West Midlands: No-one left behind

I am proud to live in the West Midlands. It is a great part of the country, with a rich history and a dynamic sense of diversity and inclusion. And it is an area that seems to offer hope and promise. And it is in that context that the mayoral election coming up on the 4^th May seems to be an incredible opportunity for a new direction – one in which we see some real development that benefits everyone and in which no-one is left behind.

That is the promise being offered by James Burn, the Green Party candidate for the West Midlands mayor.

In his manifesto, James Burn outlines his vision for a better West Midlands:

This manifesto is my vision for a better West Midlands. A West Midlands we can create together. A happier, healthier and more sustainable West Midlands where no-one is left behind.

This is a bold and ambitious manifesto, but one which seems to get to the heart of what is needed to make the West Midlands a better, healthier and more sustainable region. James sets out his vision for what is needed in terms of greater transparency, accountability and inclusion in the governance of the region; for a growing economy; more accessible transport and housing; a healthier environment; steps to boosting equality and diversity; tackling crime; and working for greater wellbeing and public health.

And, although ambitious, I see this as a credible and achievable manifesto, and one which James seems to have the credentials and commitment to see through.

James is currently an elected councillor for Chelmsley Wood in Solihull. He is Leader of the Opposition on Solihull Council (one of the 7 constituent members of the WMCA).

James has lived in the West Midlands for more than 15 years and has worked across much of the region in the private, public and voluntary sectors including as a senior policy advisor within local government. He is a qualified social worker and currently runs his own small business.

So I will be voting for James Burn in the forthcoming Mayoral election.

I encourage all my West Midlands friends to read his manifesto and to take this opportunity to bring about a positive change for our region.

James Burn’s Mayoral Manifesto

You can read James Burn’s manifesto by clicking here, or on his website: www.jamesburn.org

Here are some highlights:

Democracy

Ensuring that the West Midlands Combined Authority is transparent and accountable and truly representative of the people of the West Midlands;
Taking a lead in only taking the average salary for the West Midlands and being transparent in his own expenses;
Engaging more directly with the communities he is representing

The economy

Championing inclusive growth and supporting small enterprises, co-operatives and local businesses in the region;
Supporting more apprenticeships and skills training;
Pressing for the living wage throughout the West Midlands, reporting on the gap between the highest and lowest paid workers in the authority, and lobbying for a trial of universal basic income in the region

Transport

Bringing public transport back into public ownership;
Improving local bus, metro and rail links and ensuring they are more accessible to all, including students, the elderly, the disabled, and parents with young children;
Developing a long-term plan to increase walking and cycling and making them safer and more accessible to all

Housing

Making the provision of more housing, including more affordable housing, a top priority;
Improving standards for private landlords;
Helping homeless people get back on their feet and stay there by the provision of more housing options, linking together homeless services, and ensuring the provision of good information to those in need

Environment and Energy

Working towards a clean and affordable, low-carbon energy system;
Setting up a municipally owned West Midlands Energy Company to provide clean and affordable energy to the West Midlands;
Protecting wildlife and green spaces and making them more accessible to all

Equality and Diversity

Challenging discrimination and inequality throughout the West Midlands;
Promoting open working and collaboration between faith groups, BAME communities and women’s groups and the police, schools, voluntary groups and others;
Ensuring more women, members of BAME communities and people from socio-economically disadvantaged groups are able to start up their own businesses;

Crime and Community

Commission community and voluntary organisations to investigate ways in which the police can improve their relationships with local communities;
Targeting sexual violence and abuse of both adults and children through police training, reporting of violence and abuse, and public education;
Focusing more resources on tackling the causes of crime including evidence-based drugs policies, restorative justice, and support to reduce reoffending

Wellbeing and Public Health

Institute well-being measures for the success of the combined authority broken down across geographical areas and socio-economic groups;
Tackling income inequalities;
Promoting programmes to improve mental health and wellbeing

Politics and greed

In May this year, George Osborne, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and MP for Tatton in Cheshire, will take up a sixth job as editor of the London Evening Standard.

Although it is reportedly common for sitting MPs to hold other jobs, I struggle to see how he can take on this new role with any sense of integrity. Mr Osborne, reportedly, already has four other jobs besides representing his constituency[1]:

He is an advisor to the American fund management firm Blackrock, for which he is reportedly paid £650,000 a year for one day a week’s work;
He is a speaker at the Washington Speaker’s Bureau, through which he apparently earned £800,000 in 15 speaking engagements last year;
He is a fellow at the US think tank, McCain Institute, from which he receives a £120,000 annual stipend;
He is chairman of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

Time, money and conflicts of interest

As an ordinary mortal who struggles to fit all my work commitments into the time available, I find it hard to understand how Mr Osborne can possibly do justice to representing his constituency with all those other roles competing for his time. Even if the other roles only take up a small proportion of his time, surely editing a daily newspaper cannot just be fitted into his spare time.

Last week the Economist reported that since being ejected from the treasury in July, Mr Osborne has taken part in just 6 debates in Parliament and has yet to submit a written question.[2]

As MP for Tatton, Mr Osborne represents 85,000 people. As chairman of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, he is meant to be promoting the development and interests of the North of England. In contrast, as editor of a London newspaper, he will have a powerful voice in the capital. It is hard to see how this will not cause any conflict of interest. When called on to vote on parliamentary debates will he vote according to his paper’s position, in the interests of the northern powerhouse, to represent his constituents, following his party’s whip, or will he vote primarily in his own interests?

Which brings us to the sickening greed of someone who can accept remuneration of £12,500 per day as an advisor, or charge an average £53,000 for an after-dinner speech. For the year ending 5 April 2015, median gross earnings for full-time employees in the UK were £27,600. While I support MPs receiving appropriate remuneration for the work they do, and I don’t have a problem with them taking on extra roles if they can manage them without compromising their primary role, I do have concerns about the validity of someone representing their constituency, while earning, in one after-dinner speech, nearly twice what their average constituent will earn in a year.

Seeking integrity: the Green Party’s candidate for West Midlands’ mayor

Reeling from the sickening reality of such obscene payments, it came as a breath of fresh air to read the pledges of the Green Party’s candidate for West Midlands’ mayor, James Burn.

In May this year, the West Midlands will elect its first ever mayor.

James Burn, currently leader of the opposition on Solihull council, and the Green party candidate has pledged, if he is elected, to refuse the majority of the proposed £100,000 salary, accepting instead the average wage of the West Midlands, of £29,000. The remainder he has pledged to donate to charity and local start-ups.

As a local councillor, James has been consistent in standing up for social justice and ethical principles[3]:

He played a key role in Birmingham’s first Living Wage campaign;
He has continued to call for Solihull Council to pay a living wage instead of giving big pay rises to directors;
He is supporting investment in the least well off areas of the West Midlands;
He is an unpaid board member for the Advanced credit union, an ethical community bank covering Solihull and North East Birmingham;
He has served as a volunteer for a wide range of charities.

In addition to his personal pledge in relation to the mayoral salary, James has also pledged to set up a public forum with representatives from across the community to hold the mayor to account. Currently the arrangements include one small committee, chosen by the authority and meeting four times a year.

Integrity in Politics: going for Green not for greed

The contrast between these two politicians couldn’t be starker. And when it comes to our own democracy, whether in Parliament, or in our local combined authority, I would much rather be represented by someone who is clearly committed to social justice, to promoting well-being, to protecting our environment, and who isn’t afraid to live out their principles.

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/17/george-osborne-named-new-evening-standard-editor-newspaper

[2] Economist, 23.3.17: http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21719523-thats-not-oddest-part-time-career-mp-others-have-worked-playboy-or

[3] http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/west-midlands-mayor-candidate-james-12568183

Tag: West Midlands