Weekly Ministerial Round-up

A busy and productive week in Westminster as we approach the House rising next Tuesday for the summer recess.

We started with 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, where I addressed the importance of fair funding for areas facing deprivation and reaffirmed our commitment to keeping communities central to our devolution plans.

Later, I had a productive discussion with Florence Eshalomi MP, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐂𝐋𝐆 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞, as we took stock of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill – reviewing both its contents and the road ahead. I also had constructive conversations with Shadow Secretary, David Simmons and Lib Dem spokesperson, Vikki Slade. Party-politics aside, cross-party collaboration is vital if we’re serious about building stronger, more resilient communities.

Throughout the week, I joined sector roundtables and celebration events – important moments to thank those who’ve shaped the Bill and to confirm our continued commitment to working together as it moves through Parliament.

This Bill is co-operative politics in action: developed with communities, championed by members, and now being made law. I was therefore pleased to join a 𝐂𝐨-𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 to discuss how we keep community voices at the heart of future amendments and work with the wider sector.

At the 𝐋𝐆𝐀 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, I spoke alongside Deputy PM Angela Rayner and Manchester Council Leader Bev Craig, reflecting on our first year in government and the growing partnership between national and local government. I also spoke at the 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐆 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐆𝐈𝐔 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭, sharing our next steps on devolution.

Thursday marked 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞, where I published written ministerial statements on the progress of each area in meeting the statutory tests and looking to what the next steps are.

Before heading back to Oldham, I closed the week by 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝. Churches are much more than places of worship – they support families, run foodbanks, and offer vital community care. Their contribution is not only valued, but essential to the fabric of local life.