congratulations, @andyburnham.bsky.social. I'm looking forward to seeing you in Parliament!

Erdington’s Operation Fearless, now being rolled out across Perry Barr, has shown that targeted policing and strong partnerships can deliver real results. That’s why we need more neighbourhood policing, cracking down on crime, building trust and helping keep local people safe.

At today’s joint Education Committee and Health and Social Care Committee session on children and young people’s mental health, I asked Professor Jo Ellins of University of Birmingham what practical steps schools can take to support pupils’ mental health while facing growing pressures.

At today’s joint Education Committee and @commonshealth.bsky.social session on children and young people’s mental health, I asked Professor Jo Ellins of @unibirmingham.bsky.social what practical steps schools can take to support pupils’ mental health while facing growing pressures.

I welcome the Government’s plans to ban social media access for under-16s. Too many young people are being exposed to harmful content, online bullying & addictive algorithms. This is an important step towards giving children their childhood back & putting their wellbeing first.

Great to sponsor and attend @pancreaticcanuk.bsky.social’s parliamentary reception on driving treatment breakthroughs. With 7 in 10 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer told there is no treatment available to them, we must do more to deliver the breakthroughs needed.

Great to be on Corbett Boulevard, Castle Vale, for my street surgery. After 1993, this estate became one of the UK's biggest regeneration projects, now home to over 10,000 residents, with new homes still being built today. ✉️ Get in touch: [email protected]

Great to be in the Brick Kiln Lane area of Kingstanding today with my team, speaking to residents at my street surgery. If you’re a local resident, have an issue, and think I can help, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]

‼️ Nearly halfway there! Castle Vale's 20-year-old Ethan Lacey is fighting for his life in Thailand, and his family urgently need help to bring him home. Every donation, share and repost makes a difference. Please support and help spread the word 👇🏿 www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-so...

Around 200,000 vehicles pass through Gravelly Hill’s Spaghetti Junction every day, and residents are rightly concerned about air quality and public health. I pressed the Leader of the House to urge the Minister to visit the area, see the issue firsthand, and consider a debate.

Another tragic road fatality on Chester Road in Erdington has left residents deeply concerned. Despite the 30mph speed limit, serious incidents continue to happen. I pressed the Minister on what more can be done to enforce these measures and make our roads safer.

ICYMI: Applications Open for Kingstanding Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board paulettehamilton.org/2026/06/appl...

I know many constituents are concerned by reports that the Assisted Dying Bill could return to Parliament. My position remains unchanged. My full statement is below 👇🏿

👷 Looking for work, a career change, or training opportunities? Come along to @wittonlodge.bsky.social's June Jobs Fair in Erdington, meet local employers & training providers face-to-face. 📅 Tues 30th June 2026 ⏰ 10am – 2pm 📍 St Barnabas Church, High Street, B23 6RS

I’ve co-signed this urgent letter to @yvettecooper-mp.bsky.social calling for an end to UK trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The situation is spiralling. Sanctions aren’t enough. It’s time for concrete action in line with international law.

🚨 Can you help bring Ethan home? Castle Vale’s own Ethan Lacey is fighting for his life in Thailand after a devastating incident that has left him with life-changing injuries. His family are now raising funds to bring him home. Chip in here👇🏿 www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-so...

🚨 Casework Update | May 2026 My dedicated casework team continues to work hard every day to help residents resolve issues and access the support they need. If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]. We’re here to help.

🚨 Applications are now open for the Kingstanding Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board! Are you passionate about Kingstanding and want to help shape its future? Submit an Expression of Interest by midnight on 21 June 2026. Click the link to apply here: forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/respon...

Joined a roundtable hosted by the British Chiropractic Association to discuss reducing MSK waiting times & supporting NHS patients. With NHS backlogs still putting pressure on services, it’s important to explore how professionals can support community care & help people access treatment sooner.

Ethan Lacey fights for his life in Thailand after a devastating incident, and his family face unbearable uncertainty. I've written to the Foreign Office & am now seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister to ensure Ethan & his family receive the immediate support they need.

Yesterday, I attended a landmark government announcement of more than £20 million in investment to tackle prostate cancer. As Chair of the Less Survivable Cancers APPG, I know that early detection saves lives. But screening is complex. 1/3

Joined the Nursing in Practice parliamentary drop-in today. As a former nurse, I know the value of general practice nurses. With around one-third considering leaving the profession, we must ensure they are properly valued, supported and retained.