The Tories tell us that we are lucky to live in one of the richest boroughs in the UK. Yet, Solihull is home to some of the most extreme examples of poverty and inequality. In fact it is so bad that 8 neighbourhoods in North Solihull appear in the top 5% of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the entire country.

Some people will say that this is just the way things are. Solihull Labour doesn’t agree. We think it is appalling that two babies born alongside each other, in the same hospital, are likely to have very different chances of living a healthy, happy, safe and prosperous life simply because of the postcode of where they will grow up. We believe that society has a responsibility to ensure that every child must have an equal chance in life. Whilst the inequality in the borough does largely follow a North Solihull / South Solihull divide examples of extreme poverty can be found in other parts of the borough. This is why we campaign for 'A fair deal for Solihull’ more generally.

This inequality is expressed in almost every aspect of life and is extreme. Two examples illustrate this well. Comparing our two children again, the child in one of the North Solihull has a 10% chance of going to university compared to over 90% for the child in the wealthier ward. Similarly, at birth, the life expectancy of our two children can vary by as much as 10+ years with children in the most deprived neighbourhood experiencing the onset of disability much earlier as well.

The coronavirus pandemic has made this situation even worse. It is people on low pay and in insecure jobs who are suffering most. It is renters who are most at risk of losing their properties. It is children living in overcrowded households without the necessary IT equipment whose education is most at risk. Most telling is that it is the same people who are most at risk of contracting Covid-19.

Solihull Labour is determined that post-pandemic we build back better: investing in high quality well paid jobs; building affordable housing so our young people are not forced to leave the borough; rebuilding our NHS and Care services – putting people before profit; and importantly investing in our children so that they all have the best start in life and are encouraged to maximise their potential.

As we develop our People’s Manifesto For Solihull 2021 we will ensure that tackling the obscene inequality that pervades Solihull will be at the heart of it. To do that we need your help.