Alex Ballinger
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (July 2024) |
Alex Ballinger | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Halesowen | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Majority | 4,364 (11.3%) |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Labour |
Alexander Robert Ballinger[1] is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Halesowen since 2024. He gained the seat from James Morris, a Conservative.[2]
Career
[edit]Ballinger served as a Royal Marine officer from 2005 to 2013, retiring with the rank of Captain[3], [4][5] and previously worked in the Middle East for the Department for International Development as an aid worker.[6] He then worked in Pakistan for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) as a diplomat.[7][8]
Most recently, Ballinger was the CEO of a mental health charity[9] based in Birmingham and the Black Country, leaving the role in 2024.[6]
Parliamentary career
[edit]Ballinger voted against an amendment to the King's Speech that would have removed the former Conservative Government's policy of a two-child benefit cap.[10] It was widely reported that Labour MP's which did not vote with the government would have had the whip removed and be forced to sit as independents.[11]
Ballinger voted to allow the removal of the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners, which will see around 10 million pensioners lose out on up to £300 from 2024.[12] According to the End Fuel Poverty Coalition,[13] some 4,950 excess deaths the winter before last were caused by living in cold homes, which is expected to rise this year as a result of this vote. According to the 2021 UK Census data, 21.7% of Halesowen Town[14] are aged 65 and over and previously would have been eligible to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.
References
[edit]- ^ "Members Sworn". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 752. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Halesowen | General Election 2024". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ https://alexballinger.org.uk/
- ^ Smith, Adam (13 February 2024). "Labour picks former Royal Marine to fight General Election in Halesowen". Express & Star. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Smith, Martyn (24 May 2024). "Labour candidate for Halesowen pledges to fight for trams in Halesowen". Halesowen News. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ a b Ballinger, Alex. "My Campaign". alexballinger.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ "FCDO and ICIMOD collaborate with the Pakistan Ministry of Climate Change to generate data on brick industry emissions - ICIMOD". 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ "FCDO Team Visits LUMS | Welcome to LUMS". lums.edu.pk. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Our Team". St Germain's Church, Birmingham - Growing Christ-centred Community. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ https://votes.parliament.uk/Votes/Commons/Division/1830
- ^ "Who are the seven rebel MPs suspended by Labour over two-child benefit cap vote?". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Starmer wins vote on controversial plan to cut winter fuel allowance". Yahoo News. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ "Winter fuel payment cut will put pensioners in hospital, Labour MPs fear". The Independent. 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ "Age - Census Maps, ONS". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
External links
[edit]
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
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