This week in Parliament

Great to be back in Parliament after the conference recess

It was important to speak in a 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲, with focus on youth knife crime and child criminal exploitation.

We need a step change in how we safeguard children from violence & criminal exploitation. With a Labour-led local Council in Oldham, Labour Greater Manchester Mayor, a local Labour MP and a Labour government, we are truly able to tackle both youth knife crime and its causes across Oldham, Chadderton & Royton.

The 𝗕𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 is now awaiting Royal Assent after passing the final hurdles in the legislative process in both Houses of Parliament. Now it is set to become law, we will be able to end the postcode lottery of services.

By overhauling how bus services operate to boost local control of services, Labour is delivering on our commitment to improve living standards across the country. Local authorities will control over routes, timetables, connections and fares, reversing the decades of decline we have seen.

Greater Manchester has led the way on this since 2017 and so much progress has been made with the completion of the publicly-run Bee Network buses, its integration with the Metrolink, and ongoing work to bring commuter trains into the network over the next few years – including at Moston & Mills Hill which serve the constituency.

Here in Oldham, our reforms have pushed up ridership to the extent that we have been able to extend the £2 single fare cap, this new Law will allow the same reforms to happen across Britain.

Both the 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 and the 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝘃𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 returned to the Commons for votes returned to the Commons for their Third Readings. Being able to vote in the space of two days to bring us another step closer to both introduce powers to air travel more sustainable; and to give mental health patients greater choice, rights,and support shows our values in action.

A lot of time has been spent this week on research ahead of important interventions on issues like temporary accommodation and the unacceptable standard (and the frankly cost to the taxpayer too) of private rented properties serving as HMOs for many families with children. More to come on that.

It was nice too to catch up with the gaffer Angela Rayner. Now back in the constituency for a few busy days full of visits and meetings.