Progress is being made on righting the terrible wrong which saw victims of child sexual exploitation let down repeatedly and given criminal records themselves by the system which should have been there to protect them.

This is an issue I’ve raised with the Home Office previously and I’m pleased to see progress is now being made.

There was never a justification for criminalising victims especially children, and it’s a scandal it was ever allowed to happen. That a child in the midst of exploitation and abuse could be considered a prostitute, or that when they tried to flee their abusers were charged with criminal damage beggars belief, but it’s the lived experience of too many victims. That will now be put right with a proposed change in the law meaning that criminal records for these offences will be expunged.

In related news, the National Crime Agency (NCA) have reported that they are currently reviewing 1,273 files from 23 police forces from 2010 to date, with 236 being reviewed as priority cases across the country. Operation Beaconport is in addition to localised investigations, such as those under Operation Sherwood in Greater Manchester.

Initial findings reported appear to mirror previous reviews in that obvious cases of exploitation and abuse were simply not followed up to any acceptable standard. That must be put right.

Seeking help;

If you have been affected by abuse or want to find out more about what support is available visit https://www.itsnotokay.co.uk

Read more about the changes being proposed;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/…/grooming-gang-victims…

To commemorate those who died for our country, I laid a stake yesterday in the House of Commons’ Garden of Remembrance in Parliament as the representative for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton.

It is important we take some time during this period to reflect and remember all those who have given so much for us and for future generations.

‘𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘺, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺.’

This week marked the Second Reading of the Public Accountability Bill, also known as “Hillsborough Law”, and it did so without a division bringing in cross party support for it to progress to the next stage.

This landmark legislation aims to ensure that public authorities always act with a duty of candour and transparency, especially in the aftermath of major disasters and public tragedies.

The Bill’s origins lie in the decades-long fight for justice by the Hillsborough families but its impact could reach far wider. If passed, it would help prevent future injustices following tragedies like the Manchester Arena attack, Grenfell Tower, and other public failures, by making sure victims and families get the truth, accountability, and fair treatment they deserve.

This is a vital step towards a fairer system that puts people before institutions.

This week MPs met in the commons to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the rebuilding of the House of Commons on 26th October 1950 following its bomb damage in World War II as an incendiary hit the “mother of all parliaments” on 10th May 1941.

The history is deep and most interesting is the rebuilding was an international effort of solidarity with gifts from all corners of the commonwealth furnishing the new chamber.

They include;

• Australia – Speaker’s Chair made from Blackbean wood (Moreton Bay Chestnut), Castanospermum australe.

• Bahamas – Minister’s writing desk and chair, English oak (Quercus robur).

• Barbados – Minister’s writing desk and chair, English oak.

• Belize (previously British Honduras) – Minister’s writing desk and chair in Mayflower wood (Tabebuia pentaphylla) and Royal Coat of Arms, English oak.

• Bermuda – Two triple silver gilt inkstands.

• Botswana (previously Bechuanaland Protectorate) – One silver gilt ashtray.

• Canada – Table of the House in Canadian Oak (Quercus spp.).

• Cyprus – Members’ Writing Room table, English oak.

• Dominica (as part of the Windward Islands) – One silver gilt inkstand.

• Falkland Islands – One silver gilt ashtray.

• Fiji – One silver gilt inkstand.

• The Gambia – Two silver gilt ashtrays.

• Ghana (previously Gold Coast) – Minister’s writing desk and chair in Mansonia wood (Mansonia altissima).

• Gibraltar – Two oak table lamps with bronze shades.

• Grenada (as part of the Windward Islands) – One silver gilt inkstand.

• Guernsey – Minister’s writing desk, three chairs, and armchair, English oak.

• Guyana (previously British Guiana) – Four triple silver gilt inkstands.

• Hong Kong – One triple silver gilt inkstand.

• India – North entrance doors to Chamber, English oak.

• Isle of Man – One silver gilt inkstand and two silver gilt ashtrays for Prime Minister’s Conference Room.

• Jamaica – Bar of the House in bronze.

• Jersey – Minister’s writing desk and chair, English oak, and silver gilt inkstand.

• Kenya – Minister’s writing desk and chair in Olive wood (Olea hochstetteri).

• Leeward Islands – Six English oak table lamps with bronze shades.

• Lesotho (previously Basutoland) – Two silver gilt ashtrays.

• Malawi (previously Nyasaland) – One triple silver gilt inkstand and one silver gilt ashtray.

• Malaysia (previously Malaya) – Minister’s writing desk and armchair, English oak.

• Malta – Three silver gilt ashtrays.

• Mauritius – Minister’s writing desk and chair, English oak.

• Newfoundland – Six chairs for Prime Minister’s Conference Room in Newfoundland Birch wood (Betula spp.).

• New Zealand – Two dispatch boxes in Puriri wood (Vitex lucens).

• Nigeria – Furniture for ‘Aye’ Division Lobby in Iroko wood (Chlorophora excelsa).

• Northern Ireland – Two clocks for the Chamber and one division clock for the Clerks’ Table.

• Pakistan – South entrance doors to Chamber, English oak.

• Sabah (previously North Borneo) – One table and five chairs for interview room in White Seraya wood (Parashorea spp.).

• St Helena – One Chairman’s chair for Prime Minister’s Conference Room in Iroko wood (Chlorophora excelsa).

• St Lucia (as part of the Windward Islands) – One silver gilt inkstand in Prime Minister’s Conference Room.

• St Vincent (as part of the Windward Islands) – One silver gilt ashtray.

• Seychelles – Minister’s writing desk and chair, English oak.

• Sierra Leone – Minister’s writing desk and chair in African Gold Walnut wood (Juglans spp.).

• Singapore – One table and five chairs for interview room, English oak.

• South Africa – Three chairs for Clerks’ Table in Black (or True) Stinkwood (Ocotea bullata).

• Sri Lanka (previously Ceylon) – Serjeant at Arm’s chair, English oak.

• Swaziland – One silver gilt ashtray.

• Tanzania (previously Tanganyika) – One table and five chairs for interview room in Iroko wood (Chlorophora excelsa).

• Trinidad and Tobago – Minister’s writing desk and chair, English oak.

• Uganda – Furniture for ‘No’ Division Lobby in Mvule wood (Milicia excelsa).

• Yemen (previously Aden) – Members’ Writing Room table, English oak.

• Zambia (previously Northern Rhodesia) – Two pairs of bronze brackets for the Mace at the Clerks’ Table.

• Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) – One silver gilt ashtray.

• Zimbabwe (previously Southern Rhodesia) – Two silver gilt inkstands with stationery racks for Clerks’ Table.

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday next week, I spent time yesterday reflecting and visited the Royton branch of the Royal British Legion to show my support for their stall on Royton Market.

The Poppy Appeal and The Royal British Legion stall showcases the brilliant and vital work that they do everyday to support our veterans across the country. They deserve all of our support in getting help for those who gave everything to support their country, and to those still involved in conflict across the world today.

Come along if you can to show support, their stall will be here today and also next Thursday!

Parliament has been busy delivering on the promises we made to people here in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton with significant Bills and votes before the House.

This week, both the 𝗕𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁 and the 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁 received Royal Assent and are now law. We said we would end the postcode lottery of services, and by restoring local control over buses, that is exactly what we are doing.

For renters, we are putting fairness back into the system: ending no-fault evictions and tackling the practice of forcing tenants to pay huge amounts of rent upfront.

As I spoke about in the Commons last week, more than 600 children are in temporary accommodation across Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton, having largely been driven out of their private rented accommodation because of no-fault evictions.

On Monday night, the 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 passed its final stages in the Commons and will now move to the House of Lords. These reforms are an important step in repairing our broken justice system, helping victims get the justice they deserve and protecting thousands more children from dangerous offenders.

We also backed the 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 at Third Reading, ensuring it too completes its passage through the Commons. After years of neglect that left prisons at breaking point and court backlogs out of control, this is a vital part of Labour’s plan to make our communities safer.

Our approach is clear: tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime to punish criminals and stop reoffending.

Now back up north for a weekend of meetings and visits across Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton.