This week in government

As the weather has shown, it’s definitely the end of the summer and it’s been good to be back in Westminster after the recess. It’s been a shorter week with the bank holiday, but hasn’t felt any less busy back in the department, getting on with the job

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻

I heard the new Prime Minister’s first speech from the Despatch Box, setting out the direction of the Government, a vision for the country and a clear plan to get there. There’s a big job ahead but it’s good to be part of a Government focused on delivering real change and getting on with the job of rebuilding our country.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

I also responded on behalf of the Government to two Westminster Hall debates looking at the particular challenges facing rural upper-tier local authorities, and on local government reorganisation. Different places have different needs, and our approach needs to local government recognise that.

𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲

Great to be at the Key Cities Innovation Network parliamentary dinner to discuss their report on the early challenges and opportunities in delivering Pride in Place. As the minister responsible for the programme, I outlined the Government’s strategy to shift power & resources towards local communities, so those who are impacted by decisions are the ones who make them.

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 & 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

I sat in on Angela Rayner’s oral statement to the Commons as Secretary of State on building homes & renewing communities. Delivering the homes our country needs while renewing the communities around them is a key part of the Government’s plans for the future.

𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹

MPs also voted on the Representation of the People Bill, which has now completed its passage through the Commons and will head to the Lords before becoming law. It’s an important piece of legislation that will strengthen our democracy by delivering Votes at 16 – which I’ve campaigned for locally for many years, improving voter registration, and strengthening the rules around political donations and foreign interference.

We had a wide range of calls and meetings this week including contacting chairs of important local government groups.

Now back home for the weekend with some time in Oldham as well as working from No. 10 North – and a nice opportunity to meet Gordon Brown who was present to met with First Secretary of State Louise Haigh.

And of course this weekend is North West Co-op Conference in Manchester. Always great discussion and great people too.