Began the week by catching up with Kim McGuiness, the Mayor of the North East, to discuss the brilliant work she is doing to pioneer devolution in the North and the ambitions she has going forward. Driving down child poverty, building affordable housing and supporting local businesses – the true power of devolution at play.
It was great to respond to a Westminster Hall Debate on Tuesday on the impact of churches and religious buildings on communities. I reflected on how these institutions are not just places of worship but also serve as vital community hubs through their involvement in various social action projects, such as food banks, community larders, and support services for individuals facing challenges like addiction and mental health issues.
As well as regular departmental meetings, this week I have taken a lot of political meetings with labour colleagues to discuss specific councils and how as parliamentarians we can support our areas and the frontline staff working tirelessly to deliver services. These meetings culminated in an MP surgery on Wednesday where I spoke to numerous MPs on issues ranging from adequately funding adult social care, recognising regionally specific issues and preferred geographies for devolution.
On Wednesday, for the first time ever, the Co-op party was invited to a meeting in No.10 Downing Street and it was great to be there as the chair of the party. The Co-op party’s ambition is to put co-operators at the decision table to be able to make meaningful change and grow the sector. This week we did just that. It was great to reflect on where the movement has come from, and also where it is going in collaboration with the Government to meet Labour’s manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector.
Due to the vote on the Assisted Dying Bill, MPs remained in Parliament until Friday. This is an incredibly sensitive and deeply personal issue for many, and I want to thank all constituents who took the time to share their views with me. After much consideration and listening to a range of perspectives, I made the decision to vote against the Bill – as I have done previously. I understand the strength of feeling on both sides of the debate, but I personally believe we are not yet at a point to provide the robust safeguards that vulnerable people deserve at the end of their life.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 