Dear Prime Minister,

Congratulations from Birmingham on your new role. Never before has the UK needed change more - and nowhere more than here.

We are a region in pain. Years of missrule, lies and poor decisions, economic hardship and rampant health and wealth inequalities have left us bowed and broken. People are turning on each other out of frustration and a sense of neglect; anger and disillusionment are rife.

Today is a fresh start. A line has been drawn in the sand, and we are hopeful you can turn the tide of despair.

As you consider where best to focus your energy in your first 100 days, please heed the pain of the people of this city. We need you to act, to be strong, and to be forceful.

You have promised to fix the NHS in time for winter, and to take the first steps to solve the national housing crisis. You have pledged to act on the epidemic of youth violence and knife crime and tackle anti social behaviour. We are trusting you to deliver.

Beyond these critical issues there is more you need to focus on. We have been listening to the people of the West Midlands and below are ten key issues they raise with us regularly. Now, we ask you to listen too. We need you to act.

In some parts of our city, three quarters of children are growing up in poverty. Thousands don’t have a home to call their own, are regularly hungry or cold, feel unsafe or have an uncertain existence. While you work up a strategy to fix this national crisis, we urge you to heed the calls of child poverty experts.

End the two child welfare limit that penalises third and subsequent kids in a family for existing and needing support.

Increase access to free school meals immediately to help more ‘just about managing’ families.

Directly fund the........

© Birmingham Mail