On 22 May each year, we remember the victims of the Manchester Arena attack and all those still grieving their loss, including Royton mums Alison Howe and Lisa Lees, who never returned home after going to collect their daughters from the concert.

Our thanks must also go to the emergency services who were first on the scene on that horrific day, and who are still affected by what they experienced.

I also want to pay tribute to Royal Fusilier Lee Rigby, a young man from Middleton with his whole life ahead of him, who was murdered on this day in a terror attack in 2013, leaving behind a young son.

The recent attack at the Crumpsall Synagogue shows that radicalisation driven by hate and division remains a threat we have yet fully to face down.

Though the impact cannot be underestimated, the fact is Greater Manchester responded with courage, compassion and unity.

Last year’s passage of Martyn’s Law, which is now being implemented, is an important legacy in improving safety at public venues and protecting people from the threat of terrorism. That progress is thanks in large part to the campaigning of Figen Murray OBE, who lost her son Martyn in the attack.

My thoughts remain with everyone affected by the Manchester Arena attack, including the more than 1,000 innocent people injured on the day, and the many more whose lives were affected beyond physical injury.

We will never forget. 22.05.17

This week 2,600 Nationwide members in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton will receive a £100 “Fairer Share” payment

This year marks the fourth consecutive year that Nationwide will return £100 to eligible members through our Fairer Share payment. This commitment reflects the strength of the mutual model, sharing value with the people who own the building society – its members.

In Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, 2,600 members will benefit from the £100 Fairer Share payment, meaning £260,000 will be returned directly to local constituents this year.

On top of this they have committed to maintaining a high street branch, standing from the growing list of banks abandoning our town centres.

We need more community focused and consumer owned businesses, and I’m pleased our work through the Co-operative Party to double the size of the sector has been taken up by the government.

This week’s Annual Council has ended in a stalemate, making it the first time the borough has failed to elect a Mayor, and with it the failure to allow the meeting to continue its business of electing a new leader and cabinet, leaving the borough in limbo.

Oldham deserves better than this. The grandstanding which took place wasn’t necessary and it can’t be said it was in the public interest.

Labour did the right thing. It took account of the election result and didn’t attempt to hold on to control at all costs. It recognised the mood was for change and called on the two successful parties to come forward with a viable administration. Labour also stood to honour the commitment made by the council a year earlier to Cllr Hobin when he was elected Deputy Mayor, to support his nomination on to Mayor for the forthcoming year.

Instead of the other parties doing the same they became caught up in petty and personal politics aimed at removing the would-be mayor before he even took office. Why, when it added nothing to the fundamental question of who would form the administration?

Taking away the person involved; there has been a deeply disappointing break with the convention of the “first citizen” of Oldham; in that the Deputy Mayor serves in preparation before becoming the Mayor the following year.

Whatever party politics may divide, the office of Mayor has always been treated with a degree of respect and civic decency, and ought to be above politics.

Oldham faces serious challenges, from regeneration and housing to neighbourhood services and community cohesion. What people want is leadership prepared to put the borough first, not more political games.

The practical fall out also means the council doesn’t have a functioning administration.

This is not a new challenge, the outgoing Labour administration had to operate under minority control, and before taking control in 2011, the borough was run by a Lib Dem and Conservative coalition. Unless Reform as the second largest party, and the Oldham Group as the third largest party together with the Lib Dems, Conservatives and various Independents, come forward with viable proposals then the borough faces calls for government intervention.

But before then, let’s hope the unnecessary and petty-minded politics is taken out of it.

The government is investing £20m in specialist National Crime Agency officers to investigate and tackle illegal activity at shops used as fronts for organised crime to launder illicit money, sell illegal vapes, cigarettes and drugs. And it can’t come soon enough.

Trading standards teams will be allocated an additional £6m, helping to rebuild capacity lost through the years of cuts under the Tories.

There has been a marked increase in convenience stores, takeaways and barbers including in Oldham and though many will be legitimate businesses trading as normal, some may not be. It is for the benefit of law abiding businesses too often tarred with the same brush that action is needed, as well as the wider public good.

Greater Manchester Police will benefit from additional officers and I will be asking what is intended for Oldham and that there is information shared on enforcement activity.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/18/dodgy-shops-handling-criminal-cash-targeted-by-new-unit

They campaigned in this months local election claiming they wanted to supposedly ‘fix’ what they thought was wrong with the Council, yet they are not even attempting to form an administration.

They were the clear beneficiaries of the recent elections in Oldham but by refusing to step up are abdicating their responsibility and betraying the voters who lent them their support.

They seem to want it both ways; they want to campaign to take control, and opt for the easy life when the opportunity comes. Judging by the response from some who voted for Reform this month, the excuses don’t wash and it may well be a short honeymoon even in opposition.

No act is without consequences and it’s fair to say the thought of Reform leader (and former Conservative) Lewis Quigg handing over control of the council to HMO landlord, Oldham Group leader (and former Conservative) Kamran Ghafoor hasn’t gone down well at all.

If you’d like to see my appearance on The Granada Debate on ITV earlier this week in full, head to https://www.itv.com/watch/news/watch-the-latest-granada-reports-from-monday-18th-may/sdvdqjt

Our local candidates worked tirelessly, and they were the best of our movement, but we have to be honest about the results for Labour and what’s needed to turn things around.

We’ve achieved a lot; with over 50 Bills passed before the election on things that really do matter; workers rights, renters rights, community right to buy, and more, but it’s fair to say that just hasn’t cut through in its own right, and the programme of change hasn’t been bold enough.

All politics is personal and it’s local. Security, pride and dignity matters to all of us whether it’s our standing at work, maintaining a home for our family, and living in a place where we feel safe and can be proud of. When that’s threatened, as it has for millions of people for decades, trust in politics is weakened.

One real example is the issue of our high streets and banks leaving towns behind. The previous government restricted the number of banking hubs which then ruled out both Chadderton and Royton. Boldness and rooting ourselves in the reality facing communities would mean that we believe that every town should have access to a bank; for fair access to money, and to support local businesses. Without then high streets struggle even more. Yet the fight we had before continues today.

Likewise the rise of poor quality HMOs; again the previous government allowed a free for all and while some powers to control exist, the fact is it’s a gold rush for dodgy landlords who take often important buildings like former pubs, banks and shops, as well as family homes, and carve up every inch for profit above community interest.

I use those two examples not because they are politically the most grabbing; they don’t get discussed nearly enough, but because both are met with strong local views and frustration and both easily fixed by government with a will to meet people in their everyday lives.

The same is true of the cost of living crisis with eye watering rent now demanding over £1,000 a month for a modest house, or the energy bill goldrush, or the cost of the weekly shop.

As a party and a government we need to rise to that challenge; both the disconnection with working people and the struggles of everyday life mounting, and the scale of that challenge.

I have served for over two decades in elected politics and campaigned even longer to return Labour locally and nationally. It’s that commitment to return Labour candidates that requires honesty.

To see my appearance on The Granada Debate this week in full, head to https://www.itv.com/watch/news/watch-the-latest-granada-reports-from-monday-18th-may/sdvdqjt