Birmingham City University unveils £125m city centre campus plan (Source: Birmingham Post)

Birmingham City University has unveiled ambitious plans to build a £125 million base in the heart of the city. The university is bidding to build a new city centre campus at Eastside, near Millennium Point. It will replace the current City North site in Perry Barr as the institution’s main campus – but university bosses have launched a consultation to minimise the impact on the surrounding community. Work is already underway at Eastside to create a new home for the Birmingham Institute of ...

Read More

An Agenda For Change In Tough Times

After Labour’s success in the local elections last week, David Cameron and Nick Clegg attempted a re-launch this week – but no re-launch is going to persuade Britain’s families that this Government is on their side. We’re not even halfway through the Parliament, but the Queen’s speech this week already shows the Tory-led Government scrabbling round for ideas. This is an out of touch Government, which is unfair and incompetent. David Cameron has no plan for the future, no vision for ...

Read More

Tories & Lib Dems back out of touch Budget

Over the last month, George Osborne's Budget – a Budget which makes millions pay more so that millionaires can pay less – has unravelled. But this week, the Tories and their Liberal Democrat partners blocked Labour's attempts to stop the Budget's worst measures. They voted for: Cutting the 50p top rate of tax, giving a £40,000 tax cut to 14,000 millionaires; A "Granny Tax" which will leave 4.4 million pensioners worse off; A "Pasty Tax" which increases the cost of hot pies, pasties ...

Read More

David Cameron – Out of touch and incompetent

Cameron’s Betrayal on NHS Before the General Election David Cameron said he could be trusted with our NHS. He said he would protect the frontline at all costs, he promised no more top-down reorganisations of the health service and he promised not to close local NHS services. But we now know all of this was not true. As soon as David Cameron got into Government he launched the biggest top-down reorganisation in the history of the NHS. He did not keep his ...

Read More

Labour With You In Tough Times

Labour action to tackle the crisis of living standards These are tough times, but the out of touch Tories are making them even tougher with policies that are hurting but not working. Labour is determined to stand up for you and your family, by showing that even when there is less money around we can make a difference. This week, Ed Miliband launched our action plan for family budgets, with 5 ways to ease the squeeze on living standards that could happen ...

Read More

Case Study – Why didn’t the riots happen everywhere? Lozells, Birmingham

I was interviewed very thoroughly by members of the 'Riots Communities and Victims Panel' which was commissioned by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition and led by Darra Singh OBE. Their remit was to establish the cause of the riots and identify how future riots can be prevented. Further details about the panel can be found at their website. The Panel was published a final report which can be downloaded. I was very pleased to see Lozells get ...

Read More

61 New Trees Planted in Lozells & East Handsworth Ward

When driving through the Moseley or Handsworth Wood areas of our city, I adore the beauty created by trees. At times, I sit back and dream that my local area can have similar wide roads with hundreds of trees. With the recent planting of 61 new trees across the Lozells & East Handsworth Ward, my dream may not be too long before it becomes reality. Since taking office last May, I have been disappointed by the number of residents asking me to ...

Read More

Handsworth Leisure Centre is a precious asset

During the past few weeks, there have been numerous questions raised with the elected members for Lozells & East Handsworth Ward relating to the management and future of Handsworth Leisure Centre. I can assure the residents of the ward and other centre users, that the Councillors (myself, Cllr Quinnen and Cllr Brown) and the Member of Parliament, Khalid Mahmood, along with our constituency officers are determined to improve the facilities at Handsworth Leisure Centre. Furthermore, we are currently in discussions to ...

Read More

£231,000 drug and cash haul following Lozells raid

Police in Lozells have arrested a man and seized thousands of pounds worth of cash and drugs in a dawn raid on Thursday. Officers, acting on tip-offs from the public, entered the house on Frances Road, shortly before 5.30am. A 24-year-old man who was at the address at the time was arrested on suspicion of possession with the intent to supply class A drugs.  He remains in police custody. Following a search of the property, officers recovered approximately 1.5kg of suspected heroin ...

Read More

Launch of East Handsworth Neighbourhood Forum Supported by Birmingham City Council – Thurs 8th March (6.00pm) at Handsworth Fire Station

The launch of East Handsworth Neighbourhood Forum is taking place on Thursday 8th March , 6.00pm start at Handsworth Fire Station. Are you concerned about the issues affecting your area including: Environment Health Transport Leisure Facilities Education Housing Jobs and Training Community Safety & Crime Then join the EAST HANDSWORTH NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM. A community meeting has been organised for local residents who are interested in tackling issues affecting the East Handsworth area. Do you care about where you live and want to play a more active role within your community, then come along to the Handsworth ...

Read More