NEWSLETTER #65Our plan for the West Midlands
This morning I was in Longbridge hearing from the Chancellor of the Exchequer about our plan for the West Midlands.
Since 2010 in the West Midlands 130,000 more jobs have been created, unemployment benefit claims are down 51 per cent, youth unemployment is down 62 per cent, 55,000 more businesses have been created, there have been 265,000 more apprenticeships, an income tax cut for 2.2 million people, saving them £825 a year typically, fuel duty has been cut for 3 million motorists, saving the average family around £10 every time they fill up, 140,000 more children are in Good or Outstanding schools, and one million pensioners are protected by our triple lock, which has increased the state pension by £950 a year.
- We'll grow the West Midlands economy and create 160,000 extra new jobs here, by backing small businesses with lower tax, and supporting the West Midlands' strengths, including science, manufacturing and engineering.
- We'll boost family incomes for 2.4 million people in the West Midlands, by cutting people's income tax. And we'll raise the tax free personal allowance to £12,500.
- We'll create 350,000 apprenticeships, 100,000 new good school places, and offer working families 30 hours of free childcare a week so that young people in the West Midlands have the best start in life.
- We'll support home ownership with Help to Buy, and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 245,000 housing association tenants in the West Midlands.
- We'll make a record £5.2 billion transport investment in the Midlands. We'll make improvements to the M6 and M42, and upgrade the M5 and A5. We'll freeze rail fares for five years, develop plans to electrify the railway between Birmingham and Bristol, and to Derby - on top of a £50 billion investment in high speed rail both north/south and east/west.
- A strong West Midlands economy will enable us to increase funding to the NHS in the West Midlands each and every year, fund generous state pensions and pay for other vital public services.
It's been another busy week, out and about with the team. Since my last newsletter I've been out meeting voters across the constituency. I also visited AMS with Sajid Javid on Friday, on Saturday I watched Redditch United beat Biggleswade Town, as well as presenting prizes to the junior teams, and on Tuesday I visited St Martin's Care Home, Haversham House and Bowood Court. I've also spoken at three election hustings at St John's Church, BBC West Midlands and Heart of Worcestershire College.
Best wishes
Karen
"Karen and her team are wonderfully committed to her constituents. To be treated with such dignity and respect, knowing how I suffer such serious mental health illness, only demonstrates that Karen has a hands on understanding of mental health and what an excellent MP she is."
Paul Checkley
Headless Cross
"Our village was recently presented with a challenging large scale development application that was a cause of great concern. We contacted Karen who was able to reassure us and provide a significant source of support. We had a phone call from her, with the information we needed, as soon as we returned from our initial meeting. Occasionally you need the support of your MP, Karen was there when it counted."
Jonathan Fletcher
Church Lench