All of us in Walsall were shocked to hear of the vicious attack on a young woman from our community in October and my thoughts and prayers are with the survivor and her family and friends.

It is all the more shocking as it came after a vicious attack on 9 September 2025 in Oldbury on another young woman. 

I was invited to visit the Guru Nanak Gurdwara on 14 September 2025 to speak to the congregation and meet the General Secretary and trustees about the increase in hate crime generally and more specifically on the Sikh community. 

Following the meeting, I wrote to the Home Secretary, Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP and the Minister for Security, Dan Jarvis MP on 17 September 2025 to request for an extension of funding for protective security for places of worship to Gurdwaras who were previously refused funding for protective measures.

I met with the Minister for Security, Dan Jarvis MP on 21 October 2025. I suggested there needs to be a joined up response as the Home Office is dealing with one aspect, and Communities and Local Government are dealing with another, community cohesion and I suggested to the Minister that this could be coordinated by the Cabinet Office so that the issue does not fall between two departments. The Minister said he would take that away and see what can be done. The Places of Worship Scheme is open for applications to the fund for protective measures. 

On Tuesday 4 November 2025 I attended a roundtable meeting with the Minister for Policing and Crime, Sarah Jones MP, (main picture) to discuss the racism affecting all our communities who feel under threat. The Minister heard from MPs about our own experiences and the threats women and girls are facing. 

Information:

Gurdwaras in the West Midlands have come together to fund and distribute rape alarms. Please contact your local Gurdwara to request one if you need it. 

The Police have provided the following resources to help report major incidents and safety concerns:

The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP)- lists active investigations in the West Midlands area and allows you to share any information that may assist the Police in one of these investigations. Under ‘Areas’, click on West Midlands Police to submit information, including photos and videos: https://mipp.police.uk/ 

If you have any safety concerns in public places, you can report these areas on the national StreetSafe website: https://www.streetsafetool.com, which allows you to anonymously report issues like poorly lit streets, abandoned buildings, or vandalism, as well as instances where you feel unsafe due to someone following or verbally abusing you.

If you are witnessing a life in danger or a crime is in progress, always dial 999.

In my view it was owing to the CCTV shared by the public as many of you have seen it that the perpetrator was found and charged. I would like to thank the Police for their work in apprehending and enabling the perpetrator to be charged with a series of offences so quickly after the crimes were committed.  

The survivors and the community know that the whole community supports them.

I visited Ryecroft Community Hub on Saturday 9 November 2025. I met David, Paul and Craig to talk about the energy initiatives which will help my constituents.  Walsall Energy Action Project will help save money on your energy bills and support positive climate action in your community.I was given a draft excluder For WEAP website click here. For Rycroft Community Hub website click here. For more simple tips on how to keep warm and save money see below:

I visited MindKind to hear about their new projects on 7 November 2025.  Ian Robertson was instrumental in setting up the group in their current building. 

The MindKind Projects were set up in 2019 to stand up for mental health in the workplace. To bridge the gap in support services. And to encourage people to be kind to themselves.

They have support group, community centre, information hub, they even have some courses. 

For more information about them check their website click here

 

The Bill will safeguard public money by reducing public sector fraud, error and debt. The Bill makes provisions to better identify, prevent and deter public sector fraud and error and enable the better recovery of money owed to the taxpayer where public money has been stolen or overpaid.

After the House of Lords passed the Bill at Third Reading on 23 October 2025, the House of Commons met to consider one amendment from the Lords: 

Motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 43, regarding reviews relating to eligibility verification measures: Ayes 268, Noes 80.

The reasons have been reported and communicated to the Lords, who will debate them on 11 November 2025.

The House of Commons last considered the bill on 15 September 2025 and the House of Lords then debated the Bill on 28 October 2025 and returned it to the House of Commons with their proposed amendments on Wednesday 5 November 2025. There were 5 amendments and reasons selected for debate and votes:











Motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 1B, which would remove the automatic right for qualifying workers to be offered guaranteed hours: Ayes 310, Noes 155.



















Motion relating to Lords Reason 120B, regarding the removal of protection from unfair dismissal to apply from the beginning of a person’s employment: Ayes 308, Noes 153.


















Motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 48B, which would create a legal definition of seasonal work: Ayes 310, Noes 150.
















Motion relating to Lords Reason 72B, regarding retaining the requirement for members of a trade union to opt in to contributing to the political fund of the union.












Ayes 312, Noes 151.




Government amendment (a) in lieu of LA62, regarding the consideration of the effect that alternative forms of industrial action ballots other than postal have on the proportion of those eligible to vote was passed:
Ayes 311, Noes 152.


The Bill will now return to the House of Lords for further consideration on 17 November 2025.


As I chaired the Bill Committee I was unable to vote.