Man’s best friend! Maverick the Red Fox Lab!

Go INVICTUS. Good luck to all those taking part and thanks to everyone for supporting! See you there soon!!

It was an honour to talk about the @DefenceHQ cadet forces in Parliament, and discuss the huge benefit they have on our society. Cadet forces provide a challenging and stimulating contemporary cadet experience that develops and inspires young people within a safe environment. I recently visited the Birmingham Sherbourne Sea Cadets in Cotteridge, and I was amazed by the programme as well as the cadets' tenacity, drive and commitment to self-improvement. #sellyoak #cotteridge #cadets #seacadets #cadetforces

It was a pleasure to speak at the @PoppyLegion and @poppyscotland Parliamentary Reception. These charities provide lifelong support to current and former serving personnel and their families. The two organisations have over 100,000 volunteers. I'm in awe of these incredible individuals and the fantastic work they do. #royalbritishlegion #poppyscotland #armedforces #supportingarmedforces #forcesfamilies

I recently met with @WestMidsPCC Simon Foster to discuss the fight against crime in Birmingham. We discussed many widespread concerns including neighbourhood policing, violence against women and girls, youth violence and knife crime, confidence and trust in policing, road safety and speed enforcement cameras, antisocial behaviour, and police funding. Just last week, @UKLabour announced that funding to kickstart the delivery of 13,000 more neighbourhood police officers has been doubled to £200 million to make the country’s streets safer. Every week, constituents write to me about crime blighting our communities, whether that’s knife crime or anti-social behaviour. When I was elected in July, I pledged to work on making our streets safer, and I am determined to keep working with @WMPolice, the PCC, the Government, and @BhamCityCouncil to make good on that. #sellyoak #WestMidlands #pcc #fightagainstcrime #neighbourhoodpolicing #saferstreets

I recently visited Kings Norton Girls School @KNGSlife where I spoke to students including the A-Level Politics class about my role as a Member of Parliament. I explained my role as MP for Selly Oak, detailing the kind of work I undertake on behalf of constituents both in Selly Oak and Westminster. I then held an informal Q&A session with the students, fielding questions on issues that ranged from my views on assisted dying to the planned upgrades of Kings Norton train station. I really value my visits to Selly Oak’s secondary schools. They give me the opportunity to listen to the concerns of local young people as well as to discuss the topics that are of most importance to them. At Kings Norton Girls School, it was fantastic to see a group of young people who are engaged with current affairs and the issues that affect us locally, nationally and internationally. #sellyoak #schoolvisit #politicsstudents #secondaryschool #sixthform

Meeting and talking to Veterans across the country is so important to understand the feeling at the grass roots level, see what’s working and what isn’t. Lots of change to come. Thank you to all those that took time out to tell me their remarkable stories, and thank you to all those that stand up for Veterans @ChrisBloore.

A reminder to come and meet me this Saturday morning at Billesley Ark from 1000 to 1130 if you need advice or have an issue you would like to discuss with me. The advice centre is for residents who live in the Selly Oak constituency. You can check which constituency you live in here: #sellyoak #billesley #advicesurgery #mpsurgery

Today, the Chancellor set out how this @UKLabour Government will kickstart growth. This means more jobs, more investment, more growth, more opportunity, and more pounds in people’s pockets in Selly Oak and across the country. #sellyoak #Labour #LabourParty #Growth

I was welcomed into @brumshospice recently to meet their new Chief Executive, Paul, and to catch up with the fantastic staff. I met staff and relatives across the ‘Hospice at Home’ and Inpatient teams, and it was great to hear how appreciated they feel. I also spoke to the amazing Facilities and Catering team who ensure that the accommodation and meals are the best they can offer, and I had private conversations with some of the patients. I am incredibly supportive of the brilliant work that Birmingham Hospice does not only across its two sites, but also across the city in people’s homes. The social impact this has across Birmingham should not be underestimated. #sellyoak #hospicecare #hospice #PalliativeCare #endoflifecare #healthcare

RT @DefenceHQ: This government is dedicated to support all veterans across Wales. @AlistairCarns saw first-hand the vital role of supporti…

A reminder that I’ll be at the Quaker Meeting House in Cotteridge this Friday evening (31 January), listening and talking to constituents about energy and the environment. The evening is hosted by Bournville Parish Church, with Cotteridge Quakers. Alongside me on the panel are Revd Richard Wharton (Vicar of Bournville Parish Church), Chris Martin (Cotteridge Quakers) and Cllr Mary Locke (Birmingham City Council). We are looking forward to hearing local residents' concerns and issues, taking questions, and talking about what is being done around energy and the environment on both a local and national level. Please do join us if you can: 📆Friday 31 January from 7pm to 8.15pm (Doors open at 6.30pm) 📌Quaker Meeting House, 23A Watford Road, Cotteridge, B30 1JB

It was great to meet some of the 48 cadets at @HabsKnights in Bromley last week alongside @CMcKinnellMP We saw first-hand how being a part of a school cadet contingent can make a huge difference to pupils’ lives – from building resilience, to learning crucial practical and social skills which will help them to succeed. #Cadets

Today is #HolocaustMemorialDay Earlier today, I signed the @HolocaustUK Book of Commitment, and at 8pm this evening, along with countless other people across the globe, I lit a candle and put it in my window to honour those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as to pay tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors. Holocaust Memorial Day is a chance for people to come together, learn from and about the past, and take actions to make a better future. 2025 is a significant anniversary year, marking 80 years since the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps of Europe. We remember the 6 million Jewish people and all those who lost their lives in the Holocaust. Their stories remind us why we must all stand against hatred and ensure such atrocities are never repeated. #NeverAgain #LightTheDarkness

Burns nigh first began in 1801 when nine friends got together on the fifth anniversary of the poets death. The tradition continues to this day with people tucking into a Scottish supper of haggis, neeps and tatties. (And whisky of course) Translation for non Scots… Haggis=Contains sheep's pluck, minced with chopped onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, and cooked traditionally encased in the animal's stomach though now an artificial casing often used instead. Neeps= turnip. Tatties= mashed potatoes. Whisky= wonderful. Enjoy everyone!

Celebrating Democracy Day at Water Mill Primary School 🗳 I really enjoyed joining the Year 6 pupils at @WaterMill_bham Primary School in Selly Oak last week as they learned more about the importance of being an active participant in our democracy. Thanks to the staff for inviting me along, and to all the pupils for their interesting questions. It was incredibly impressive to hear what they had been learning about democracy and to see many of them taking an active role themselves, such as sitting on the school council. All of the children were very engaged, and I definitely spotted some future MP material in the room! #sellyoak #primaryschool #democracyday

Earlier this evening, I paid my respects to young Leo Ross and met with some local residents, as well as Leo's teachers and @WMPolice I also went to see a piece of art which has been spraypainted by a local graffiti artist opposite the front gates of Leo's school, in his honour. What has taken place here is absolutely unacceptable. This is a shocking crime that should never have happened, and we must work exceptionally hard to make sure it never happens again.

Defence Select Committee inquiry into the Armed Forces Covenant In advance of the Government’s work to enshrine the Armed Forces Covenant into law, the Defence Select Committee has launched an inquiry to look at how the Covenant is failing in its current form to inform the upcoming debate on this important legislation. We are particularly looking for examples of where the current Covenant has not managed to prevent serving personnel and their families from being disadvantaged by their service. Please submit evidence at the link below.