Labour governments root out child poverty, support working families and invests in the future.

The two child benefit cap was wrong when the Tories brought it in and its reversal should be a priority for this Labour government.

Nationally 1.6m children are impacted, and more and more are being driven into poverty as a result. Of those a million are in working families. For Oldham 11,340 children in 3,160 households are currently affected by the two-child benefit limit, that’s around 1 in 5 children.

It also makes financial and economic sense. Lower income households, unsurprisingly, do not hoard money; they spend it on essentials like shopping which goes straight back into the local economy. And with an aging population needing social care, pensions and good public services in older age, it will require working age people driving the economy and paying into the tax system in generations which follow. So, the country needs to do more to support families to afford and raise children.

And more, it’s what Labour government do; we’ve reduced child poverty before and we must set about doing it again. This is one of the quickest and most impactful ways of achieving it.

There are much bigger questions the government must answer about the structure of the British economy which relies far too much on low pay and insecure work, meaning so many decent people are doing everything asked of them, but still struggling to make ends meet.

I’m pleased this is gaining ground in the deputy leadership contest and hope progress is made soon.

There has been a lot going on ahead of the Recess for party conferences, but I didn’t want to let this go without notice!

After a series of 12 votes we are now closer to delivering the biggest upgrade to rights at work in a generation. Labour’s landmark Employment Rights Bill, which has passed through both the House of Commons and House of Lords is now in its final stages in the legislative process.

At the general election, we prioritised good jobs for the people of Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, and nationally we put forward the New Deal for Working People – and this delivers on those promises:

Banning exploitative zero-hour contracts

Ending fire and rehire

Day one rights

Delivering a genuine living wage

Extending statutory sick pay to 1.3 million of the lowest earners

While we are acting to drive up employment standards, provide the security & respect working people deserve, and create the level playing field businesses need to invest & boost growth; the Tories & Reform voted against improving working conditions.

This is real change for working people across our country and by keeping this promise, we are showing that politics really can make a difference.

For all workers, Labour is making work pay.

I had the pleasure of joining students and partners at the launch of the MEGA Hub Scholarship Programme here in Oldham.

It was fantastic to congratulate the 𝟓𝟎 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐄𝐆𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 after their outstanding achievements earlier this year. Each student will now benefit from tailored support, mentoring, and a £1,000 bursary to help them take their next steps in education and work.

The MEGA Hub (Motivated, Educated Generation with Ambition) is all about giving young people in Oldham the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the industries of the future; digital, cyber, AI and green tech. This is about opening doors, broadening horizons, and making sure no young person is held back by disadvantage or lack of opportunity.

I’m proud that Oldham is leading the way, with First Choice Homes Oldham, local colleges, and national partners all coming together to make this happen.

Congratulations once again to our new 𝐌𝐄𝐆𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬!

We have written to the London & Cambridge Partnerships group Managing Director to raise serious concerns about the management of Royton Precinct and the impact of service charges being levied on tenants.

These are not new issues. We have raised them previously by reaching out to LCP, through the meeting we held with tenants of Royton Precinct & LCP at the precinct in May, and through tenants liaising with my constituency casework team.

Royton is a proud town, full of heritage, and with a bright future ahead. Its precinct plays an important role in shaping & preserving the identity of our area, and those who operate on it are often local people, rooted in the community who want to provide for friends and neighbours. Therefore, we have a duty to deliver a stable environment for them and protect their long-term future. What LCP is doing in this dispute as the landlord is not good enough – tenants & local people deserve better.

That’s why we are calling for:

a full and transparent breakdown of how these service charges have been calculated

an explanation for the use of bailiff threats against tenants when the legitimacy of the charges is itself disputed

a clear statement of how they intend to fulfil their responsibilities as a steward and custodian of both Royton and Chadderton precincts

Labour in government at a national, regional & local level are committed to driving footfall for our high streets & supporting small businesses to thrive. Supporting Royton Precinct in this way is building on the work has done to:

deliver a 40% permanent business rate relief for retail, leisure & hospitality properties

introduce a standalone offence for violence against shopworkers

revitalise Royton Town Hall & Library

improve local transport connectivity through the creation of the Bee Network

It is quite clear LCP’s approach to replacing the canopies is not fair and shows there is a lack of a proper plan for the precinct’s long-term future.

Royton deserves better.

Great to see the disused pitches at Chapel Road in Hollinwood being turned around so they are fit for purpose and ready to be put back into good local use.

Thank you to Oldham Sixth Form College and Dream Big Sports who have taken on the site to create a reimagined facility which will include: a new all-weather football pitch, changing facilities, a classroom, an office, and a teaching area.

Providing an extensive range of sporting opportunities for students and local people from Oldham and the borough more widely will give a massive boost to the area which lost so much with its closure in 2017.

Venues like this one in Hollinwood and the pitches at West End Street in Coldhurst are vital for young people having the space to get good exercise, socialise and have a safe place to enjoy themselves.

Visiting to Oldham Sixth Form earlier this year once again reinforced that the college is crucial intuition in our borough in providing our young people with the knowledge and the skills to reach their potential, create a good life for themselves and be equipped for the next generation of jobs – with delivering good jobs being one of our local priorities at the general election. The college having its first ever dedicated outdoor sports facility will only enhance the great work it already does.

Back in Parliament this week after the summer recess as we start a busy period of delivering the change local people voted for at the general election last year.

It was big moment on Tuesday as the 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 in the Commons.

This represents a top to bottom redistribution of power from Westminster to communities, councils and mayors as part of our plan for change. Real power to grow economies, build homes, deliver better transport, skills and community ownership.

I responded to a ‘Statutory Instrument’ 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Fixing the local government audit regime through sustainable structures and governance is vital for ensuring there is proper use of taxpayers’ money so we can maintain trust and confidence in local public services.

It was great to be in Derbyshire for the 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 where we discussed the ways our mayors are delivering for their regions. This government is handing power back to where it belongs – to local people who know what really matters to their communities.

At a time when towns and cities across England face urgent challenges, seeing mayors across the political divide work together to speak with one voice, on behalf of the 30 million people they represent collectively is very encouraging

Now back to Oldham …

Fly-tipping within Oldham is an ongoing issue that we are committed to tackling. It is illegal, anti-social, and deeply unfair to residents who take pride in their neighbourhoods.

We are well aware that it continues to have a detrimental impact on our environment, local communities & public health given how often constituents write to us and how frequently we have seen fly-tipping in the area when out knocking on doors over the summer.

The work done so far has been promising, such as local councils now being given powers to seize & crush vehicles and the local ‘Don’t Trash Oldham’ campaign, but the issue persists.

The fact that so far this year Oldham Council has already 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭,𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗹𝘆-𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 shows their commitment to tacking this issue.

We have acted by initiating conversations with the environmental team at the Council, who have been working hard to tackle individual instances, to push for their wider strategy to be maintained and enhanced.

The Council has assured us that their approach to fly-tipping in the borough over the last 3-5 years – being largely based around the two ‘Don’t Trash Oldham’ campaigns – has been successful in identifying the 27 urban hotspots and 7 rural areas that have been subjected to significant fly-tipping, mainly in the form of trade waste and/or criminal gangs dumping waste.

To prevent as well as remove & punish fly-tipping, the Council have been:

Providing 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, & 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝗻𝘀 and enforcement of commercial businesses.

Continuing to issue 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 & 𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀.

Working with local residents, volunteer groups, Council collection teams, & ward Councillors on 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻-𝘂𝗽 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀.

Our dialogue is ongoing, and our work will be going to the next phase when the council completes its revised programme to deal with the issue & prevent fly-tipped waste attracting more waste when it is left for a period of time.

Fly-tipping 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱 from the fourth quarter of last year to the first quarter of this year, and we are encouraging local people to continue reporting concerns to my team at jim.mamchon.uk@parliament.uk so that we can end this crime for good.

For too long, power and opportunity has been centralised in Westminster and Whitehall, holding back growth in places like Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton and denying millions of people across the country the opportunity to realise the potential we know they have.

Our new approach to devolution and empowerment begins the work of fixing that:

powering up our regions through 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁 and the right to request, as well as new powers, resources and freedoms

introducing measures to fix local government and its fragile audit regime through 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

giving real power to communities through the 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁-𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀, rooted in our high streets, neighbourhoods and sporting grounds, and

giving frontline ward councillors the respect, power and tools they need to make a difference in their communities through 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹

It was great to close Second Reading of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill by making it clear: ownership matters – and this Bill puts that power in the hands of the local community.

Promoting community ownership and fighting for good jobs has been at the core of everything we have been doing since the election. Through our work locally to save Oldham Coliseum, restore West End Street pitches, and secure both Boundary Park and the Daisyfield Inn as Assets of Community Value; we have consistently fought for more local ownership of local venues.

Through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s work to use devolved powers to improve local transport though the creation, expansion & integration of the Bee Network; Labour in power locally has spent years fighting for more good quality and better paid jobs for local people.

This Bill is about building on these successes to empower devolved bodies and local communities to be able to do more and spread enable these successes around England.

When we said this was a top-to-bottom transfer of power, we meant it. A top to bottom redistribution of power from Westminster to communities, councils and mayors as part of our plan for change.

Real power to grow economies, build homes, deliver better transport, skills and community ownership