This week, the Building Safety Bill had its report stage in the House of Commons. Following Michael Gove’s announcement last week that the Government would now, finally seek to make developers pay for the remediation of dangerous cladding, I spoke to New Clause 3, Labour’s amendment that would protect leaseholders from the costs of not only cladding removal, but the remediation of non-cladding defects. I also called on the Government to do something to stop the soaring costs of insurance. Leaseholders in Ladywood are facing bills of over £500,000. This is after they have paid hundreds of thousands of pounds for new fire alarm systems and internal compartmentation to try to bring the risk down in their buildings, yet that is never reflected in the insurance premiums they are quoted. Insurance companies are profiting off of this scandal and I urged the Government to ensure that this issue is addressed when the Bill returns in the House of Lords.  

You can watch my contribution to the debate on building safety here: https://twitter.com/ShabanaMahmood/status/1483859900585365509  

If you are a business owner in Birmingham Ladywood, please make sure you look to see if you are eligible to apply for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant. This one-off grant aims to support businesses that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premises that trade in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors. Click here to apply: https://birmingham.grantapproval.co.uk/  

This week, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled Labour’s five point plan for a stronger economy, to give working people and businesses the security and prosperity they deserve. The plan includes delivering on Labour’s plan to create new apprenticeship opportunities, which would have seen 100,000 more apprenticeships available to young people this year. It would also ensure that ensure the jobs and industries are based in Britain through its’ £28 billion Climate Investment Pledge.