Another good week down in Westminster before heading out for the Remembrance Sunday service . Here’s a quick round-up of what I’ve been up to 
๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
The week started with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Oral Questions in the House of Commons, answering questions from MPs on behalf of the Government. A busy session with lots on investment, councils and high streets in particular. An important opportunity to hear directly from MPs about the issues affecting their communities and set out what we’re doing to address them.
๐๐ผ-๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐
It was a pleasure to announce the appointment of Jim Robbins as the new General Secretary of the Co-operative Party. His co-operative credentials are solid coming from years as a Labour and Co-operative councillor and leader, and chair of the Co-operative Council Innovation Network. He will be great for the party as we go into our centenary year with the Labour Party.
๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น
A milestone this week as I introduced the Visitor Levy Bill to Parliament. This will give Mayors the power to choose to raise funds from overnight visitors and reinvest that money in their local areas, supporting everything from high streets and public spaces to the visitor economy. It’s another important step in giving local areas more control over their own future and is part of the wider work in fiscal devolution which goes alongside local Income Tax retention and 100% Business Rates retention.
๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ด๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
I chaired the Leaders’ Council, bringing together local government leaders from across the country and political parties. Councillors and councils are the foundation of devolution as well as delivering services on the ground which make a difference to millions in the country, but if far too often the way central government works which makes getting things done harder. With the upcoming Rewiring the State delivery plan due to be published it was timely to meet and discuss its direction.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ๐
Following the conclusion of the Budget debate, I voted to pass this Labour Government’s Budget. A key moment in the parliamentary week and an important step in delivering on our priorities for working people and communities across the country.
๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐จ๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐
It was great to attend the launch of the University of Birmingham’s latest policy report on the experiences of displaced Ukrainians in the UK, including those living in Oldham. It’s important that we listen to those rebuilding their lives here and use their experiences to shape policies that provide the right support.
๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
I responded on behalf of the Government to an adjournment debate on the impact of new strategic licensing regulations on London. A valuable opportunity to address the concerns raised by MPs and set out the Government’s position on an issue affecting businesses, communities and local authorities.
