It is never good to see the town you love in the news for the wrong reasons, but we also have to face the fact that communities are deliberately being divided and set against one another.

In a borough like ours cohesion isn’t a passive act, it requires a lot of hard work to confront segregation and provide positive opportunities for people from different backgrounds to come together, especially when there are always those who set out to exploit division. Aside from the very extremes of politics that was a belief shared by elected political leaders in Oldham who had learnt the hard way from the ashes of the 2001 Oldham Riots exactly 25 years ago.

Social media has helped amplify division, feeding it into the streams of every resident who opens social media. There is hardly a community forum, newspaper comments section free from the now normalised hate speech, let alone pages deliberately set up for this purpose. Our political culture is increasingly being shaped by that new reality, normalising hostility and playing on identity and grievance politics.

Oldham, more than many places, understands where that can lead.

At the same time politics itself has become hostile. Countless reports of intimidation, abuse, harassment, death threats and criminal damage impact not just those who are the immediate victims but put off decent people from standing as candidates at all.

This article raises serious concerns about the role played by political parties, online activists, and toxic political culture in deepening mistrust and division within the borough. It also challenges mainstream parties to do more both to confront that culture and to listen to people who feel unheard and that things are simply not getting better.

There are real issues we have to confront, and we should never seek to diminish them, or marginalise those raising concerns. If we do we force debate into the fringes, and the more that happens the more it grows in numbers.

I take that responsibility seriously. Like the vast majority of decent people in our borough, I want to see an Oldham that is united, not divided.

That will require a more full frontal challenge to those cynically exploiting our borough, and much more effort to build a common ground where concerns are heard and acted upon.

Those efforts will be fought against as vested interests are called to account, but to accept this is just how things are now isn’t an option.

Equally where parties and leaders are contributing to the change needed, across all parties and independents that should be recognised too.

You can read the full article here https://www.notreallyheremedia.com/news/oldham-reporter/investigation-into-oldhams-politics

The government is determined to turn the tide on the scandal of youth unemployment, recognising that the system itself must change, a message repeated in the government-commissioned Young People and Work report led by Alan Milburn.

The report makes for sobering reading, with almost a million young people left in limbo. It outlines how dysfunctional and disconnected the system has become. We are paying more for worse outcomes, and that must change.

We must value and fix the apprenticeship system so that working class kids get the best chance to start a decent career and build a good life, and we have to stop believing we can do this from Whitehall. Our mayor’s, leaders and skills providers know their areas best, they need to be trusted to make the changes needed to pathways, courses and support alongside employers.

Labour, as the party of working people know that a country and its economy can only thrive if it values the workers who power it. If we fail to invest in young people in towns like Oldham, Chadderton and Royton, the cost of failure will always be greater.

The second report will focus on solutions and I look forward to submitting to it and reading its conclusions.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/neets-billions-snowflakes-milburn-report-37215262

Young people need protecting from the very real harms that social media can cause. It is now clear that social media has become a Wild West and, increasingly, a public health crisis that is entirely avoidable.

Tech companies have had years to get their house in order, and the truth is that while the Online Safety Act is a step in the right direction, it still does not go far enough.

Many Labour MPs support the Australian-led approach of banning social media for under-16s, and the government should give it serious consideration and be prepared to act.

I understand there are mixed views, including whether an outright ban would work in practice given the use of VPNs to bypass country restrictions, or whether it could weaken efforts to equip young people for the age at which they would then be able to access social media. However, the fact is that doing nothing is not an option.

I would also like to see greater recognition that adults too are being impacted by the range of harms present on social media, including harassment, bullying, fake and bot accounts amplifying harmful content, hate speech, and sexual abuse imagery.

I look forward to the government’s response to this consultation.

Wishing Muslim constituents in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton a happy and blessed Eid al-Adha!

#EidMubarak

Parents will know the struggle of finding reliable, affordable and trusted childcare for their children.

The Labour government now provides up to 30 hours of government-funded childcare per week for eligible working parents in England with children aged from 9 months to school age, continuing the expansion of early-years childcare support and aiming to save families up to £7,500 a year.

Expanding childcare provision and improving access for more children has been a priority for the Labour government. We know the best possible start in life is essential to future life chances, and this helps level the playing field regardless of background.

But reports of hidden fees and additional charges are concerning and risk creating barriers that deter parents from accessing childcare.

The government has asked the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate the issue and report back, which I welcome.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/may/25/nursery-extra-fees-charges-england-funding-free-childcare-hours

Car insurance costs in Oldham and across Greater Manchester are weighing down on local people who need to use a car or van, with our region having high insurance premiums compared to the national average which itself has jumped by 56% since 2010.

People who need their car to get to work, take the kids to school or care for family are being hit with huge premium increases year after year often through no fault of their own. Too many drivers feel like they’re being punished simply for where they live, not because of their own actions or driving history.

Which is why I asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to convene the industry to see what more can be done.

There is more that can be done to reduce the risk to insurers, including more enforcement to clamp down on careless and dangerous driving, drink and drug driving, uninsured drivers, and vehicle crime which contribute to the area based risk assessment, much are campaigns I’ve been pressing for action on, but that weighing is hitting the pockets of decent people who do the right thing and drive carefully.

Working people across Oldham, Chadderton & Royton already feel squeezed from every angle by cost-of-living pressures. Sky-high car insurance is making it even harder.

Another good week down in Westminster, with debates, votes and raising questions on the issues people raise with me most often locally.

𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵

Parliament debated the Government’s plans for the year ahead following the King’s Speech last week. The focus now has to be delivery, people need to see real improvements in living standards, public services and confidence in the future.

𝗧𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

I raised the issue of soaring car insurance costs with ministers. Too many people in Oldham and Greater Manchester feel they’re being penalised simply because of where they live. For working people already stretched, these increases are becoming impossible to absorb.

𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗻

There was positive movement this week on HMRC mileage rates, with the Chancellor confirming an increase from 45p to 55p per mile ahead of the completion of the wider review. This follows sustained campaigning alongside Unison and will make a real difference for carers, frontline workers and self-employed people who rely on their car for work.

𝗔 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆

Members voted on the Steel Industry Bill. Steel matters for jobs, national resilience and Britain’s industrial future. After years of decline and uncertainty, the industry needs long-term backing, not short-term sticking plasters.

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻

New figures this week showed net migration falling again. The system has needed reform for a long time with stronger enforcement, proper workforce planning and a focus on skills and training here at home.

𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀

Sadly my name didn’t come out in the Private Members’ Bill ballot this time round. It’s naturally disappointing, but there are still plenty of ways to push campaigns and legislation forward through Parliament.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆

The Government announced a new summer support package for hospitality, tourism and attractions. These sectors employ huge numbers of people and are vital to local economies, but many businesses are still feeling the effects of rising costs and changing consumer habits. Measures includes reductions of VAT from 20% to 5% on children’s menus, concerts, amusement parks, and much more

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

Extension of the 5p cut in fuel duty for the rest of the year, free buses over the summer for children aged 5-15, and a 12-month road tax holiday for HGVs are just some of the action taken this week by the Chancellor to ease cost of living pressures working people face. We can do this because thanks to our economic plan growth has been higher than forecast, borrowing is down, and now inflation is falling further than expected.

𝗖𝗼-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

Another great meeting of the Co-op Parliamentary Group this week discussing progress in landing our key campaigns including double the size of the co-operative economy, with a discussion on areas like agriculture. It was also great to finish the week having news that both Co-op Group and Our Co-op have voted to maintain their support for the Co-op Party.

Time to head back up North for meetings with local people and stakeholders in Oldham. As always, if there’s an issue affecting you locally, please get in touch at jim.mcmahon.mp@parliament.uk.

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