Dear John,

Across the constituency, and especially in Bartley Green and Quinton, access to public transport has often been difficult and that isn’t acceptable. So, I’m asking residents to tell me about their experiences of using the bus, what changes you would like to see moving forward and the transport requirements you think that the area needs.  
 
With this information, I’ll be speaking to the bus company so that the routes that have been cut and the times that have been changed, will be reviewed and all areas have the service they deserve.  

This week provided another opportunity to try and question Government ministers over their cuts to foreign aid and to ask them to stand by their actions and put these shortsighted cuts to a vote. 
 
In 2019/20, spending was cut by £712 million because of the economy shrinking. However, in 2021, this was reduced from 0.7% of the national income to 0.5%. In effect causing a double cut which will affect thousands of people around the world as well as at home. 
 
With Edgbaston constituency covering three of the five Birmingham located universities, planned cuts to research, which comes from the aid budget, will cause huge disruption to projects that are already in progress as well as damage to the city reputationally as a globally renowned research centre. 
At the University of Birmingham, more than 11 research projects have potentially been impacted with more uncertainty to follow. But, around the world there are hundreds more projects that are in a similar situation. How can the UK expect to retain our international reputation for world-leading research when the Government cuts funding so last minute, in such a strategically foolish manner? 
 
This was followed up later this week by the Government sneaking out their plans for aid spending in 2021 as a written statement. They’ve slashed humanitarian support in the middle of a global pandemic is callous and incredibly shortsighted. As the only G7 nation to cut aid, this is a retreat from our moral duty and people will lose their lives as a result. 

Over the last two years, England Men have won the Cricket World Cup, Warwickshire's Women's team had great success last year and Edgbaston Cricket Ground hosted one of the original sporting pilots in 2020. In Edgbaston where for many, cricket is an obsession, before the pandemic the sport was really gaining momentum. 
 
We now need that momentum back. From 10-15th June is the Edgbaston Test and it's the perfect opportunity to safely organise a trial, with backing from public health, where the ground could operate at 50% capacity, rather than the current 25%. 
 
Cricket is an iconic feature of the British summer, and the Test at Edgbaston would represent a great statement that Birmingham and Britain are back swinging and open for business.  

Last night you might have caught me on Newsnight speaking about the developing crisis with Covid in India. While the UK might be starting to cautiously reopen, India has recorded the highest one-day tally of new Covid-19 cases anywhere in the world and concerningly has detected another mutated strain. 
 
This is why getting vaccinated is so important. The UK Government should be pushing for an increase in the number of vaccines being manufactured and distributed globally to help people get vaccinated as soon as possible. Failing to get the pandemic under control by supporting poorer countries risks people's lives, the risk of mutations of the virus into new, deadly forms and inhibiting trade and the economic recovery nationally and around the world. And, while 50% of the UK population has received a first dose, only around 11% have been vaccinated in India. 
 
We should be sharing surplus vaccines as soon as possible with a plan set out by our government on how and when we will do that so that the Covax facility can in term plan for vaccine distribution. 

In March, Centre for Mental Health released a briefing examining young Black men's mental health during Covid-19. The paper explores evidence of the unequal effects of COVID-19 on young Black men, including insights from the Shifting the Dial partnership.  
 
The Government recently produced a roadmap for the easing of lockdown and next steps for recovery. However, there are concerns that compounding inequalities faced by young Black men are likely to result in a national pandemic response that does not sufficiently address their needs. We need to Fix It.  
 
Please join me as well as other leaders across health, education, local government and, of course, Centre for Mental Health who will share their views and reflections.  
 
The event will be held on Tuesday 27 April 2021, 10.30am-12pm via Zoom.