Birmingham Northfield

You will have seen and heard a lot about Birmingham the city recently, with the Commonwealth Games, the Conservative Party Conference being hosted here, and if I get my way next year we will also host Eurovision again! I have lived in Birmingham my entire life and have seen it change beyond recognition into the young, vibrant, city we have today, with more miles of canals than Venice and more trees than Paris – and there is still much more.

We have the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants of any city in the United Kingdom outside London; we have a world-class independent theatre run by a charitable trust in the Hippodrome, the Birmingham Royal Ballet, amazing museums and galleries, two great football teams (my family is split on this one!), one of the best cricket grounds in the world, and the incredible Jewellery Quarter with beautiful listed buildings and a stunning glimpse into the history of Birmingham.

Just outside the conference venue you have the wonderful and bustling Brindleyplace, full of wonderful places to eat.

Or if you fancy wandering further afield there is the Balti Triangle, an incredible night life, and from Grand Central to the Bull Ring to the Mailbox, and many others, there are shopping opportunities a-plenty.

And if you fancy something sweeter there is always Cadbury World!

But nowhere are the signs of progress clearer than in my constituency.

I live in Longbridge on the development built on the site of the old MG Rover plant. From the devastation of losing that factory 17 years ago has arisen a new, thriving town centre and high-class employment opportunities, with more to come. If you ever walk up the Lickey Hills overlooking my constituency you will see a city on the up!