Great to see the The Oldham Times highlighting the role of Oldham Youth Council in the campaign for votes at 16.

This reform didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of years of campaigning and young people here in Oldham were ahead of the curve.

Nearly a decade ago, local young leaders were already making the democratic case: if you can work, pay tax and contribute to your community at 16, you should have a say in how the country is run. They organised, they lobbied, and they kept the pressure on.

When I was Leader of Oldham Council, we made sure young people weren’t just consulted but properly embedded in decision-making. The belief that participation should be real, not tokenistic has always guided me.

Now the law is changing:

Extending the vote to 16 and 17 year olds

Stronger safeguards against foreign interference

Tougher rules to protect our democracy

Action to make voter registration simpler and fairer

This is about strengthening democracy and backing the next generation to shape it.

Oldham’s young people helped lead this conversation and the country is now catching up.

Four years of courage, sacrifice & resilience in the face of unimaginable loss.

We remember those who have lost their lives, their homes and their loved ones. And we stand with those still fighting for freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of international law.

We are determined to see this illegal war end in a just and lasting peace that secures Ukraine’s sovereignty and future security.

Last May, when serving as a Minister of State, I had the privilege of meeting Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister, Oleksii Kuleba, to reaffirm the UK’s unwavering support. The bravery of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire us all.

Here in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, local people have shown incredible solidarity, with many opening their homes to families seeking sanctuary. They know that actions matter.

Labour has stood with Ukraine since day one. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Slava Ukraini.

𝟭𝟲 & 𝟭𝟳 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲, the biggest expansion of the franchise in almost 60 years

𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 on political donations

𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲 of those participating in public life

zero tolerance approach 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 to protect our democracy

moves towards automatic 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Last week the Government introduced the Representation of the People Bill and with it, votes at 16 is finally set to become law. This has been a long time coming.

Back in 2017, I worked alongside the brilliant Oldham Youth Council to draft a Private Members’ Bill to make votes at 16 a reality. Young people in Oldham didn’t just support it, they helped write it. They made the case and led the charge.

And they’ve never stopped leading.

I was proud to be Leader of Oldham Council when we became the first in the country to formally recognise our Youth Council in the council’s constitution – giving them real powers to submit motions to Full Council so the issues that matter to them are heard and debated.

That wasn’t symbolic. It was structural. It gave young people a seat at the table.

Votes at 16 becoming law isn’t a gift to young people. It’s recognition of what they’ve already proven – that when you give young people power, they use it responsibly and with purpose.

This is their moment. And it’s well deserved.

Wishing all Muslim constituents across Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton a blessed and peaceful month ahead observing Ramadan.

We back building good quality homes and strong communities.

We need urgent action to tackle the scourge of low quality HMOs blighting our neighbourhoods. Greater power in the hands of local people and councils.

It’s been a goldmine for landlords built on a race to the bottom.

We need urgent action from government nationally on this to support local councils and the communities they serve.

https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/25841394.call-national-action-tackle-rise-hmos-oldham/?ref=rss&fbclid=IwY2xjawQBFbhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA81MTQ3NzE1NjkyMjgwNjEAAR6MeV5ui4G1LPbkC0hyFHPPeakaYG7kon7g8ZrN_XKvsKjqaqFByPNfD0S7pQ_aem_HWcDNqpMwhwI7ZxhXZxepg

Great to spend some time last week in Derby meeting Co-operative Party subscribing societies with Central Co-op. Really strong, practical discussions about how co-operation delivers for communities and how we build on that momentum.

As Chair of the Co-op Party, I’m proud of what we’re already achieving in government. We committed to doubling the size of the co-operative sector and we are delivering.

That includes backing community energy through GB Energy, strengthening Community Right to Buy so local people can protect valued assets, boosting community-led housing as we get on with building 1.5 million new homes, and turning our campaign with Usdaw to end violence against shop workers into the law of the land.

That progress matters and there is more to come. We are now gearing up for the next phase, organising locally, campaigning hard and growing the movement so co-operation stays at the heart of Labour in power. Thanks to everyone who took part!

Great news that the proposed closure of the Chadderton Park Day Care Centre has been paused.

Thanks to Oldham Council for listening to concerns and getting this right. Hopefully this service will continue long into the future, I know how much it means to residents in Chadderton