The Chamberlain News

Gill and Sleigh top regional political honours

Labour MEP and Conservative Solihull council leader top list of honours for regional politicians. 

Neena Gill, one of the region’s two Labour MEPs, becomes a CBE in the New Year Honours list. After a year in which the role of the Labour leader in the referendum campaign was widely criticised, the honour will be small compensation for Ms Gill who is in her third term at the European Parliament.

Neena Gill MEP is a Member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and a Member of the Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect at the European Parliament

Before entering politics, Ms Gill spent over 18 years working in social housing in a variety of inner-city areas across the UK to tackle issues of social deprivation and homelessness and set up the country’s first Asian only sheltered accommodation. She has also worked for a global software company.

Councillor Bob Sleigh, chairman of the West Midlands Combined Authority and leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours.

Cllr Sleigh has been widely praised, across the political divide, for his role in chairing the new combined authority. He has managed to bring the WMCA into life, secure a first devolution deal and keep the new body moving forward in the face of historical rivalries and mistrust across the region.

Cllr Sleigh is also a director of Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and West Midlands Rail. He has previously held non-executive positions with the NHS and was formerly Chairman of the West Midlands Probation Service. He recently retired from Birmingham based Gee & Co, where he held the position of Business Development Manager.

Cllr Sleigh’s role as chair of the WMCA will come to an end on 8th May when a new Metro Mayor for the West Midlands takes office.