Author Archives: JimfromOldham

The Boundary Commission has presented its final recommendations to Government. The process started in 2011 under the then Tory and Lib Dem government and sought to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600 within constituencies of roughly equal size.

Hundreds of councillors and council leaders gathered in Birmingham last week to discuss the big issues facing local government. But it while the sun was shining bright there was a destiny dark cloud over head. We’ve become used to hearing of the dramatic and disproportionate cuts affecting local government. We’ve seen in every community –Continue reading ” A crisis of indifference”

A nation should be judged on how it invests in the next generation, and how it looks after those who have contributed all their lives to our country. On both tests the government has consistently failed.   Earlier this year, the Secretary of State for Health announced a forthcoming green paper which will lay outContinue reading “We need a properly funded social care system, with greater devolved powers to local areas like ours”

Last week I spent time with some of our co-ops and mutuals in Oldham today. As we draw to the end of Coops Fortnight I wanted to showcase the work down locally which contributes to the £36bn economic contribution to the U.K.

Last week it was great to spend the #NHS70 at the Royal Oldham Hospital with staff, patients and volunteers. Our NHS is central to community life and the envy of many. It faces serious pressures and it’s vital it sees real investment and joined up investment in community services too.

OL1 have been a fantastic community hub since their establishment in 2015. The group is made up of volunteers who come together along with local stakeholders to see how better they can improve the area they live in with a goal of encouraging community growth.

It was a real privilege to meet with Year 10 students from Hathershaw College in Oldham. The event was held as part of the ‘Equaliteas’ project (https://equaliteas.org.uk/) to promote democracy in the 100th anniversary of the vote for women.

Originally published by the Fabian Society: Our economy has been hollowed out. More families are in work but struggling to make ends meet as underemployment, job insecurity and low pay dominates the lives of too many. On top of that millions of people pay more of what little they have for basic goods and services.Continue reading “Why Being Poor Can Cost the Earth”