This week in Parliament

The House returned after the short November recess on Armistice Day. Instead of the usual debates or votes , time was set aside for a general 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 – 107 years on from the laying down of weapons and conflict ending in the First World War. It remains a moment for deep reflection on the sacrifice made by those who served and those who never came home.

I submitted various 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 this week on our local priorities and what matters to people in Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton; from increased funding to social & affordable housing to supporting CSE victims & survivors, repairing potholes, and devolving post-16 education.

We also considered amendments from the Lords to the 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 as it reaches its final stages before becoming law. After 14 years of economic stagnation under the Tories, our living standards have fallen and the services we rely on have been hollowed out. We are determined to turn this around.

The reforms in this Bill will help end the housing crisis and unlock the infrastructure improvements our communities need, from better roads and schools to modernised tram lines and hospitals, alongside the right environment for private investment and good local jobs. That is what is at stake with this legislation.

Rather than travelling back to Oldham, this week I am staying in London for the annual 𝗖𝗼-𝗼𝗽 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. It is always a highlight of the year and I look forward to meeting fellow co-operators as we take forward our plan to empower communities and grow the cooperative sector.