Great to be in Liverpool over the last few days for this year’s Labour Party Conference, meeting with Labour & Co-op party members, activists, unions, and businesses to discuss the change we are trying to make and the national renewal we have begun to deliver. Thanks to everyone who worked tirelessly to organise & hold such successful events throughout.

It was a really positive conference for the Co-op Party and our Community Britain campaign. As Chair of the Co-operative Party, much of the time in Liverpool was spent continuing to spread the message on the successes of the Co-op Party’s Community Britain campaign.

With the recently announced Pride in Place Pride in Place Programme to give communities in our borough control over their own high streets; the enhanced Community Right-to-Buy being legislated for to give local people the right to own purchase cherished local assets that are at risk of being lost; community-led housing being part of the solution to the housing crisis; and community-owned energy now running through the just-announced Strategic Priorities for Great British Energy to roll out clean, green, community-owned energy owned by millions: the future of this country is community.

Chairing a panel with co-operatives & building societies association with Lucy Rigby on financial mutuals, we spoke about plans to build on current success which shows co-ops & mutuals have had a record-breaking year, proving they’re not just resilient but thriving.

On the Youth-led panel with UK Youth, SOUK and Full Fact, young people asked questions about the future of democracy, countering misinformation online, devolved powers, empowering young people in our communities, and breaking down barriers to apprenticeships & opportunities for working class kids.

It is clear what country we are building and the next steps we are about to take on that journey. From a new ambition to put university places on a level playing field with gold standard apprenticeships; to the announcement of NHS Online to deliver 8.5 million extra appointments & end the 8am race to call the doctors; a school library in every primary school in England by the end of this Parliament; a new European Youth Experience Scheme; and ensuring there is guaranteed work for all young people. We’re choosing investment over decline to put us on a path of national renewal towards a fairer country.

Ownership matters when it comes to growing our economy and driving-up living standards in the long-term interest. People want pride, security & dignity in the places they call home. For too long the only story has been of loss and decline. That has to change.

You’ve got to wonder what is in the minds of people who treat our borough like this, dumping hundreds of bags of rubbish across roads, fields and open spaces.

It is self evident that there is organised crime involved in some elements of this with “growing house” evidence being dumped, alongside the routine & unacceptable level of household & industrial clear outs which include anything from car parts to furniture.

This horrendous dumping has been reported along Crime Lane and continuing on to Stannybook Road.

The council works hard to keep on top of things at a time when resources are really stretched but ultimately tough action is needed. It’s not right or fair on decent people who work hard to pay taxes to clear up the mess of others. But it’s also clear that there are repeated hotspots where there is a case for cameras, even temporary ones, to catch the culprits in the act.

Littering at Coal Pit Lane has also been reported, which is again an all too regular problem as passing drivers and their passengers treat the road as an open litter bin with many not living nearby but passing instead using as a cut through.

Oldham has been selected as one of 95 places to receive a share of the Pride in Place Impact Fund. That means £1.5 million over two years to make improvements that really matter to local people. More details will follow but this will real mean change for us in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton

Revitalising local high streets and town centres.

Improving and creating public spaces where residents want to spend time.

And with Chadderton already selected for investment as part of an earlier round, and Oldham the focus of significant and much needed investment, I am keen to ensure that Royton sees it’s fair share, and also that investment is seen in neighbourhoods too.

This investment goes alongside new powers to;

Seizing boarded-up shops: Communities can take control of vacant properties to repurpose them for local use.

Blocking unwanted businesses: Local authorities can prevent the establishment of certain establishments, such as gambling and vape shops, on their high streets.

High Street Rental Auctions: Local councils can auction leases for long-term vacant shops, offering opportunities to local businesses and community groups.

And for communities to safeguard important assets;

Acquiring Beloved Assets: Communities have the right to purchase and manage cherished local facilities, including pubs and libraries, to prevent their closure.

Regenerating Community Spaces: Funding is provided to restore and repurpose underused spaces like disused churches, youth clubs, and civic buildings, allowing communities to own and operate these assets themselves

#PrideInPlace#Oldham#CommunityPower

It is great to see the amazing work of the Oldham Youth Council is being held up as an example which is planned to be rolled out across the country in the UK Government new Pride in Place Strategy.

I was proud to be the leader at the time when they were the first youth council in the UK to be formally recognised in the local council’s constitution, giving them constitutional powers to submit motions at full council meetings so their voices and the issues they feel are important are heard and debated.

I’ve also been privileged to work alongside the OYC has led several high-impact campaigns driven by young people including the ground-breaking Votes at 16 private members bill we worked on together and which is now set to become law!

And they’ve lead on campaigns like Every Life Matters – a campaign after a fatal road accidents, resulting in speed-reduction measures and wider awareness work for young drivers, and the important mental health & wellbeing initiatives: “I Love Me”, “SNAP! Mental Health”, and others where youth councillors have designed awareness-raising work and influenced local health education policy.

These examples show how OYC doesn’t just ‘sit’ – it acts: gathering views, creating campaigns that matter to young people, influencing real council decisions, and helping shape the policies and services that impact their lives.

With the new Pride in Place Strategy now encouraging other areas to follow Oldham’s lead by March 2026 in establishing new Youth Councils, it feels like a moment where youth participation is finally being taken seriously by national government.

Oldham is rightly being recognised, and I’m so pleased the Oldham Youth Council is growing it’s impact all the time.

I strongly support the recent decision in Oldham to pull the brakes on the rapid rise of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). This move, requiring smaller HMOs to seek planning permission, is an important step in protecting our communities and ensuring housing works for local people.

I’ve heard repeated concerns from residents about the impact HMOs are having on our towns. Time and again, I’ve heard how family homes are being lost to conversions, leaving fewer options for young families who want to stay in the area where they grew up. When landlords find it more profitable to split a house into rooms, it drives up both rents and house prices – and the people who lose out are often those who contribute the most to our community.

I share these concerns. Beyond affordability, there’s also the question of standards. Too often, HMOs are converted with little care for safety, quality, or long-term upkeep. I’ve seen examples where corners are cut, maintenance is ignored, and tenants are left in conditions that fall well short of what anyone should have to accept. We cannot allow rogue landlords to cash in at the expense of people’s dignity and security.

We also need to think about what makes a community strong. Stability, neighbourliness, and the connections that build up over years – these are put at risk when too many homes become short-term, transient rentals. Sometimes its the small things, gardens left unkept, rubbish building up and uncollected, and quick turnover of tenants. Families and long-term residents are the backbone of our neighbourhoods, and we need to make sure housing policy reflects that.

The previous government allowed a free for all. There wasn’t an office block, pub, shop or family house that wasn’t left vulnerable. It is time to tip the power back in the hands of local people and the council who represent them.

Greater Manchester Police have made arrests as part of ongoing investigations into “non-recent” Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) under Operation Sherwood.

Operation Sherwood was launched following the Oldham Assurance Review, commissioned by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, which aimed to pursue all lines of enquiry and bring offenders to justice. So far, 21 suspected offenders have been arrested.

As these are live investigations, no specific details of the allegations or individuals will be commented on, and due process must take its course. However, given the specialist nature of this operation and the high level of public interest, it’s important to acknowledge today’s developments. It is hoped this action encourages others to seek support and report abuse, ensuring no abuser escapes the full force of the law.

Above all, today is a time to reflect on the remarkable bravery of victims and survivors who have come forward. They must remain at the forefront of our minds.

In Oldham, we have not avoided addressing the fact that there has been a distinct pattern of abuse, where groups of predominantly Pakistani men targeted vulnerable young white working-class girls. It is essential to discuss this openly and transparently to build confidence for victims and survivors to come forward. At the same time, it’s crucial to recognise that exploitation occurs in every community, with perpetrators from all backgrounds. Recent local convictions of abusers from various groups including White British and Bangladeshi communities highlight this.

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

GMP press statement can be found at https://www.gmp.police.uk/…/more-suspects-arrested-as…/

Great news from the Co-operative and Mutual Economy Report: co-ops and mutuals have had a record-breaking year, proving they’re not just resilient but thriving – from start-ups and community pubs to large member-owned businesses.

Here in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, 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.

The Co-op Party’s ambition is clear: to double the size of the co-operative and mutual sector. With the right policies – fair access to finance, and real support for democratic ownership – we can make this vision a reality, strengthening places like ours in the process.

Oldham’s co-operative heritage runs deep – and this report shows our future can be even stronger when we put co-operation at the heart of our economy.