National News

My speech on the Second Reading of the Pensions Bill, Monday 17th June 2013

Mr Speaker I’m grateful for the chance to follow the Secretary of State today. No-one could accuse him of underselling the Bill to the House this afternoon. So I hope he’ll forgive me for bringing him back down to earth…

 

My interview with the Andrew Marr Show, Sunday 9th April 2013

LIAM BYRNE, MP SHADOW WORK AND PENSIONS SECRETARY JUNE 9th2013   SOPHIE RAWORTH: Now it has been a pivotal week for Labour when the party finally seemed to embrace the austerity programme with Ed Balls hammering home the message of…

 

A million pushed into absolute poverty in just one year – my response to the new figures on poverty and living standards

The devastating verdict is in – in just one year this Government has pushed a million people into absolute poverty and progress in tackling relative child poverty has completely stalled. All of Labour’s good work in tackling poverty is being…

 

My interview on BBC News about today’s Labour Market Stats, 12th June 2013

BBC News Channel Wednesday, 12 June 2013   Speakers:        Liam Byrne                         Joanna Gosling                                     JG:                  We heard the Government’s perspective there: deep-seated challenges still to overcome but overall a good news day. Is that a view you’d share?…

 

Unemployment figures show practically zero progress tackling unemployment since last summer

The tiniest glimmer of light is to be welcomed but today’s figures confirm the awful truth that there’s been practically zero progress tackling unemployment since last summer. Pay-packets have continued to take an absolute hammering while the government is cutting…

 

Youth Contract shrouded in mystery as Minister refuses to publish data

Ministers are refusing to publish any data for the Youth Contract more than one year after the flagship scheme began. In a response to a Parliamentary Question Ministers pushed back the date for release data again amidst growing rumours that…

 

China can be the partner London so badly needs – my article in the Standard

Five and a half thousand miles from London in Rancho Mirage, California, President Obama and China’s new leader, Xi Jinping, sit down today for their first big summit. Not so long ago the American president was by far the more…

 

My speech on childcare and new social security to the Pre-School Learning Alliance Annual Conference

Childcare and the New Social Security Speech to Pre-School Learning Alliance Annual Conference Friday 7th June 2012 Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions   It’s a huge pleasure to have the chance to…

 

My interview with the Today Programme. Thursday 6th June 2013

LIAM BYRNE – Social Security reform     Today Programme Thursday, 06 June 2013   Speakers:        Liam Byrne                         Evan Davis                                     ED:                  I want you to avoid critiquing the Conservatives, the coalition’s, welfare policies because we’ve got a…

 

Turning to Face the East: my book launch today

  I’m delighted to announce the launch of my book, Turning to Face the East. The book is the story of a simple quest. We always knew this was going to be the Asian century but the great crash in…

 

Local News

Our first Mum’s Jobs Fair: Where do we go from here?

A big thanks to everyone who helped make our first ever Mum’s Jobs Fair such a big success today. We had a lot of training providers and lots of help and advice from colleges, Mumprenuers, and people who can help…

 

Liam’s Latest – May 2013

Dear friend,   I thought I’d drop you my new monthly update with some news about what we’re up to across Hodge Hill!   Youth jobs   This government is badly letting down our young people. I’m taking action to…

 

Response following my residents meeting at the Hodge Hill Primary Care Centre on 28 March 2013

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend another popular residents meeting before Easter – and thanks to all who sent back the surveys. Thanks too, to our hard-working local councillors who were able to join me. There were…

 

Results of the Kitts Green Survey

The results of my survey to Kitts Green residents are back, and here are the results: Do you think I should hold an older peoples forum? 91% said yes and 9% said no Should a bankers bonus be used to fund jobs…

 

The Government’s discredited policies deliver yet another set of dismal unemployment figures for Birmingham

“Three years on its now as clear the Government’s plan is failing Birmingham, and failing badly. At a time when hard pressed families in our city need decisive and credible action, this Government’s discredited policies deliver yet another set of…

 

My letter to residents after our meeting at the Pump, 16th Feb 13

                                                                                                    4 March 2013 Thanks to all those who were able to make it to my residents meeting at The Pump the other week, together with Cllr John Cotton.  There were three key local issues that residents wanted…

 

Budget day shows that George Osborne has failed Birmingham

“Budget day shows a clear sign that George Osborne has failed Birmingham.  “Unemployment in Birmingham is up again, now at 49,000 and we still have some of the worst youth unemployment hot spots in the country, and the problem is…

 

More land for Leigh Road school?

Leigh Road school is a great school, popular with local parents, and one of the first schools built in Hodge Hill when the city of Birmingham expanded its boundaries east a century ago to become the country’s second city. But…

 

‘We’re up for it’. South Birmingham and City College passionate about Hodge Hill youth jobs

Last Friday I caught up with Mike Hopkins, principal of South Birmingham and City College at his headquarters in Digbeth to talk about how the college can help in our fight for youth jobs.   The good news: Mike is…

 

As unemployment goes up in Hodge Hill and wages go down, I’m taking action

Today’s unemployment figures offered no respite for Hodge Hill as unemployment rose, yet still Ministers have no answers to Birmingham’s ongoing jobs crisis. We now have 6,860 on the dole in our constituency. It’s getting harder to keep a job…