This week in Parliament

Another constructive week in Parliament and a lot happening that will have real impact in Oldham, Chadderton and Royton.

🕊 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝘅 𝗠𝗣

Next week marks 10 years since the tragic murder of Jo Cox MP and it was an honour to participate in a Parliamentary debate this week on her legacy. Jo’s legacy still stands as a powerful reminder that we have more in common than that which divides us. She believed deeply in community, compassion and standing up for others – values that should guide all of us in public life. Her loss was felt across politics and across the country, and we continue to honour her by trying to do politics better: with more respect, more humanity and more focus on what unites us.

🏠 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵-𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Great to catch up again with Sarah Harrison and Mathew Ball from the Building Societies Association in Parliament. We talked about the role mutuals play in helping people save, supporting first-time buyers, and strengthening local economies. Mutuals and building societies are owned by their members, not distant shareholders, and they have huge potential. It’s always good to discuss how we can expand home ownership and opportunity.

⚡ 𝗖𝗼-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀

I was delighted to be re-elected as chair of the Co-operative Party last week weekend, especially as we go into our centenary year as a sister party to Labour next year. I’m very proud to be a Co-operator as well as Labour.

Through the Parliamentary Co-operative Party, we’re continuing work on community energy and the local power plan, looking at how we can give communities more control over energy generation, lower bills, and keep more of the benefits local. It’s about practical co-operative solutions that put people first.

We have a particular focus on progressing co-operative housing and our core ambition of doubling the size of the sector.

🏥 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

I was at Shared Health Foundation’s conference at King’s College London discussing the temporary accommodation crisis. In Oldham, 588 children are currently living in temporary accommodation. These aren’t just figures – they’re families and childhoods being shaped by instability. We need to keep telling that story and pushing for change.

⚙️ 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 & 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆

We also voted on the Steel Bill to support the steel industry and strengthen domestic manufacturing by nationalising it. Steel matters not just economically, but strategically. It underpins national infrastructure, defence capability and thousands of skilled jobs across the country.

For too long we’ve seen the impact of underinvestment and global competition hollow out industrial communities. These measures are about reversing that decline and giving the industry a more secure future.

Backing British steel means backing British workers, supply chains and communities – and making sure we don’t lose the skills and capacity we need for the future.

🗳 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

This week we passed the Draft Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (Amendment) Order 2026, restoring the supplementary vote system for mayoral elections in England, recognising that was a single elected post it doesn’t sit along other directly elected counterparts as local councils and Parliament itself. A simple change allows the broader voting preferences to be taken into account for those who lead our combined authority regions

🚄 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹

We are getting on with delivering the promises of a publicly owned railway and ensuring that the national links properly with regional and local transport connections..

The Bee Network has shown what’s possible when transport is locally controlled. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to raise the defunct Middleton Junction station in my constituency which closed in the Beeching review, and which now sits between important employment sites at Greengate, Broadgate and Foxdenton as well as significant new housing developments. We’ve pressed for Metrolink investment and will see a new station serving Royton Heyside at Cop Road, and I’ll continue to push for the orbital tram across Middleton, Chadderton onto Oldham and Ashton. You never know when an idea takes off!

🛡 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

As we invest in our armed forces and continue backing Ukraine, I made the case that communities like ours should benefit too. We should be creating clear pathways into the armed forces, engineering and high-skilled defence jobs for young people locally. Defence investment must create opportunity at home as well as security abroad.

A full and important week continues back home with campaigning, constituency engagements and meetings.

Congratulations to all Oldhamers recognised in the Kings Birthday Honours!

I share the joy that rugby legend Kevin Sinfield, who raised over £11 million for MND charities, as lasting legacy for his friend Rob Burrow has been recognised and our calls for “Sir Kevin Sinfield” have been heard!

He must now sit among a distinguished few in receiving an MBE, OBE, CBE and Knighthood in just over a decade. The honour reflects not just the achievement itself, but the remarkable sporting success and inspiring fundraising efforts behind it.

Congratulations also go to DJ legend Carl Cox who has been awarded an OBE for services to music, and Alison Brittle founder of the wonderful Saddleworth Hydro project for receiving a BEM for services to Saddleworth.

And to Lisa Riley who was awarded MBE for services to drama & charity and was trained at Oldham Theatre Workshop.

And on a personal note to congratulate Labour organising legend and friend to Oldham Peter Wheeler for receiving an OBE, a good man recognised.

Have a great day at the palace everyone!

Why devolution matters

It was great to join the Devo Agency Podcast recently for a conversation about politics, local government, devolution, and the challenges facing communities like ours.

For me, it’s always been about creating opportunity, rebuilding pride in our communities, and making sure places like Oldham west, Chadderton & Royton get the investment they deserve.

When people raise concerns about the basics they see on their doorstep, the answer isn’t always another decision made in Whitehall. Often it’s giving local areas the powers and resources to shape their own future.

That’s why devolution and Metro Mayors matter.

We’ve seen in Greater Manchester what can be achieved when decisions are made closer to the communities they affect. From the Bee Network to infrastructure investment, regeneration and economic growth, devolution gives us the tools to get things done in the way we know is right for our area.

If we’re serious about growing local economies and creating good jobs, power needs to keep moving out of Westminster and into our communities.

Thanks again to Gill Morris and the team for having me on. Head to https://open.spotify.com/episode/2kTe5kWYgViVqwluMUdWiB to listen to & watch the episode.

Getting our local rail services back on track

Members voted on the Railways Bill yesterday as it was back before Parliament and it’s another important step in fixing our broken rail network.

Last year, Labour passed the Public Ownership Act, bringing passenger rail services back under public control as contracts expire. This Bill builds on that by creating a simpler, more accountable railway through Great British Railways, bringing track and train together and putting passengers back at the heart of the system.

During the debate before the vote, I asked the minister about Middleton Junction to show the difference devolution and local control can make. Because our trams are publicly run and locally controlled, we can make more progress in expanding our network. We need the same for our trains.

For too long, people in the North have paid the price for delays, cancellations and underinvestment while promises came and went.

That’s changing.

This Labour Government is properly backing Northern Powerhouse Rail with £45 billion of investment to improve connections between our northern towns and cities, unlocking growth, jobs and opportunity; a project which the Tories failed to deliver and Reform are against.

Even closer to home, we’re also moving towards Bee Network Rail in Greater Manchester. That means rail services becoming part of the same joined-up public transport system as our buses and trams, with Moston and Mills Hill stations which serves constituents benefiting from a network designed around passengers – not fragmented operators – as they join the publicly controlled network in 2028.

Reliable, affordable and integrated public transport shouldn’t be a luxury, it should be the standard. After years of drift, we’re finally getting on with the job.

Behind every number is a family – no child should grow up in temporary accommodation

Yesterday, I joined the National Plan to End Homelessness panel at the Shared Health Foundation conference to talk about a crisis that too often gets reduced to statistics.

The numbers matter. In Oldham, 588 children are currently living in temporary accommodation. More than 100 households with children have been there for over a year, 42 have been there for more than two years.

But behind every number is a family trying to build a life.

I visited the temporary accommodation hub with the Shared Health Foundation hub last year and heard first-hand what it’s like for families living in buildings with rodent infestations, poor security, unsafe conditions and children unable to sleep properly before school the next day.

That isn’t temporary. It’s a childhood being shaped by instability.

The reality is that the housing crisis is getting worse. Private rents are rising locally far beyond what many families can afford, too many people are being pushed into poor quality HMOs, and there simply aren’t enough genuinely affordable homes.

We need to tell the human story as well as the story of policy.

That means building more social and affordable homes, improving standards in temporary accommodation, ending exploitative practices in the private rented sector, and making sure families aren’t trapped in housing insecurity year after year.

There are positive steps being taken, including work on a new homelessness strategy, tackling child poverty, billions more to build social housing, and ending Section 21 no-fault evictions. But there is much more to do.

Every child deserves a safe, secure place to call home. That has to be the starting point.

This is what co-operation looks like in practice …

The Co-op has opened applications for its Local Community Fund, giving community groups the chance to secure funding for projects that make a real difference locally.

From supporting young people and improving mental wellbeing, to tackling food insecurity and strengthening community ties, these are the kinds of grassroots organisations that hold communities together. Thousands of groups across the country have already benefited from the fund, and now more can apply.

I’m proud to be Chair of the Co-operative Party because co-operation isn’t just an idea, it’s a proven way of getting things done. When people come together, pool resources and back each other, communities are stronger as a result. that’s why this Labour and Co-op government is backing it from committing to doubling the size of the co-operative sector, to putting a strong Community Right-to-Buy into law.

If you’re involved in a local charity, community group or voluntary organisation, take a look and see if your project could benefit.

Building a stronger community is built from the ground up: https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/26176587.apply-co-op-community-group-funding-uk/

Oldham must be next for young futures investment …

Good news for Greater Manchester. Young Futures Hubs are being rolled out to help tackle knife crime, support young people’s mental health, and create more opportunities for those at risk of being left behind.

Manchester is in the first wave. But I’ve made it clear to ministers that Oldham must be next, not least of all because young people increasingly do not stay in single local authority areas for school, socialising and travel to meet friends and family.

I’ve written directly to the Government setting out why. The reality is that too many young people in communities are still vulnerable to criminal exploitation and serious violence. We can’t keep relying on crisis interventions after the damage is done. It is concerning too that there remains gaps in provision in areas such as Westwood, Freehold, Limeside and Fitton Hill, and elsewhere. Many local groups do support young people but often lack secure premises and specialist staff.

Young Futures Hubs bring support together under one roof like youth services, mental health support, education and crime prevention.

I’ve now received a positive response from the Government. They’ve acknowledged the challenges facing Oldham and confirmed that Greater Manchester, including Oldham, is already part of the Young Futures Panels programme. They’re also in the process of selecting the next wave of Hub locations.

Every young person should have somewhere to go, someone to turn to, and the chance to build a better future. That’s what this is about.

Oldham Mayoral Development Corporation consultation is now open!

The consultation on the proposed Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) for Oldham is now open and I’d encourage local people to join me in having their say 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆.

In my contribution, I said that I support the principle behind an MDC, they are devolution at its best. Oldham deserves ambition. We need investment, regeneration, new jobs, better housing and long-term planning that helps our communities thrive.

But I’ve also made clear in my response to the consultation that we need to get the footprint right.

For many years, Oldham town centre has rightly been a focus for investment, and that should continue. But Oldham is a borough of proud towns and communities, and regeneration should be felt across the borough, not concentrated in the same places again.

The proposed SportsTown development around Oldham Athletic, alongside investment at the Royal Oldham Hospital, presents a huge opportunity. In my view, there is a strong case for following that natural corridor of growth through Chadderton and Royton, building on existing investment and unlocking the potential of our town centres, transport links and business estates.

I’ve also argued that we need a clearer assessment of how investment and opportunity will be distributed, and that regeneration should help address long-standing imbalances between communities rather than simply focusing on areas that have already received significant attention.

Done well, an MDC can help bring together housing, transport, employment and public services into a single vision for the future. That’s exactly the kind of joined-up approach Oldham needs.

Whatever your view, please take a few minutes to read the proposals and share your thoughts. Local people should have a strong voice in shaping the future of our borough.

🔗 Head to https://www.vcfseleadershipgm.org.uk/news-and-events/have-your-say-mayoral-development-corporation-for-oldham to have your say.