This week in Parliament

Good to be back in Westminster after the easter recess, this is a snapshot of what I got up to

𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

Back to voting with so many bills coming back from the Lord’s, the Commons has blocks of back to back votes, each are done in person and take around 15 minutes each usually; that said we were back to paper registers for part of the week as the online system crashed, which took much longer and meant that session lasted around three hours! But at least the business is being done and new laws are coming through to deliver on our manifesto and the big issues facing the country.

𝗣𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁

During the final stages of the legislative process for the Crime and Policing Bill, we voted to get back to basics through visible policing and tougher action on antisocial behaviour, as well as for real support for victims & survivors such as pardoning those who were issued with a caution or convicted of a historic ‘child prostitution’ offence.

𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

On the Lords amendments to the Pension Schemes Bill, members backed changes that keep workers’ savings safer and the system more transparent as well as delivering better value and channelling more investment into local infrastructure and future industries.

𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿

Members voted on measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill too as it came a step closer to becoming law. It will expand access to free school meals and help lift around 100,000 more children out of poverty as well was having stronger safeguarding.

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

Great to welcome a delegation from the French co-operative movement to Parliament this week. As Chair of the Co-operative Party, I joined the UK Co-operative Panel to talk straight about what matters: political influence, scaling the sector, and making sure co-ops have a bigger role in building a fairer economy.

I see every day how the co-operative model gives people more control over the things that matter to them; here in Oldham we know the value of that better than most, co-operative heritage runs deep. The Government is serious about doubling the size of the co-operative sector as pledged and we are backing this model.

𝗧𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗸𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲

Knife crime won’t fall unless we tackle the root causes. I welcome the Government’s Halving Knife Crime Action Plan and £26m investment, plus the rollout of Young Futures Hubs in 50 areas.

But prevention can’t wait. Oldham should be included in that rollout and see further investment in prevention to break the cycle of harm and keep young people safe.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

It was good to meet with DWP Secretary of State Pat McFadden following my question on apprenticeships a few weeks ago. It was reassuring to hear the work being done to prioritise young people and give more opportunities to learn and earn for school leavers.

There is a lot to do to make the system work for working class kids setting out in their working life and in keen to use my own experience and that of so many Oldhamers to make a difference on it.

𝗖𝗼-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

It was a different co-op parliamentary group meeting as Preet Gill stood down as chair after years working with me on the NEC and doing a great job. Dame Meg Hillier was elected as our new parliamentary chair and as party chair I wish her well and thank Preet for her service to the party.

Now back up North for engagements with local stakeholders, meetings with constituents & speaking to residents on the door.