I visited the Walsall Leather Museum in an act of solidarity following a Scrutiny Committee which gave no answers to the questions raised by Lauren Broxton.  Walsall Council has announced that Walsall Leather Museum will close in 2026, despite a stay of execution earlier this year. Following cabinet approval on Wednesday 15 October , the building on Littleton Street West will now be sold to Walsall College to provide a new SEND provision.  However the fight to keep it open is not over. Walsall College has other land that can be used for their Adult SEND provision which should be purpose built to cater for the needs of their students. In February 2025 a petition against the closure and relocation of the Museum attracted 6,491 signatures and followed a protest held by heritage campaigners who shared their disapproval of removing the Walsall landmark. In September 2025, the decision was brought before a scrutiny committee. 
No information was provided as to the costs and savings or where the new location would be.


This is well visited Museum , which has been a focus of the Town's heritage.  Lauren Broxton was inspired by her visit to the Museum to work with leather and on of her creations is on display. (see below right).Children can make keyrings and learn about this important trade which put Walsall on the map. Walsall FC is known as the Saddlers. 

The RSPCA has launched its Fireworks Campaign #KindSpark which aims to promote kindness in communities to better protect pets and people during the firework season. This year the public are encouraged to Help Quieten The Noise and consider attending organised events this firework season. Here are 5 top tips to help support our pets.

I chaired the 10th sitting of the Public Bill Committee on 23 October 2025, scrutinising the Bill line by line. This session considered Arrangements relating to single tiers of local government.

This Bill reforms local government in England and gives communities the right to shape their local areas. It will also restore the supplementary vote system for mayoral elections in England, and police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales. This will increase the accountability Mayors have to their electorate, including a Public Accounts Committee to scrutinise their spending. 

There will be further sessions where the Bill will undergo further line by line scrutiny in Committee.   

The Committee is expected to conclude and report to the House by Wednesday 12 November 2025.

 

 

Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating the Festival of Lights in Britain, and to Hindu, Sikh, Jain and some Buddhist communities all over the world.

Diwali is a multi-faith festival spread over five days and is celebrated differently by different faiths.

In Hindu mythology, Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana to their homeland Ayodhya after 14 years in exile. Rama had defeated the evil demon king Ravana. Hindus also pay homage to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth.

For Sikhs, Diwali marks the celebration of the arrival of Guru Har Gobind at the Golden Temple in Amritsar after freeing himself from the prison of the Mughal Emperor.

Buddhists celebrate Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism following the Kalinga War. In Jainism, it is on this day that Lord Mahavira achieved Nirvana.

Throughout all of these backgrounds, Diwali is a festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, hope over despair

As we look forward to more growth, opportunity and stability, let us remember the timeless message of Diwali: that light will ultimately triumph over darkness. Shubh Diwali!

There was a further debate on the Bill in a Committee of the Whole House on Monday 20 October 2025.

The Bill seeks to implement the Treaty between  Mauritius and the UK concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia, terminating UK sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) in domestic law and amending legislation on nationality.

There were four amendments selected for debate and votes:

Amendment 7, which would require the Secretary of State to present a memorandum to Parliament on the obligations under international law which require the UK to cede sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to the Government of Mauritius. Ayes 174, Noes 321

Amendment 9, which would require that the Government undertake negotiations with Mauritius on a Chagossian right of return and on a referendum, with a report laid before Parliament on the outcome of the negotiations. Ayes 83, Noes 319.

Clause 2, on the dissolution of the British Indian Ocean Territory. Ayes 318, Noes 174

New Clause 1, which requires parliamentary approval for any payment by the UK Government to the Government of Mauritius under the Treaty. Ayes 172 Noes 322

The motion was read that the Bill be read a third time and passed: Ayes 320, Noes 171. The Bill will now go to the House of Lords for further consideration and scrutiny.