Happy New Year!
January 2025
Welcome to my first newsletter of 2025. As we head into the new year, I want to reflect on the past six months since being elected as the MP for Glasgow South West. Since having the honour of being elected in July, my time in Parliament has been filled with both challenges and historic achievements, and I am incredibly grateful for your support throughout.
Of course, we have faced some big obstacles since entering government, inheriting a truly dire economic situation left behind by the Tories, but I could not be prouder of the significant strides we have made to support working people.
Our new deal for working people is the biggest overhaul in workers’ rights in a generation, providing a pay rise for the lowest-paid 200,000 Scots, banning exploitative contracts, giving workers the job security they should have. We have delivered the biggest block grant settlement to the Scottish Government there has ever been since the beginning of devolution.
Looking forward to 2025, I am filled with determination to deliver for Glasgow and advocate for our local campaigns in Westminster. Some of my priorities will include working on the Sale and Use of Fireworks Bill, preventing crashes on Cook Street, and prioritising investment into Glasgow.
In my newsletter, I will give you an update on casework, my work in Westminster, events happening in and around Glasgow, and grant funding opportunities for charities to access.
Thank you for your trust and support this year. It has been the honour of my life to become the MP for Glasgow South West. I wish you and your families a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. Let's make 2025 one for positive change.
As always, please get in touch with any casework enquiries or if you would like to have a chat about any concerns.
Please remember to enable pictures to download on your emails!
Contact:
zubir.ahmed.mp@parliament.uk
0141 266 0233
Casework
In the last six months:
1,891 constituents have contacted me with casework issues including social security, immigration, housing, governmental policy enquiries, and local issues.
3,586 emails have been sent to constituents who have been in touch.
15 advice surgeries have been held across the constituency.
45 local visits to businesses, schools and community groups.
Across Glasgow South West
It’s been a busy few months across Glasgow South West, especially in the lead up to Christmas - here are some of the highlights.
Pollok United Soccer Academy
Grassroots football is such a huge part of our community. I was very proud to be able to bring Pollok United Soccer Academy together with a fantastic local business, Healthful Pharmacy, who have sponsored £1,000 for a new kit. Good luck with the rest of the season team!
Fireworks Public Meeting
Following the criminality and chaos that emerged on bonfire night, I held an emergency public meeting with residents in Pollokshields to listen to their concerns about the sale of fireworks with fellow elected representatives and the police.
This year, the situation in Pollokshields may have been helped by issuing the introduction of a firework control zone. Devastatingly, the paperwork was put in too late by Glasgow City Council and it did not come to fruition. I am working closely with my colleague Mohammad Ameen chair of the Pollokshields Community Council to make sure this is in place for next year.
Glasgow Times: Public meeting to be held over fireworks disorder in Glasgow
Employability Round Table
It was a pleasure to host a roundtable discussion between big employers and secondary schools across my constituency of Glasgow South West.
Glasgow has endless talent and opportunities to offer. It is important that we focus on bridging the gap between schools and business to help children thrive once they complete their education.
Thank you to all those who attended the meeting and gave valuable insights, BBC Scotland, Thales, Peel Ports, BAE Systems, Rangers FC, Barclays UK, Forvis Mazars Group, Enable Workers, and Govan Youth Project who had the opportunity to speak with headteachers from Bellahouston Academy, St Paul’s High School, Lourdes Secondary School, Govan High, and Rosshall Academy.
Bus Crashes on Cook Street
I am deeply concerned that yet another bus crashed into the bridge on Cook Street in my constituency on 14th December. My thoughts of course remain with all those who have been affected by this incident and previous crashes.
This issue must be addressed now, not after another bus has crashed.
I have written to the CEO of First Bus and will be meeting with them to understand what actions they are taking at a corporate level to ensure this will never happen again. I will also be discussing with other agencies about what support First Bus needs to facilitate this.
Glasgow Times: MP calls for meeting to seek assurances over bus crash route
Christmas Recap!
I was overwhelmed by the generosity shown by our community this Christmas.
Charities and community groups work tirelessly all year round to support others. Their dedication to make the festive season brighter for so many is truly inspiring.
This year was my first Christmas since being elected as the MP for Glasgow South West and it was an honour to partner up with the brilliant team over at Simple Online Healthcare to donate money to charities across the constituency. I would like to say a special thank you to the whole team over there, especially Abdal and Addy.
This year I was delighted to support the appeals by Govan HELP, Sunny Govan Community Radio, and Greater Pollok Walkabout Events and some church groups. I want to express my thanks to every group that works hard in Glasgow South West.
Work in Westminster
The Sale and Use of Fireworks bill
Following the emergency public meeting with residents in Pollokshields, I raised our concerns in the Westminster Hall debate on the Sale and Use of Fireworks Bill.
Current measures are not enough. That is why I am working with my MP colleagues in Westminster to support legislation to restrict the sale and use of fireworks.
I am delighted to be working with Sarah Owen MP on her Private Members’ Bill which will now have the potential to ban the sale of the loudest fireworks and to ensure that fireworks are purchased only from licensed premises. I meet regularly with Sarah to discuss how we can progress the bill through Parliament.
To see my contribution in the debate, please see the link below.
Sale and use of fireworks | Westminster Hall Debate | Dr Zubir Ahmed MP
Adjournment Debate: Medical aid in conflict zones
Like many of my constituents, the deteriorating situation in the Middle East exercises me daily, and I want to do everything in my power to alleviate suffering in Gaza.
On 2nd December, I held a crucial adjournment debate in the House of Commons to raise the importance of medical aid in conflict zones. I am disturbed by the continued disregard for international humanitarian law across many conflict zones, particularly in Gaza where civilians are paying the highest price.
Vital medical aid – and other forms of aid – are not reaching people in desperate need. Everyone caught up in conflict has an inalienable right to aid and it is not the gift of any individual or country. As an international actor, it is imperative that we ensure international law is being upheld, and medical aid reaches people in need.
During the debate, I asked the minister the following:
What steps the government are taking to hold those who block aid to account.
What steps the government are taking to ensure Gazan children needing specialist care have access to it.
What discussions the government have had with the Israeli Government about ensuring the safety of those delivering medical aid in Gaza.
In my role as PPS to the Department of Health and Social Care I will be doing my utmost to ensure the UK plays it’s full part in making sure medical aid and care is delivered and children requiring specialist care receive it.
I also maintain regular contact with the Foreign Secretary and the Middle East and North Africa Minister to discuss our commitment to peace and stability in the region. The suffering in Gaza is unconscionable and we must continue to fight for justice.
To watch the highlights of the debate please see the link below:
My adjournment debate on medical aid in conflict zone | House of Commons | Dr Zubir Ahmed MP
Tackling Racism and Islamophobia
This issue remains very close to my heart on behalf of my constituents in Glasgow South West. I am deeply concerned about the rise in hate-crime and harmful stereotype narratives that are undermining social cohesion. Addressing Islamophobia requires a collective effort from our leaders and communities because when we fail one community, we fail them all.
I continue to work with Lord Khan, the Minister for Communities and Faith, to establish an adopted definition of Islamophobia.
First Labour Budget in 14 Years
As someone from a public sector background, I welcomed this budget. It delivered the biggest block grant settlement to the Scottish Government since devolution began. I will continue to keep the pressure on the Scottish Government to invest that money back into the public services that so desperately need it.
To watch my full interview on BBC Scotland please see the link below.
Budget Day | BBC Scotland | Dr Zubir Ahmed MP
Speaking in the House of Commons
You can find all my contributions and questions asked in the House of Commons on my YouTube channel on the link below.
Community Notice Board
Warm Homes Discount Scheme
The Warm Home Discount Scheme for 2024/2025 is open until 31st March 2025 for applications from Scottish Gas customers.
This is a one-off £150 payment towards electricity bills, paid directly by energy suppliers to customers. The payment is targeted to those on low incomes including those who receive means tested benefits and is separate from the Energy Bill Support Scheme. Check if you are eligible by calling 0330 808 3880.
School Parliament visits
UK Parliament's travel subsidies allow eligible schools to claim up to 75% in travel costs back from Scotland. If you work in a school and you are interested in bringing students down to Parliament, please get in touch or find out more here.
Bank of Scotland Foundation - 2025 Grant Programmes
The Foundation has now announced its grants programme for 2025:
Energise is a multi-year grants programme supporting charities with an annual income of under £150,000 that are alive to the real issues on the ground.
Empower offers real security and certainty for charities with an annual income of between £150,000 and £500,000 with unrestricted funding of up to £150,000 over three years (£50,000 per year).
There will be two rounds of Energise, running in December 2024 and June 2025 and one round of Empower, opening on 3 February 2025.
Funding to improve sports facilities across Scotland
SportScotland offers grants of up to £200,000 for constituted, not-for-profit organisations to support capital projects that provide opportunities for people to get involved in and participate in sports and physical activity in Scotland. For projects in areas of high deprivation, grants of up to £250,000 are available.
To advertise any community events or opportunities, please get in touch at zubir.ahmed.mp@parliament.uk
Thanks for posting this news letter.
Unfortunately it actually tells me less than nothing considering you have attended and held meetings that I would have been interested in attending yet for some reason you failed to advertise them fully. I note that you have held surgeries yet once again I cannot find any notification of where & when held nor of where your offices are. You state you have attended community groups yet have failed to interact with my community council in any meaningful manner. As for going to a 3rd party site to view your past contributions in Westminster not everyone subscribes to this nor do the have the facility to do so. I presume you are aware that approximately 50% of your constituents do not have internet access so how are they meant to get in touch with yourself. I would also like to know exactly how many constituents you have spoken to directly in order to obtain concensus of what the constituency wishes you to do for them and how they wish you to vote on anything that was not specifically contained within your election materials as supplied to each voter. I would remind you that you were voted as an individual to represent the constituency not as a political party therefore you are obliged to follow the wishes of the voters not the diktat of the Labour Party.