Following the announcement of the latest police funding settlement, which places the expectation on Police and Cirme Commissioners to raise council tax by up to £24 per year for a Band D property, Emma said:

“I am incredibly disappointed that the government has failed to heed the warnings of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, senior police officers and MPs. They haven’t given our police force the increase in funding that we so desperately need.

“This is an unfair settlement which places more pressure on council tax payers. Last year the West Midlands faced the biggest rise in crime outside of London, yet since 2010 the West Midlands has faced £175m in government cuts, losing over 2,000 officers as a result.

“Again we see a situation where people are expected to pay more in council tax but get very little in return. Areas like the West Midlands just are not able to raise as much in council tax as other areas, and this is seeing our force left behind when compared to other areas which have far fewer people to cover. From the same precept rise, areas like low-crime, leafy Surrey can raise a similar amount to the West Midlands in cash terms, but its force only has half the population.

“The Chief Constable of the West Midlands, Dave Thompson, recently said he is “struggling to deliver a service to the public” and “criminals know how stretched we are.” The Government has ignored his warning. The West Midlands needs a genuine funding increase from the government, but instead they expect local people to pay more council tax only to receive a stretched service.”

Wolverhampton North East MP Emma Reynolds joined women MPs from 100 countries and 5 different continents in Parliament today (Thursday) at the first ever Women MPs of the World Conference.

The conference marked 100 years since the first women in the UK were granted the right to vote.

Emma was also present at a cross-party reception at 10 Downing Street, hosted by Prime Minister Theresa May, who told those present “a women’s place is in elected office.”

Speaking following the conference, Emma said:

“The House of Commons looked like a very different place today. Women MPs from 100 countries and 5 different continents discussed the challenges we face in tackling discrimination, prejudice and violence against women and girls.

“It was inspiring to hear so many different stories about how women are fighting for greater equality in countries as diverse as Canada, Nigeria, Morocco, Indonesia, Bangladesh and New Zealand – to name only a few.

“The struggle for women’s equality is making some progress but there is still so much to do. An MP from Nigeria explained how girls education is being rolled backwards. Since the Boko Haram kidnapping of some school girls, families have decided to keep girls at home and marry them at a young age instead of sending them to school. Another MP from a different African country explained how polygamy is the rule not the exception.

“We also discussed balancing better maternity rights for women and how women MPs can balance family commitments and pursuing a career in politics. A Gambian MP brought along her beautiful three month old baby.

“I found the whole conference hugely inspiring and uplifting. There is still so much left to do but I feel confident that women across the world can achieve gender equality even in the face of huge challenges.”