As parliament has been prorogued for the local elections and the new parliamentary session begins, my focus as your MP remains on our community priorities.
The proliferation of speculative developments continues and given the government’s agenda to increase numbers in Solihull by over 60 per cent means our precious greenbelt remains under threat. I am very clear we need a local plan but I will be campaigning to ensure infrastructure is in place to support any increase in population numbers. In short, the right housing needs to be in the right places with a brownfield first approach and infrastructure to go with it.
My campaign to secure an A&E and further resources for Solihull Hospital follows this. After having led a debate in Parliament I will be challenging government on what their future plans are for emergency health provision in Solihull. I don’t think they are moving fast enough.
As I have been campaigning for the local elections, many of you have expressed concern about crime in the borough. We all want to feel safe in our communities and we want our children to grow up safely. This is why I continue to campaign to keep Solihull police station open but also I want more visible policing. Under the previous Conservative Government, 20,000 additional police officers were recruited nationally, around 1,300 of which serving the West Midlands. During the General Election, the Government promised to recruit 13,000 more police officers. As of December 2025, we have 1,300 fewer. This is clearly not acceptable.
Through my role as Shadow Education Minister I will be leading the opposition’s response on the incoming Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms. My approach is very simple. Parents and children go through a lot to have their voices heard and any reforms should be centred around them.
Finally, I recognise times are still hard. Unemployment is higher and so is the cost of living. Hospitality businesses are finding it tough and young people need hope for the future. I will be fighting to ensure business retains a voice at a national level and the government remembers there is no magic money tree. Government spends money that is earned by good hard working people like the ones I am lucky enough to represent.
