Author Archives: JimfromOldham

There’s been a lot of talk about the markets lately, and there’s no doubt they can make or break governments – just ask Liz Truss. But all politics is local, and the market I pay attention to is our own Tommyfield Market… or, to be precise, the people of Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton. IContinue reading “Co-op Conference Speech”

It was a pleasure to meet with William Lees Jones from the longstanding family run institution JW Lees Brewery about the pub and wider hospitality industry at the Boat & Horses in Chadderton. They do a great job, employ lots of local people and provide social spaces for the community to come together.

Thank you to those from Spark Oldham for having me, including founder Kim Rogers, at your community space in Fitton Hill earlier this week. It was a pleasure to get to see a glimpse of the fantastic work you do for our local community to boost mental wellbeing, engage young people, and promote volunteering &Continue reading “Great to see the work Spark Oldham does for the local community!”

I appreciated Robert Troy, the Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions, and Insurance in Ireland taking the time to discuss the work they are doing to strengthen and grow credit unions. Credit unions, building societies and mutual banks are a foundation of fair access to affordable finance, but we can do more inContinue reading “Meeting Irish Minister to discuss work to grow credit unions”

It was a pleasure to catch up with Dr Georgia Brennan at the Maths Week Parliamentary Expo. A proud Oldhamer raised on Fitton Hill who went on to Oxford to complete a PhD where she now works on mathematical modelling of Alzheimer’s disease to help support the development of new treatments. An inspiring journey notContinue reading “Great to see proud Oldhamer Dr Georgia Brennan again!”

A pleasure once again to address the Co-operative Party’s annual conference as party Chair in central London this weekend. This year’s theme is our ongoing flagship campaign: Community Britain, exploring how we can put communities at the centre of politics and shape a fairer, more democratic country with people in the driver’s seat. This governmentContinue reading “Co-op Party Conference 2025”

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.Continue reading “This week in Parliament”