JimfromOldham

Council funding – the recovery begins

This week marks the first local government finance settlement under your Labour government, and I am proud as Minister of State to begin the work of turning the tide on a decade of decline, giving councils the support they need. For Oldham, this marks a significant change in fortunes. No new government can turn aroundContinue reading “Council funding – the recovery begins”

Cracking down on knife crime

Knife crime must be tackled head to keep communities safe across Britain, including Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton. We have a plan and are acting on it to 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞: From legislating to ban ninja swords, lethal zombie-style blades and machetes; to the successful GMP operations AVRO and Venture toContinue reading “Cracking down on knife crime”

Important Update: Oldham Independent CSE Inquiry

“𝙑𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙮.” I have written to the Home Office regarding the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Oldham. The work to be undertaken by Oldham Council, the Home Office and the GMCA, will provide an opportunity for victims and survivors to have their voicesContinue reading “Important Update: Oldham Independent CSE Inquiry”

We’re making Oldham a safer place to live

The Government has announced a return to neighbourhood policing through a £200 million investment boost to deliver 13,000 dedicated community police officers and PCSOs across the country to make streets safer. At the general election, I pledged to make it my priority as a constituency MP to make Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton a saferContinue reading “We’re making Oldham a safer place to live”

Weekly Ministerial Round-up

Signed a Statutory Instrument (SI) which helps different combined authorities in North Yorkshire, the North East and the East Midlands by transferring some powers over borrowing, economic development and regeneration away from central government; continuing our agenda of ending Westminster centralisation and pushing power closer to people with skin in the game. Spoke at theContinue reading “Weekly Ministerial Round-up”

Important Oldham Post Office update

This week I have written to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade seeking support to safeguard the future of the Post Office in Oldham, which has operated from within WHSmith since the closure of the Crown Post Office in 2019. At the time, I made it clear that moving our Post Office intoContinue reading “Important Oldham Post Office update”

Big news for devolution – £630 million for Greater Manchester

Today we have announced the first integrated settlement for Greater Manchester and West Midlands, which is a landmark moment in our ambitious devolution agenda to empower local leaders across the country. Greater Manchester will get nearly £630 million in the integrated settlement. That’s new flexible funding to transform the Bee Network, keep tickets affordable, andContinue reading “Big news for devolution – £630 million for Greater Manchester”

Labour water reforms pass through Parliament

Yesterday I was delighted to vote in the Third Reading of the Water (Special Measures) Bill to support Labour’s plan to clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas after years of Tory negligence. By placing water companies under special measures with new powers to ban bonuses & bring criminal charges against polluting bosses, we willContinue reading “Labour water reforms pass through Parliament”