Antonia Bance MP
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antoniabance.bsky.social
Antonia Bance MP
@antoniabance.bsky.social
11K followers 2.8K following 3.1K posts
Labour MP for Tipton, Wednesbury and Coseley. Member of the Business and Trade select committee. Proudly repping British industry and the Black Country. Trade unionist, mama.
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antoniabance.bsky.social
August 10, 2025 at 2:55 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
One of the best things about this job is getting to call up a manufacturing biz and just ask to come in and see what they make and how they make it and ask 1001 questions (here with Nirmal at Bodill Parker in Tipton looking at their brass and steel eyelets and washers)
Antonia in black and pink holds brass washers and talks to Nirmal also looking down at the washers in his hands
August 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
It must be recess - just finished this in just over ten days, not a reading speed I manage when Parliament is sitting!
Hand holding paperback of David Torrance “The Wild Men: the remarkable story of Britain’s first Labour government”
August 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
I am horrified by what is going on in Gaza. Yesterday I wrote to the Foreign Secretary calling on the government to take further action and fast
Antonia Bance MP Member of Parliament for Tipton, Wednesbury and Coseley Rt Hon David Lammy MP Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office King Charles Street London SW1A 2AH 24 July 2025 Dear David, RE: Humanitarian situation in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories This week, the World Health Organisation and over 100 aid agencies warned that mass starvation is spreading across Gaza. The devastation and destruction in Gaza is horrifying - with civilians facing death, chaos and hunger. The government must act with urgency. It's clear that UNRWA is the key organisation that can safely coordinate and distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza. I welcome the government funding of UNRWA, but we must go much further to make sure food and supplies reach all who need it. I urge the government to continue its support for the organisation and resist Israel's attempts to change established and effective international humanitarian aid operations. We must also step up our political efforts. The UK government's actions so far are welcome: from sanctioning Israeli ministers who have promoted ethnic cleansing, to suspending most arms sales to Israel. But again, we must go further. Israel's escalating ground offensive, extremist rhetoric from some of its leadership, and continued support for West Bank settlements have created a catastrophic situation for Palestinians. The lack of access to healthcare in Gaza and the increasing use of evacuation orders is leading to civilian deaths and forced displacement. These actions increase the very real risk of ethnic cleansing and leave nowhere safe for Palestinians in Gaza. They also undermine the security of the Israeli people and efforts to secure the return of hostages taken by Hamas in October 2023. The death and destruction must stop. All options must be considered, and all action must be taken to prevent crimes against humanity in the occupied Palestinian territory… • Pressing for full humanitarian aid and continuing to support UNRWA - the Foreign Office must make it clear that blocking aid to Gaza and dismantling established aid operations will be met by accountability measures. • Upholding international law and international humanitarian law - as an occupying power, Israel has responsibilities and obligations to the Palestinian people. Population transfers, collective punishment, the failure to distinguish between civilian and military infrastructure, and the disproportionate use of force constitute breaches of international law and crimes against humanity - all which Israel is at real risk of committing. The UK must also set out its response to the ICJ Advisory Opinion released last year. Recognising Palestinian statehood and working towards a two-state solution - the government has stated that recognition of Palestine must be at a time most conducive to peace. Sadly, that position is no longer tenable. The Israeli government feels emboldened to carry out a policy of forced displacement and extremist ministers are pushing for the annexation of Palestinian territory. The current Israeli government is pursuing policies that could make a two-state solution impossible. • Securing the release of Israeli hostages - Hamas's horrific actions in October 2023, and its continued detention of Israeli civilians, is abhorrent. I welcome the UK's consistent calls for the hostages to be released immediately and unconditionally. • Restricting trade with illegal settlements - the expansion of settlements in the West Bank is illegal under international law, is a violation of Palestinian rights, and makes it harder to achieve a two-state solution. I support the UK government's decision in May to sanction three individuals and four entities in the settler movement and to suspend free trade negotiations with Israel. But we must strengthen restrictions and improve differentiation between goods made in Israel and those made in settlements. The dest…
July 25, 2025 at 8:56 AM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Some days in this job are brilliant. Today I went to the launch of the Unity Brew community cafe in Tipton - in a shopping centre that has seen better days. It was buzzing. Funded in its entirety by Groundwork West Mids. A real community base plus food at a fair price. Proper hope in our ends.
Antonia, England and Wolves footballer Steve Bull and three Groundwork staff in front of the cafe
July 23, 2025 at 6:22 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Was super proud to be a “housing MP” worthy of interview in Inside Housing - which I have read on and off for years. I try not to be boring in interviews - hopefully I wasn’t in this!

(Should also say interview was before the big housing £££ announcements)
for insp focuser In 2 the thi Boris of Ch the ac above stepp The t nteg B' mC ne th at Antonia Bance, Labour, Tipton and Wednesbury What's the housing connection? Antonia Bance was head of campaigns at Shelter from 2011 to 2014 and even after leaving the charity, stayed in the sector as a trustee of the Nationwide Foundation, a housing charity funded by the building society. Notable housing activities in parliament: Making a speech during a reading of the Renters' Rights Bill and calling ending Section 21 ('no-fault evictions) her "favourite measure in the bill". Outside the world of housing? Ms Bance headed up campaigns and communications for the Trades Union Congress from 2015 to 2024. She now sits on the Business and Trade Committee, and is an officer of the Manufacturing All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). And now? "Oh my God, I cried when I walked through the lobbies to vote for the Renters' Rights Bill, Ms Bance says, remembering how hard her team at Shelter had fought for private renters' rights. In her long campaigning career, Ms Bance has seen the scale of the housing crisis up close. At Shelter, she 26 Inside Housing June 2025 worked on its Evict Rogue Landlords campaign and pushed for tenancy deposit protection. "When you think about the way that the campaign on private renting has developed over the last decade..." she breaks off. "At that point, nobody could understand why we were talking about private rented housing." After Shelter, Ms Bance was director of policy and communications at SafeLives, a charity focused on ending domestic abuse, and also "got the best board role going", at the Nationwide Foundation, "My win [will] come when I knock on the door of a new house and it's opene by someone who previously lived in overcrowded or inadequate housing" where she stayed for the next decade. "Basically, any private renting activism that you know about has been funded by the Nationwide Foundation." Ms Bance then joined the board of campaign group Genera… Ms Bance says she will "never, ever forget" meeting a woman in her first few days as an MP, who was living in temporary accommodation miles away from the nursery of her son, who is autistic. The hotel had no cooking facilities and "it was infested. She rolled up her sleeve and showed me the insect bites down her arm", Ms Bance remembers. "I got her and her children out of there in three days, because I could," she says. But she is very aware she can't do that for everyone. The woman Ms Bance met that day "happened to find someone who could help", she says. What does she want to achieve as an MP? She talks about a piece of land: the largest chunk of brownfield land left that is earmarked for housing in the West Midlands, which is set to provide around 600 new homes. "My win [will) come when I knock on the door of a new house on that estate, and it's opened by someone who previously lived in overcrowded or inadequate housing." Andrew Lewin, Labour, Welwyn Hatfield What's the housing connection? Andrew Lewin spent seven years at Clarion, the UK's largest housing association, first as head of external communications and then director of communications from 2021. Notable housing activities in parliament: In his "I really do some people t that they coul me, and there sector. You ha residents... ar Landlords: when they ar know, I've nc estates as I n for doing m board men governme! Notable ho Liberal De: many cont Infrastruc on Health Outside th of the AP
July 16, 2025 at 9:39 AM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Happy Black Country Day!

Today’s a day to remember our heritage and industry, be proud of our community spirit, and stand up for a bright future for our area.

Wearing my Black Country lapel pin with pride in Parliament today

❤️🖤🤍
Shot of Antonia lapel of black jacket with red black and white chains flag of the Black Country in front of Westminster Hall
July 14, 2025 at 11:34 AM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Today // a year ago today

Out talking to local residents all year round
Antonia and four people in the sunshine on a street in Tipton, Wednesbury and Coseley Antonia and six people on a sunny street in Tipton, Wednesbury and Coseley, 4 July 2024
July 4, 2025 at 2:24 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Very pleased to be at the Made in the UK Sold to the World Awards reception in the House of Commons.

Some brilliant exporting businesses here today - great to talk about opportunities and issues still to be overcome!
Screen saying Made in the UK Sold to the World Awards
June 26, 2025 at 1:35 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
“You called…and we came”

On the 77th anniversary of Windrush we remember the contribution and courage of a generation that helped rebuild Britain
June 22, 2025 at 2:58 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
!!! Must be a bot
Apart from being wrong, your response is unacceptably insolent. Remember you're just a not very bright politician and you need to speak respectfully to your betters
June 11, 2025 at 8:34 AM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Music to my ears. About times towns like ours were the priority
Times screenshot which says Reeves wants to get investment out of the southeast and into the outskirts of England's city regions: the neglected towns and villages that change elections but are seldom changed by them.
May 30, 2025 at 6:17 AM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Big screen at Wembley - words say FA Cup winners 2025 and a CPFC crest
May 17, 2025 at 8:06 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Was glad to support the Spirit aerospace workers, members of my own union Unite, in Westminster today campaigning for their good manufacturing jobs.

They are in NI - every part of the UK needs good jobs. Here I am, with shop steward Gaye
Antonia and Gaye with Parliament behind
April 30, 2025 at 12:31 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Today is the church St George’s Day, moved cos of Easter.

So once again: proud to be English, to fly the flag of St George on my office all year round, and to represent the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution
Antonia office with St George flag Black Country flag and Union Jack St Bart’s in Wenesbury Antonia at Lavender’s aluminium factory
April 28, 2025 at 8:49 AM
antoniabance.bsky.social
The Black Country is the home of metal working.

Welding is on the shortage occupations list. About time it came off, we stopped importing welders and trained local people instead.

So glad to see this line in the briefing of the immigration white paper in the Tel
Existing workforces will also be required to train for roles often taken by workers on foreign visas.
April 27, 2025 at 10:49 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Palace tifo at Wembley
April 26, 2025 at 6:51 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Crucial line in the Times piece on EU and US trade negotiations that highlights the stakes - any automotive job losses would be hugely concentrated in the West Midlands. Over 30,000 at JLR alone. Getting a US deal that brings down car and steel tariffs is critical
When it comes to America, Starmer is in damage limitation mode. The scale of Trump’s trade war and its aftermath is already doing significant economic damage to the UK, with the car industry in particular warning that job losses are weeks away.
April 26, 2025 at 8:59 AM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Proud to be at Parliament’s Vaisakhi celebration tonight - this was me and two councillors from my constituency providing posing with one of my predecessors, the eminent Betty Boothroyd
Kulwant (black turban), Antonia (red dress), Amardeep (blue turban) pointing up at a picture of Betty Boothroyd in Speaker’s robes
April 23, 2025 at 7:18 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Happy St George’s Day!

Proud to be English and to fly the flag of St George outside my office all year round. It is our flag.
Flags of St George, the Black Country and the Union Jack outside a lit office with signs saying “Antonia Bance MP” “Tipton, Wednesbury Coseley”
April 23, 2025 at 7:59 AM
antoniabance.bsky.social
RIP Minnie Dawkins
24.03.10-18.04.25

Stole our hearts 10.08.13, an indispensable part of our family for nearly twelve years. We are all - especially our 6yo - bereft.
Brown white and black Mainecoon cat on wooden floor
April 18, 2025 at 12:51 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
March Guehi and Ebere Eze in England kit tonight after Eze scored
March 24, 2025 at 9:49 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
So proud of my friend Chanel Williams appearing on Lorraine to call for action on ketamine abuse, in memory of her brother James, The Vivienne, who died in January.

She has my support all the way - so glad she is going to meet ministers to put the case
Chanel, with long brown hair in a blue top, on Lorraine. The subtitle says “Drug warning after the Vivienne’s death”
March 24, 2025 at 9:28 AM
antoniabance.bsky.social
Delicious varenyky at the Ukrainian Sunflower in Wednesbury for lunch today. Thank you Yuliia and family for the welcome and telling me your story. We will always stand with Ukraine 🇺🇦
Antonia and Yuliia, both in black, in front of a painted field of sunflowers in the restaurant Varenyky with fried onions and sour cream The frontage of the Ukrainian Sunflower restaurant in Wednesbury
March 2, 2025 at 8:20 PM
antoniabance.bsky.social
I am trying to be respectful cos I can’t alt text it … but here it is
P1 P2 P3
February 6, 2025 at 8:29 PM