Dear John,

Since the Government failed to secure our borders in time and the Delta variant reached Britain, we’ve seen Covid case rates once again rise at an alarming rate. This week we saw the Government announce a delay to the relaxation of social restrictions and Birmingham, move into enhanced measures. 
 
However, while case rates have been increasing, testing uptake in Birmingham has not increased and vaccination uptake has also been low. It is these issues which enhanced measures set out to address.  
 
We know that the Delta variant, which is now the dominant strain in Birmingham, is both more infectious and is more than twice as likely to lead to an individual being admitted to hospital than with the Alpha variant, without the protection the vaccine provides.  
 
Getting a vaccination is important more than ever. After being vaccinated twice, it is 92% effective against hospitalisation from the Delta variant. This is why Birmingham City Council has set up pop up vaccination centres in the 15 wards with the highest case rates and where vaccine uptake is low. This weekend (19 – 20 June), vaccines will also be available to anyone aged 18-39 at Aston Villa Football Club, the Holte End, from 10am-2pm. No appointment is needed and you don’t need to be registered with a GP. 
 
Last weekend, I received my second vaccine and I feel much more reassured knowing I have this added protection from Covid. The whole process has been quick, easy and is testament to all of our wonderful NHS key workers and volunteers. Vaccine uptake rates in our constituency have been variable and so I hope my positive experience, and the experiences of those around you, will be encouragement to book your vaccine appointment as soon as you are eligible. 

Monday 14 June marked four years since the Grenfell Tower fire disaster where 72 people lost their lives. Since then, thousands of people have been caught up in the fire cladding scandal, unable to sell their properties and forced to pay thousands of pounds in weekly bills.  
 
Labour has been fighting on behalf of these leaseholders to see that they are not faced with having to pay remediation work which would cost millions. Five times Labour has brought this to a vote. Five times the Conservative have voted against it.  
 
For four years leaseholders, including those in Edgbaston, have been left living in fear of the place they call home, wondering if their apartment will be the next disaster. The funding the Government promised has still not yet reached leaseholders and new research shows that it won’t be until 2043 that all buildings will be repaired. That’s another 22 years! It is unacceptable and puts residents at greater risk of being caught up in another disaster. Labour has called on Government to put a deadline in place for work to be completed by 2022. The Conservatives again voted against this, leaving residents feeling helpless and no end date in sight. 
 
I will continue to work with resident groups in Birmingham to make sure their voices are heard in parliament and we will continue to fight and pressure the Government to do the right thing.  
 
On Monday, I also joined with leaseholders from Hemisphere Apartments in Edgbaston, and spoke to BBC Midlands Today about the national cladding scandal. 

Over the last few years, I have worked with residents to call on Birmingham City Council to take action against the growing issue with fly-tipping and litter. We’ve had hot spots throughout the constituency where this has been a problem with Welsh House Farm in Harborne, Woodgate Valley Country Park or Hasbury Road in Bartley Green all regularly becoming sites for fly tipping.  
 
I’ve raised this with both the Cabinet Member responsible for waste, Cllr John O’Shea, as well as the Leader of the Council, Cllr Ian Ward and I am now really pleased to say that the council has committed over £7 million to help clear up the city.  
 
This will include extra collections in dumping hotspots; more mobile recycling vans; naming and shaming criminals who fly tip in our area and; recycling unwanted electrical items. 

I will be working with our excellent local councillors, Cllrs Kate Booth, Jayne Francis, Sharon Thompson and Carl Rice, to ensure we get the full-range of measures to clean up our communities.

I will be keeping you posted as soon as the schedule is confirmed for these community clean ups. 

The impact of Brexit will hit EU citizens from 30th June. EU nationals living in the UK have just 12 days left to apply for post-Brexit settled status before they can no longer claim their rights under freedom of movement rules. After this date, anyone wishing to live and work in the UK will have to apply for immigration status through the new post-Brexit system.  
 
Latest figures show that 5.4 million people have applied to the scheme since it was launched two years ago. If you are an EU Citizen and have not yet applied or need advice on applying, please contact me on [email protected] 

With the 2022 Commonwealth Games getting nearer, the anticipation is ramping up and all eyes are starting to turn to Birmingham. It will be a really exciting time for Edgbaston with many events and activities taking place across the constituency. In recognition of this, yesterday, New Zealand took the opportunity to be the first country to announce their base, or “House” as it is known, and have said that their whole team will be based at Edgbaston Golf Club for Birmingham 2022.  
 
Hopefully, many of you will have seen in my previous weekly update that the recruitment of 13,000 volunteers has begun and will have started your applications. Now, there’s more positive news that an additional £2 million in funding has been secured for the Birmingham 2022 Creative City Grants.  
 
The programme will look to fund 150 separate projects that will fill the city with creative work of all artforms. The Games are looking for community groups who will work with artists so that every single ward in area has at least one artistic project.