Taking a break from the front bench

Above:  Attending my final shadow cabinet, before taking some time away from the front bench.

It has been an honour to serve under Rishi Sunak as Deputy Foreign Secretary and Shadow Foreign Secretary - but it is time to pass the baton!

Kemi Badenoch will have my full support from the backbenches as she rebuilds the Conservative Party, exposes this terrible Labour government and sets us on a path to victory at the next General Election.

After two pretty full-on years as Deputy Foreign Secretary and latterly Shadow Foreign Secretary, it is a bit of a relief to take a break from the front bench (at least for a while) and, above all, pursue within Parliament those issues of most interest to us in Sutton Coldfield as well as the national issues in which I take a strong interest.

We certainly need to defend Sutton from the ill-thought-out and damaging policies being implemented by Labour.

Nationally, I shall be heavily involved in working to renew the Conservative Party. Locally, as always I will be continuing to serve the interests of everyone in the Royal Town. That also means preparing to try to win power in Birmingham by ousting  the city’s disastrous Labour council which, through its incompetence, has so damaged local services in Sutton Coldfield increasing massively our council tax and closing our libraries.

And, of course, we have enjoyable work to do as we prepare the celebrations for our Town’s 500th anniversary as Royal Town in 2028!

‘Dough Aye We’ have cooked up a Sutton success story.

Above: With Hannah Fisher and Steven Brain.

This week I had the pleasure of visiting Royal Sutton Coldfield’s very own Dough 'Ay We at their brand-new facility in The Moat House, meeting Steven Brain and Hannah Fisher. In just two years, this local bakery has carved a unique niche, producing thousands of delicious cakes for community events, including the bustling Sutton Coldfield Food Festival which took place in September and the much-anticipated Christmas market, also put on by the fantastic Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID.

From their small beginnings, Steven and Hannah, along with their dedicated team, have built Dough 'Ay We into a success story. Their commitment to quality and love for the craft is evident in every treat they bake, and the community has certainly taken notice. With support from their loyal customers and partners, they have quickly grown into a beloved local business.

As we look forward to the upcoming Christmas market, Dough 'Ay We promises to bring even more delightful flavours to the holiday season. Keep an eye out for their stall – a wonderful chance to taste their sweet creations and support this fantastic local business!

No end in sight for Penns Lane Asylum Seeker Hotel

Above: Unlike the last Conservative Government, the Labour Government is not committed to closing the asylum seeker hostel at the former Ramada in Penns Lane.

The subject of Asylum Seeker Hostels is back in the headlines, after a hotel in Altrincham suddenly converted to house immigrants.

Here in Sutton Coldfield of course, the former Ramada Hotel – better known to generations of locals as Penns Hall – has been housing asylum seekers since the end of the pandemic, understandably raising concerns among some residents.

The Conservative Government was committed to ending this use; however, I am alarmed to report that the new Labour Government appears to be now rowing back on this, with no intended closure date in sight.

Recently, I wrote to Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, saying: “While I fully appreciate the need for Sutton Coldfield to do its bit and offer refuge to asylum seekers, I must raise significant concerns about the continued use of this hotel as a long-term solution, especially given its unsuitability for this purpose and the adverse impact on the local community.

“While Sutton Coldfield has demonstrated a willingness to play its part in addressing the national asylum crisis, it must be acknowledged that the location of the Asylum Hostel is highly inappropriate for this purpose. The hostel is not well-suited to accommodate the high number of asylum seekers currently housed there.

“It is worth noting that under the previous government, the Ramada Hotel was earmarked for closure as a site for asylum seekers. Given this precedent, I would like to know when the Home Office intends to follow through on the closure of this facility.

“I kindly request that you prioritise the closure of the asylum hostel, as previously stated by the previous government.”

The reply I have received, from Angela Eagle, the Minister for Minister for Border Security & Asylum, does not fill me with confidence that the issue is being addressed.

She wrote: “The Home Office is grateful for the support that the Ramada Hotel provides in supporting asylum seekers and values the partnership through continued engagement with officials.

“Predicting overall demand for asylum accommodation is inherently difficult but there is likely to be the need for continued contingency accommodation in the short term.”

Brilliant work of Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID benefits our town

Above: Meeting with BID Manager Michelle Baker, Chair Mark Wilkinson, of Coburg Banks Recruitment, Alison Clack, of Cerda Planning and Mark Harris, of Harris &Co Accountants.

On Thursday afternoon, I spent time with the team that runs the Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID (Business Improvement District) which acts on behalf of and is funded by local businesses.

Their professional advice and input are making a huge difference – as we saw recently in the fabulous food festival which took place over a weekend and saw the Town Centre full of local people enjoying themselves and exploring different food fare.

Our conversation focused on several key local issues, including the Town Centre Masterplan, for which the BID is an important contributor as we move now to updating infrastructure and creating vibrant, accessible spaces for residents and visitors alike.  We also talked about the importance of security and safety and ways of enhancing the town center’s offer in that respect.

We are eagerly looking forward to the upcoming Christmas market, set to run for an incredible 22 days! This festive celebration, brought to us by the BID, will be a fantastic way for the community to come together, enjoy holiday festivities, and support local businesses.

With stalls offering unique holiday treats, crafts, and entertainment, the market promises to bring the heart of Sutton Coldfield alive this season. It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the festive atmosphere and see our community at its best.

They will soon be revealing a brilliant series of festive attractions to boost the town centre over Christmas.

Sutton Coldfield benefits hugely from having such a vibrant BID, and on behalf of the town, I thank them for their energy and hard work and for all that they are doing.

From local pensioners to businesses, Labour’s tax rises are hurting people

Above: Birmingham’s Labour councillors have refused to condemn the Government’s cruel cut to Winter Fuel Payments.

Labour is causing economic damage both nationally and locally. This week I voted to amend the Labour budget, which will cause tremendous damage to economic growth, with small and medium-sized businesses being hit hard. Labour say that their key task is to create growth, but it’s already recognised that their budget will stifle growth.

This week’s interest rate cut is very welcome for homeowners and businesses throughout our Royal Town, but the cut is clearly the legacy of Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt’s economic decisions and not the unwise and in some cases spiteful policies pursued by this Labour government.

Pensioners, too are feeling the impact of their wrong-headed decisions. Thousands of Sutton Coldfield pensioners are facing the cold weather without Winter Fuel Payments. Now bankrupt Labour Birmingham, not content with putting up local Council Tax by 21% over two years, have shown their true colours.

Sutton Reddicap councillor Richard Parkin has written the below piece, exposing how Labour is impacting on people’s lives, locally and nationally.

“This week Labour Birmingham City Council (BCC) voted against a motion brought forward by Birmingham Local Conservatives calling on the Government to reverse their planned cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance, which will impact 10 million pensioners in the country, including almost 20,000 here in Sutton Coldfield.

The parallels between the two dreadful budgets passed this year by the out-of-touch Labour Government and the bankrupt Labour BCC could hardly be more striking:

·        Pre-election manifesto promises broken

·        Taxes hiked up to record levels

·        Future generations saddled with debt

·        Spending commitments beyond their means with no focus on public sector reform or productivity improvements

·        Blaming others and failing to take responsibility for their own decisions

And – most iniquitous of all – at both a local and national level Labour is punishing working people and the most vulnerable members of our society… the very people which Labour previously promised to protect.

The arbitrary cut to the Winter Fuel Payment –  at such short notice with no compensatory measures –  is both cruel and pernicious. And the Labour Chancellor’s determination not to halt this decision in last week’s Budget is nothing short of shameful.

The Labour Government has succeeded in uniting just about everyone against their policy.

Even Labour's paymasters the unions disagree with it. The Unite union this week launched a legal action challenging the policy with their General Secretary declaring: “It is not too late for Labour to register the hurt that this cruel policy has caused, step back from picking the pockets of pensioners and do the right thing”.

Millions of struggling pensioners, including 117,000 in Birmingham, will be left without the financial lifeline they rely on to stay warm this winter. Age UK say that older people are planning to ration heating, food and personal washing because of Labour’s heartless policy.

Pensioners who will suffer the most are those on low incomes who just miss out on Pension Credit, those with unavoidably high energy needs because of disability or illness, and 880,000 pensioners who don’t receive Pension Credit even though they are eligible for it, including around 17,000 in Birmingham.

Age UK estimates that 82 per cent of pensioners living below or just above the poverty line will lose the Winter Fuel Payment. They have said: “We fear for the 2.5million pensioners we think will be worst affected this winter.  At best, their lives will be anxious and miserable, at worst, their health could be badly undermined. This is the last thing both they and the NHS need’’

The Labour Party itself produced a report in 2017 claiming nearly 4,000 pensioners could die if winter fuel payments were withdrawn. And this is on top of energy bills rising by 10% – despite Labour’s promise to freeze the cap when it was in opposition –  with increases in the state pension not hitting bank accounts until April.

To be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment pensioners need to claim Pension Credit by completing a daunting 243-question form by December 21st.

This deadline is just six weeks away. Even if all those eligible applied, the delays in processing payments means there is a real risk they may not receive the money this winter.

Recent DWP figures showed that the average processing time for Pension Credit applications was previously around eight weeks. Since then, the announcement of the Winter Fuel Payment cuts has sparked a rush of applications, piling more pressure on the system and potentially making delays even longer.

It is shameful that Labour Birmingham this week rejected our motion calling on the Government to reverse its appalling decision and protect vulnerable pensioners from fuel poverty. Conservative Councillors here in Sutton Coldfield will continue to speak up for local vulnerable pensioners.

If you want to add your voice to the campaign to keep the Winter Fuel Allowance you can do so by signing Age UK’s petition to 'Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners' via this link:

https://campaigns.ageuk.org.uk/page/154268/-/1

All set for Remembrance Sunday

Above: Following the traditional march from Holy Trinity, Royal Sutton Coldfield will once again fall silent for Remembrance Sunday.

This weekend brings our Remembrance Sunday commemorations - starting with the service in Holy Trinity Parish Church at 9.45am, followed by the traditional march up to the war memorial in King Edwards Square.

At 11am civic dignitaries, the Royal British Legion, representatives of the Sea, Navy, Armed Forces Cadets, other Military Groups, Civilian Groups, Schools, Uniform Organisations, and residents will observe the national two-minute silence at the War Memorial followed by wreath laying.

Our Royal Town Mayor and I will be laying wreaths on behalf of the Town as we commemorate those who have given so much to protect our country down the years.

For those unable to attend, the Church Service will be live streamed to the Holy Trinity Parish Church Facebook page.  

Afterwards, there will be the usual enjoyable gathering at the Royal British Legion.

Please be aware that road closures will be in place at King Edward Square from 6pm on Saturday 9th November and around King Edward Square / Anchorage Rd, along High Street, Mill Street and Holland Drive from10:30am until midday on Sunday 10thNovember.

My sincere thanks to Adrian Harvey, for so generously providing free parking at the Townhouse Hotel for residents of King Edward Square.

New proposal for manufacturing plant at Peddimore

Above: An artist’s impression of the Rockwool facility at Peddimore.

I have been notified of a proposal to build a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for the production of non-combustible stone wool insulation at Peddimore.

Rockwool manufactures insulation materials that help to make buildings safe, healthy and comfortable by improving energy efficiency, acoustics and fire safety.

It is a global brand, with 12,000 employees in 40 countries. Its existing UK site, in South Wales, has been in operation for 45 years.

It has been reported that they have bought 46 hectares of land at Peddimore for the new facility.

They are in the early stages with their proposals, and in the coming weeks will begin consulting with the community so that local people can find out more, ask questions, and provide feedback.

While I welcome the news that another business wants to invest in Sutton Coldfield, I also want to ensure there is a proper consultation over the proposals.

The Peddimore site already has outline planning permission for a manufacturing facility, and Rockwool intend to apply to Birmingham City Council to adapt the existing planning permissions to their specific proposal. As more information becomes available, I would welcome views on the proposal.

I understand a leaflet is being distributed by Rockwool this week.

Working to improve Sutton transport connections

Above: With Paul Butters, of Midlands Connect.

This week, I met with Paul Butters, Director of Communications at Midlands Connect, to discuss vital transport improvements for the Royal Town. Our conversation covered three major topics: reinstating pre-COVID service levels on the Cross City Line, expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, and introducing a streamlined, contactless payment system for local transit. Each of these measures holds potential to enhance convenience, sustainability, and accessibility.

The reintroduction of pre-pandemic Cross City Line train services was at the forefront of our discussion. Midlands Connect aims to restore frequency to six trains per hour, or one every ten minutes — a key enhancement to regional mobility. The Cross City Line has long served as a crucial link, connecting Sutton Coldfield with Birmingham and other major destinations, supporting economic growth, and easing congestion. Thanks to the work of the former Mayor Andy Street, we also have magnificent new rolling stock, serving our stations throughout Sutton Coldfield. Returning to pre-COVID service levels would not only improve travel reliability but also bolster local businesses by providing consistent, easy access for both employees and customers.

Recognizing the growing number of Electric Vehicle owners in the community, we also discussed Midlands Connect’s research and plans to roll out EV chargers throughout the Royal Town. Improved access to charging facilities would encourage a broader adoption of EVs, helping reduce local emissions and supporting the town’s sustainability goals.

Another important part of our discussion centered around ticketing reform. Midlands Connect envisions a contactless, pay-as-you-go system — similar to London’s Oyster card scheme — that would ensure travellers receive the best available fare. This reform would simplify journeys across the region by eliminating the need for physical tickets and providing fare transparency, helping to make public transport more accessible and affordable.

Getting together to boost investment

Above: With fellow MPs, including Saqid Bhatti, MP for Meridan and Dr Neil Shastri Hurst, MP for Solihull at the Chamber meeting.

I joined other members of Parliament at a meeting organised by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce to discuss ways of working more closely together to bring inward investment into our Region.

Locally, of course, have our own brilliant local branch – the Royal Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce, led by President Naeem Arif. But there is real strength in these regional meetings, which can help bring in vital investment by working together.

The loss of Andy Street - our brilliant former regional mayor whose work brought in millions of pounds of investment throughout the West Midlands - is clearly significant.

 What’s more, the recent tax raising budget and the risen tax on jobs are also unhelpful to our economic prospects.

Nevertheless, with determination and clear plans I am sure the Birmingham business community, assisted by the Chamber of Commerce’s clarity of vision, will continue the work which Andy Street so brilliantly led.

Annual dinner is a sell-out!

Above: This year’s sell-out Conservative Association annual dinner is at a ‘new’ venue – the ancient New Hall Hotel.

I’m delighted to confirm that this year’s Conservative Association annual dinner in Sutton Coldfield has sold out!

Our speaker this year is a highly distinguished parliamentarian and an experienced Cabinet Minister - former Chancellor of Exchequer, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, Member of Parliament for Godalming and Ash.

The black-tie dinner will be held at New Hall Hotel and Spa, on Friday 15th November. My thanks to everyone who organised the event, and all those who bought tickets – I’ve no doubt it will be a night to remember!

Towns Fund cash for Sutton

Earlier this year, it was announced that Sutton Coldfield was to get a £20 million pot of cash from the Government’s Towns Fund.

The Royal Town was one of 20 around the UK to benefit from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and the Communities’ Long-Term Plan for Towns. It will be spent over a decade under the guidance of a ‘Town Board’, which is already being assembled.

I recently met with the UK Minister for Local Government, Alex Norris, to discuss updates on Town Funds project timelines, funding, and planning steps.

During the meeting, it was confirmed that all local project plans across the country are now delayed until spring 2025, with Treasury funding scheduled for release in the 2026/27 fiscal year. Local authorities, however, may proceed with preliminary actions in advance of the official funding release.

For the upcoming year, £200,000 has been allocated to support the same local area and project objectives. Additionally, I also inquired about the possibility of joining the Board, with a response pending the revised prospectus.

I will meet again with the Minister this month to discuss the specifics of the 2026/27 funding release, particularly given its timing near the election season.

Remembering the fallen

This week I placed a cross on behalf of the Royal Town in the Court of the Garden of Remembrance at the House of Commons — a dedicated space to honour and reflect on the sacrifices of those who have served in the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth, past and present.

Each cross stands as a symbol of our shared respect and collective memory, bringing communities together to pay tribute to the legacy of those who have defended our freedoms.

Dignity in Dying

Ahead of the Dignity in Dying debate on Friday, 29th November, I spoke on a panel at the Society of Conservative Lawyers in support of the Assisted Dying Bill.

In a compelling discussion on the ethical, legal, and personal aspects of end-of-life decisions, I spoke to highlight the profound impact of the current law, emphasizing how it forces individuals to plan their deaths in secrecy, often driven by fear and isolation.

I also shared heart breaking stories -from my work and time in the Royal Town -of families who have witnessed their loved ones suffer due to the lack of access to assisted dying and emphasized that palliative care has its limits in alleviating the suffering of some individuals.

The widely drawn panel offered a wide range of insights and perspectives, including: Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, Sir Max Hill KCB KC, and Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE KC.

Recalling my own time as a UN peacekeeper

This week I spoke alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Constantinos Kombos, at the Cyprus Parliamentary Annual Event.

Reflecting on my own experience in Cyprus as a UN Peacekeeper with the Royal Tank Regiment, I emphasized the vital importance of UK-Cyprus cooperation in areas of defence, intelligence, and humanitarian aid.

I also highlighted the collaborative efforts through the Amalthia initiative, underscoring how these partnerships strengthen security and support in both regions.

Further information

Upcoming Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID events

NOVEMBER

• Sunday 17th November – Vegan Market

• Sunday 24th November - 10am-3pm – Farmers & Craft Market

• Christmas events TBC

Get involved with UK Parliament Week this November

Over 2,000 organisations all over the country have already signed up for this year’s UK Parliament Week (18-24 November).

Join in to explore UK Parliament. Find out what happens at Parliament and learn how your group can get involved. 

Sign up today to get your free kit!

https://www.ukparliamentweek.org/en/sign-up/?utm_campaign=0524-mar-ee-ukpw24-signup&utm_medium=email&utm_source=yourukparliamentb2c

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