This week’s Comprehensive Spending Review showed us a government focused on what matters to hardworking families. A government that knows we rely on our NHS when we’re unwell and on our schools to open doors for our children’s futures.
But the big question is: what does it mean for us here in the West Midlands? What does it say about the direction this government wants to take our region?
It starts at the kitchen table.
Because too many families in Birmingham and Solihull are still feeling the full weight of the cost-of-living crisis. I’ve spoken to parents who are skipping meals so their kids can eat. Teachers tell me that they’re buying hungry children breakfast out of their own pockets. It’s not just wrong. It’s heart-breaking. And it’s why we must act.
That’s why I’m proud that Labour has taken the bold decision to extend free school meals to every child in a household on Universal Credit. From this year, more than half a million children nationwide, including thousands across the West Midlands, will no longer have to face the school day on an empty stomach.
In Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North alone, there are 17,150 school-aged children in Universal Credit-claiming households who are now all entitled to free school meals. That’s not just a statistic; it’s a lifeline. That’s £500 a year back into the pockets of struggling families. It’s dignity, decency and fairness in action.
Because this is about more than food; it’s about hope. About what kind of country we want to be. Do we want a Britain where every child, no matter their background, gets the chance to learn, grow and thrive? I believe we do. And this policy is just the start.
But let’s be clear: feeding kids is the foundation. Giving them a future means investing in jobs, homes and transport, too.
That’s why I welcome the Chancellor’s announcement of a £2.6billion investment in the new East Birmingham tramline, a vital part of the UK Central Gateway plan. Led by our West Midlands Mayor, this bold initiative could unlock 7,700 new homes, create 55,000 high-quality jobs and attract £10billion in private investment. This is the kind of forward-looking strategy our region has needed for far too long.
It’s about building a new economy, rooted in opportunity, powered by fairness and driven by belief in our people.
So yes, this week was about numbers and budgets. But for us, it’s about lives. About giving every child in our neighbourhood a fair shot. About backing our families, building our communities and shaping a Britain that truly works for everyone.
That’s the Britain I’m fighting for.
