Author Archives: JimfromOldham

The report by the New Economics Foundation and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has highlighted real and necessary concerns about funding for local services in the coming years, with a no deal Brexit and reforms meaning that funding for Local Government will reach a critical point, even surpassing the cuts from Austerity we have facedContinue reading “£25 Billion Shortfall in Local Government Funding”

Tory cuts to school funding have hit Oldham West and Royton pupils hard, and much greater than the regional or national average. Information gathered by the House of Commons Library shows that per pupil funding has been cut by 8.1% in just five years, compared to 4.7% for the North West and 4.9% for England.Continue reading “School cuts bite”

I have joined with 92 MPs in backing our Sixth Form Colleges. We all know the value of a good quality education and there has been lots of activity on School Funding, but often further education doesn’t get the attention it deserves.  The Institute for Fiscal Studies reports that education funding for 16 to 18Continue reading “Raise the Rate. Back our Sixth Form Colleges”

The decision by Boris Johnson to suspend parliament has rightly been met with wide ranging criticism.  As the clock ticks to the 31st October deadline to leave the EU, and no alternative withdrawal agreement in place it is clear we are being driven to a No Deal Brexit. It is not usual, despite claims byContinue reading “Constitutional outrage”

I have written to the Foreign Secretary regarding the revocation of Article 370 by the Indian Government and the rising tensions between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir region. In addition to my correspondence with the Foreign Secretary, I have tabled an Oral Question to be asked at the first Foreign Office Questions after Recess.Continue reading “Kashmir Crisis”

All 27 Greater Manchester MPs have written to both Andy Burnham in his capacity as Mayor and additionally to the newly appointed Minister for Policing and the Fire Service regarding the cuts we have seen to the Fire Service as a result of austerity. We have asked the Minister to halt the agenda of austerityContinue reading “GM MPs come together over Fire Service cuts”

A large group of MPs, Peers and I have signed a cross party letter to the Prime Minister regarding the treatment and release of British citizen, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, from the Iranian prison and psychiatric ward she has been kept in following her arrest in 2016. We recognise the Prime Ministers ‘to-do’ list is monumental, howeverContinue reading “#FreeNazanin”

An opportunity has opened up for Oldhamers who are interested in travelling and problem solving in the modern world. The Churchill Fellowship is looking for 150 people to join their programme this year. The Fellowship was founded in 1965 by Winston Churchill’s grandson as a tribute to the former Prime Minister and aims to inviteContinue reading “The Churchill Fellowship”