It’s another busy time for MPs as proceedings in the Commons are paused for the party conference season. For Labour, it’s where party members come together to help shape policy, and we will no doubt see a number of positive announcements, many of which will directly impact us here in Southampton.
I also have a big announcement of my own. Since my last column, my husband and I have become proud parents for the first time. We’re thrilled to welcome our beautiful daughter into the world.
A huge thank you to the brilliant team at Princess Anne Hospital for their care and to everyone who has sent kind words and support. It’s been a rollercoaster journey, and now we’re looking forward to this new adventure – sleepless nights included!
Although I’m on maternity leave, you can still contact me as usual. I’ll be back in Parliament early next year, but in the meantime, I’ll continue to work remotely, and you’ll still see me around Southampton with my baby, attending a few events locally and catching up with residents, as well as always pushing for Southampton to be at the top of the government’s agenda.
Some recent highlights include successfully securing £11.5 million in funding for the Connect to Work programme in Southampton and the wider region. With one in four young people in our city not currently in employment, education, or training, it’s vital that we create opportunities for everyone to succeed.
I’ve spoken to many residents who want to do more but simply need the right support and opportunities. This funding will provide exactly that—whether through one-to-one mentoring, or by helping local businesses take on additional staff who may have greater needs. This is a vital and much-needed investment that will open doors for hundreds of people across Southampton.
I have also been campaigning hard for additional resources from the government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods programme. This will mean millions are allocated directly to the neighbourhoods that need it most. For Southampton Test I have secured £20 million of government funding for people in Millbrook and Redbridge to invest in their communities, and it will be those local communities who get to decide how and what it is spent on. It will be a real game changer.
Alongside getting extra national investment into Southampton, I’m also working to get local resources too! Particularly when it comes to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. Everyone deserves to feel safe where they live and work. One of my ongoing campaigns is to open a face-to-face police counter in Shirley. Residents and businesses endured months of vandalism and abuse from a group of teenagers earlier this year and while the situation has seen some improvement, it’s clear Shirley and the surrounding areas need a stronger, more consistent police presence.
That’s why I launched a petition calling for the Shirley Housing Office on the High Street, which is currently lying empty, to be turned into a police hub with a face-to-face counter for residents. The response has been really positive, with hundreds of signatures showing just how strongly our community feels.
As a result of my petition, we’re already seeing some progress. Southampton City Council has offered the use of the housing office for the counter, we’ve backed a bid for permanent CCTV in Shirley to deter crime and catch offenders, and there are now more police patrols on the streets – all thanks to your support and pressure.
Councillor Alex Winning, Leader of the council and Shirley Ward Councillor, is fully backing this campaign, and together we’re determined to make Shirley safer, more welcoming, and vibrant – while ensuring crime is taken seriously across every community in our city.
To support the petition, head to the campaigns section of my website, www.satvirkaur.info. As always, if you need my help – on this or any other issue – please get in touch. Email me at satvir.kaur.mp@parliament.uk or call 02382 546 357. I’m here to help.
