Thanks to everyone who came to the Westminster Hall Debate in Parliament about government support for the co-operative sector.

With 2025 being UN International Year of Co-operatives, it is right to celebrate the contribution of UK co-operative retail societies to local communities and national economic life which contributes an estimated £179.2 billion to the UK economy.

Here in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, co-operative heritage runs deep. We’ve always believed in the power of people coming together to take control, create good jobs, and build a fairer local economy. Whether it’s communities saving much-loved pubs, or co-ops giving workers a real say in the workplace, the difference is felt on our doorstep.

Yet still, too many people feel like no matter how hard they work, they still can’t get ahead, while the wealth their communities create is taken elsewhere. That’s why we have to double down, it’s time to return to co-operative principles: building together, sharing the rewards, and reinvesting locally.

The case is clear; if we want an inclusive, sustainable and resilient economy we have to deliver on our promise to double the size of the co-operative sector.

It’s a promising time for our movement!

Head to my Facebook page to see a clip from the debate.

Over a decade ago I wrote;

“Anyone who shies away from accepting that in Rotherham, Oxford, Rochdale and here in Oldham – and that this particular form of abuse is predominately Pakistani men targeting white girls – is not helping the victims, and nor is it helping the Asian community at large.

“Our own experience is that when we do see this kind of crime brought in front of the court, very shortly afterwards far right groups will jump on it to try and tar a whole community. [for instance Britain First, English Defence League, North West Infidels and others]

“That, however, isn’t an excuse not to do something – it’s actually even more of a reason to ensure that we act.

“If we don’t tackle wrongdoing we give more oxygen to those who seek to gain politically by accusing those in authority of cover-ups and failures. You can’t beat that world view with more cover ups. You beat it with honesty and by acting responsibly.”

My view hasn’t changed in fact it has become more resolute, not because of the focus on this issue now, but because victims and survivors have the right to secure the justice too often denied to them, and no offender should feel secure that the passage of time will mean they do not have to face justice.

Abuse takes place in every community and by all types of offenders. Victims will be sought out by vile abusers wherever they are, in any setting, and increasingly online as any vulnerability is exploited. But it benefits no one not to acknowledge and raise awareness of this particular pattern of abuse. By raising awareness we give confidence to victims to come forward and hopefully reduce future harm because the pattern of grooming is better understood and guarded against. It was this very reason such an effort was made, including by holding plays in schools and public awareness campaigns all those years ago.

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

One benefit of being on the backbenches is the ability to speak on a much wider range of issues in parliament. And so today I asked Safeguarding Minister that arrangements are made to have an independent “front door” for victims and survivors into the process fully independent of councils and police forces.

Secondly I sought assurances that through the inquiry cross border offending will be pursued. It is important to recognise abusers don’t stop at council or police boundaries, and given there is clear evidence of trafficking in some cases it must be open to the team to follow all lines of inquiry wherever it leads.

Oldham Council was the first to put itself forward to undergo a local inquiry, and has been waiting alongside victims and survivors to see how it interacts with the national inquiry.

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺

Protecting young people requires vigilance from everyone, especially as online risks continue to grow. Safeguarding is a collective responsibility, and we all share the duty to protect children and young people from harm.

Further information, including details of support services and warning signs, can be found at www.itsnotokay.co.uk.

To see a clip of my intervention in Parliament, head to my Facebook page.

It was great to join the fantastic Co-operative Members Council in Manchester with Co-operative Party General Secretary Joe Fortune to talk all things co-operative and how we can realise our ambition to double the size of the sector, and more!

There is real power in our movement with over 7,300 co-ops in the UK backed by 17m members who together generate over £42bn a year to the country employing 240,000 people. The Co-op Party has been its political voice for 108 years and counting!

It’s an important part of my own politics – working people self organising to hold real power in our economy instead of distant interests removed from the community it serves.

We now campaign all things community ownership, grassroots community power and more

Great to be back in Parliament after the conference recess

It was important to speak in a 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲, with focus on youth knife crime and child criminal exploitation.

We need a step change in how we safeguard children from violence & criminal exploitation. With a Labour-led local Council in Oldham, Labour Greater Manchester Mayor, a local Labour MP and a Labour government, we are truly able to tackle both youth knife crime and its causes across Oldham, Chadderton & Royton.

The 𝗕𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 is now awaiting Royal Assent after passing the final hurdles in the legislative process in both Houses of Parliament. Now it is set to become law, we will be able to end the postcode lottery of services.

By overhauling how bus services operate to boost local control of services, Labour is delivering on our commitment to improve living standards across the country. Local authorities will control over routes, timetables, connections and fares, reversing the decades of decline we have seen.

Greater Manchester has led the way on this since 2017 and so much progress has been made with the completion of the publicly-run Bee Network buses, its integration with the Metrolink, and ongoing work to bring commuter trains into the network over the next few years – including at Moston & Mills Hill which serve the constituency.

Here in Oldham, our reforms have pushed up ridership to the extent that we have been able to extend the £2 single fare cap, this new Law will allow the same reforms to happen across Britain.

Both the 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 and the 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝘃𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 returned to the Commons for votes returned to the Commons for their Third Readings. Being able to vote in the space of two days to bring us another step closer to both introduce powers to air travel more sustainable; and to give mental health patients greater choice, rights,and support shows our values in action.

A lot of time has been spent this week on research ahead of important interventions on issues like temporary accommodation and the unacceptable standard (and the frankly cost to the taxpayer too) of private rented properties serving as HMOs for many families with children. More to come on that.

It was nice too to catch up with the gaffer Angela Rayner. Now back in the constituency for a few busy days full of visits and meetings.

Constituency days are the chance to catch up and thank those who’ve hosted local visits or gone above and beyond for Oldham, Chadderton and Royton.

We are very lucky here to have so many amazing people, businesses and groups who love the borough and work to make it better.

Delighted to have secured a parliamentary debate next Tuesday in Westminster Hall on Government support for the co-operative sector.

I’m really keen to hear from local co-operatives on the work they are doing to make a difference in creating jobs and being rooted in the communities they serve. Get in touch Jim.McMahon.mp@parliament.uk.

The case is clear; if we want an inclusive, sustainable and resilient economy we have to deliver on our promise to double the size of the co-operative sector. So much is happening across Treasury, Business and other departments it’s a promising time for the movement.