Today, the new Labour government’s legislative programme was spelled out in the first King’s speech under a Labour government for over 70 years.
For the people of Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, plans have been announced which will deliver on my local priorities:
In delivering better paid and more secure jobs, the government will introduce the Employment Rights Bill. This will implement our New Deal for Working People to level up workers’ rights by banning exploitative zero-hour contracts, ending Fire and Rehire, and giving people rights at work from day one.
In creating a safe place on our high streets and in our neighbourhoods, the government announced both the Crime and Policing Bill and the Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill. These focus on measures such as strengthening community policing powers to deal with anti-social behaviour and to help victims, while also tackling the causes of crime with the Youth Futures programme.
In fighting for more decent family homes for local people, we will set in motion both the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the Renter’s Rights Bill. These include measures to reform planning so we can build 1.5 million new homes and measures to support renters such as ending no-fault evictions.
In terms of promoting community ownership, I am proud of the recent work we’ve done to save the Oldham Coliseum using the co-operative model of ownership to safeguard our town’s community venue in a way that puts local people in power.
As Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, I will play a role in implementing the English Devolution Bill. The purpose of it is to bring in new powers for metro mayors and combined authorities in England to support local growth plans. We will push power out of Westminster and give it to those who know their areas best because we think democratic decisions are best made by people with skin in the game.
Labour promised during the election campaign to change Britain by ending the chaos and decline we suffered under the previous government. This King’s Speech begins a decade of national renewal to boost the living standards of working people and get Britain’s future back.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 