Returning from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Kigali, I got stuck straight into important constituency and parliamentary business.

Dignity in Dying

On Monday we have a debate in the House of Commons on Dignity in Dying, of which I am the Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group. The debate results from a petition of more than 100,000 people supporting a change in the law. I also support a change in the law and have completely changed my mind on this subject since I first became the Royal Town’s MP, as a result of talking to many constituents who have had experiences with their loved ones at the end of their lives.

Yesterday I had a meeting with Lyn Ellis, my constituent from Wylde Green, who very bravely told me the awful story about her husband’s end of life experience. She wants her evidence to be heard by my fellow Parliamentarians and I will be suing that evidence on Monday in the House of Commons debate. My great thanks to Lyn for speaking out and allowing me to use her testimony.

Foodbank campaigns: Tesco Food Collection and #FoodSOS

Today I visited the New Oscott Tesco to learn about the Food Collection initiative, which supports food charities across communities including Sutton Coldfield and is celebrating 10 years of working together with the Trussell Trust and FareShare.

Some years ago I linked the two food banks in Sutton Coldfield with the Job centre to try to ensure that issues over benefits in particular were sorted directly and speedily. This is an important initiative and I urge those who can to support it with cash or food.

The collection is being held to gather long-life food to help Tesco’s food charity partners carry out their work of feeding people within communities across the UK.

Tesco customers are asked to donate long-life food items to help support the charities, with Tesco topping up customer donations with an additional 20% donation in cash to aid food banks and give them flexibility to buy what is necessary.

In addition to Tesco’s programme, Birmingham Mail/Live has now launched #FoodSOS in support of the area's foodbanks.  As the cost of living begins to bite, we are inevitably seeing more people turning to foodbanks but donations are falling. 

It is a difficult time but I am heartened by the generosity shown in the Royal Town and the wider community. I want to give a shout out to those volunteers who give up their time to ensure that, despite the challenges facing foodbank operations, foodbanks remain up and running. If you wish to contribute or volunteer, please reach out to one of the food bank stations in Sutton Coldfield:

Sutton Coldfield United Reformed Church – every Tuesday between 11.30 am and 1.30 pm  (www.scurc.org.uk)

Sutton Coldfield Baptist Church – every Monday between 12 pm and 3 pm; Tuesday-Friday between 10.30 am and 3 pm (www.scbc.org.uk).

Bridge Club in Boldmere

I had a delightful visit to the Bridge Club in Boldmere to meet senior members of the club in their building and to hear how well they have weathered the Covid storm financially.  The club is another example of the community coming together to create opportunities for people to take on new hobbies or, in the case of seasoned bridge players, to indulge their skills in a friendly social setting.

The club was established around 40 years ago and is thriving, meeting every day apart from Friday and Sunday in a pleasant area which opens onto a large sunny garden. I have visited the club before and was today impressed to see that it is going from strength to strength, and by the joy it brings its patrons.

The importance of social outings with like-minded people is well-known. Social clubs offer friendship and connection, boosting both physical and mental wellbeing. Bridge is known to be particularly challenging for the mind. For novices, classes are currently being offered and are proving to be very popular. The club is keen to welcome experienced Bridge players too. If you are interested please get in touch with Keith Hulin (Chair of the Bridge Club) on 07770511614.

Advice surgery

Following meetings with constituents in my advice surgery this afternoon, I will be doing battle once more with the passport office to accelerate the processing and delivery of renewed passports.

I am also wrestling with the Inland Revenue on a number of cases on behalf of constituents which are unacceptably delayed in their handling.

Quite apart from my regular advice sessions in the Royal Town I had two meetings of great importance to my work:

The first was with the head of the Foster Care Association, Mrs Jane Cook and her husband. I was incredibly impressed by the brilliant work they do both personally and as an association and I will be taking their recommendations directly to the minister.

The second meeting was with Joanna Andrews wo works on organising a city-level project  ‘Young Women into Leadership’.  This has a global reach and a substantial Commonwealth emphasis. Joanna informed me that last year Jane Torvil took part. This is a fantastic opportunity for girls in the Royal Town to work on their leadership skills.

Chair’s reception – Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust

This evening I will be attending the Chair’s reception at the Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust, about which I shall report back next week. My main aim will be to express our thanks and support for the brilliant work they are doing.

Parliament

Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

I intervened during the debate on the NI Protocol in the House of Commons. I made it clear that while I believe the EU could and should be more helpful than it currently is in reaching a negotiated solution, the government’s proposal to create powers to override the Brexit Deal could put the UK in a precarious position, which will harm our interests.

I said:

“I have an immense amount of sympathy with what the Foreign Secretary is saying, and it does seem to me as though the EU is not being particularly constructive in trying to get the solution that we all want to see. But many of us are extremely concerned that the Bill brazenly breaks a solemn international treaty, trashes our international reputation, threatens a trade war at a time when our economy is flat, and puts us at odds with our most important ally. Can she say anything to reassure me in my anxieties on these points?”

The Bill will be proceeding quite rapidly through the House of Commons and there will I hope be the opportunity to make changes to it.

Debate on finding a new Police Commissioner

At the debate on Wednesday, I urged the government to think outside the box when it comes to appointing a new Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

This is of direct interest to us in the West Midlands because of the leadership role on national policing issues which reside with the Metropolitan Police.

With all the difficulties besetting the met police in recent years, I suggested that an external candidate with a demonstrable record of leadership outside the police force could be what is required:

I said:

“One of the principal problems, bluntly, with the Metropolitan police is the quality of leadership at the very top, which determines the quality of leadership at street level. As the Minister seeks very diligently to find a new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, will he bear in mind the precedent from some time ago of finding a commissioner from outside the police forces, and bear in mind that within the military establishment there is a cohort of utterly brilliant generals and leaders who could bring those skills to bear on behalf of the Metropolitan police?”

All-Party Group on Yoga in Society

I joined in on the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Yoga, which works to promote the numerous benefits of Yoga for mind and body.  There is a growing body of evidence showing the different ways in which yoga can enhance people’s health and quality of life.

The APPG on Yoga in Society brings together MPs, Peers and policy-makers, in conversation with leaders in yoga and research to discuss practical and constructive ways yoga can be used to improve wellbeing across the UK.

One of the speakers was my constituent Joanna Fletcher who  is doing so much good work locally including, hopefully, in our local schools and local community. IT was good to see the wisdom and experience of the Royal Town informing the national debate on the benefits of yoga.

And finally…

I also, at his request, had a meeting with the potential next Prime Minister of Iraq. Life at Westminster is nothing if not varied – although right now rather turbulent!