We’ve all seen how smartphones are changing childhood, and not for the better.

That’s why I welcome the government’s move to amend the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to ban mobile phones in schools after accepting recommendations to turn existing guidance into a legal requirement. Classrooms should be places to learn, not scroll.

I’ve said before that the Online Safety Act doesn’t go far enough. This is a step in the right direction, but there’s more to do to properly clean-up social media.

That includes backing the consultation on restricting social media use for under 16s. Social media brings opportunities, but it also brings very real harms with big tech companies too often failing to take responsibility for the platforms they run. Keeping children safe, online and offline, can’t wait.

Let’s get on with it.

Head to https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/20/mobile-phones-statutory-ban-schools-england-bill-amendment to see more

We’re starting to see how the Chadderton Pride in Place funding can make a real difference locally, including supporting the future of Foxdenton Hall and improvements to Foxdenton Park.

Up to £1 million has been provisionally allocated through Pride in Place (£850,000 capital and £150,000 revenue over three years), with work now underway to decide how this funding is best used to deliver for local people.

This investment builds on significant progress already made. Chadderton Together has secured £228,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside £119,000 match funding from Oldham Council, to develop detailed plans for Foxdenton Hall, with architects and project teams now in place.

The next step will be a major funding bid later this year for around £2.2 million to deliver the full restoration and Pride in Place funding will play an important role in supporting that wider vision.

Importantly, this isn’t just about one building. Pride in Place also creates an opportunity to improve Foxdenton Park by enhancing facilities, supporting health & wellbeing, and ensuring the space works better for residents.

I want to recognise the work of Cllr Colin McClaren and everyone involved in Chadderton Together for their persistence in getting us to this stage.

There’s still more funding to secure, but Pride in Place gives us a real opportunity to move forward and deliver visible improvements that will strengthen pride in Chadderton.

It was wonderful to be at this year’s Mayor’s Ball at The Loom, our recently opened event space in the heart of Oldham town centre, for Mayor of Oldham Cllr Eddie Moores and his wife and Mayoress Kath Moores.

A brilliant night bringing together community groups, local organisations, volunteers, and businesses from across our borough all in one room. That’s our borough at its best.

It was also really nice to see the Oldham Scottish Pipe Band recognised in its centenary year with a Civic Appreciation Award presented by the Mayor of Oldham.

These events aren’t just about a good evening. They’re about backing the Mayor’s charities and recognising the people who quietly get on with making a difference every day. As always, all the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Mayor’s Charity for good local causes.

Oldham runs on that kind of community spirit and I was proud to be there and support it.

On 26 April 1986, Chernobyl Reactor 4 exploded, releasing radioactive material across Ukraine and much of Europe.

The fallout saw vast quantities of radioactive material across Ukraine, Belarus, and much of Europe, contaminating millions of square kilometres and forcing the evacuation of entire communities, most famously Pripyat.

Today on the 40th anniversary of the disaster, it also serves as a present day reminder of the real threat Russia’s aggression poises to its future.

I saw that firsthand on a recent cross party parliamentary visit to Ukraine where we had special permission to visit inside the huge covered structure protecting the sarcophagus covering Reactor 4, where we observed the damaged caused by a Russian drone attack a year earlier.

Should an attack disrupt the concrete sealed structure covering the reactor it could see over a hundred tonnes of nuclear fuel released into the air over a vast area.

It was quite an experience to feel the history of the site, but also to be reminded that no where is safe from attack for as long as Putins illegal war persists.

Slava Ukraini.

There is an interesting article on this from the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/25/chornobyl-power-plant-at-risk-amid-russia-war-ukraine

Another busy week in Westminster as this Parliamentary Session Comes to a close. Here’s a quick round-up

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆

Spoke in a Delegated Legislation Committee on the draft Chemicals (Health and Safety) Regulations. Important, technical changes, but ones that matter for keeping people safe at work and making sure standards don’t slip.

𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟲

Great to meet with Minister Dixon to talk about progress on securing votes at 16 through the Representation of the People Bill. This started as a campaign in Oldham, so it’s good to see it moving forward nationally and us delivering on our manifesto commitment. More to do, but real momentum is building.

𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

I used Commons Business Questions to press the Leader of the House on whether the government is bringing forward a new round of the Community Ownership Fund. Communities are ready to step up, they just need the backing.

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿

Key votes on the landmark English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill as it moves through its final stages. This is about shifting power out of Whitehall and into our towns and cities.

𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 & 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹

I was also in the voting lobbies on the Crime & Policing Bill, focused on giving police the powers they need, keeping communities safe, and getting real support for victims & survivors.

𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘀 & 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁

Members voted on the Victims & Courts Bill, which has now completed its passage through Parliament and is awaiting Royal Assent. A big step forward in strengthening support for victims and fixing our broken justice system.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

There were important votes again this week on completing the passage of legislation before Parliament is prorogued, including on improving outcomes for children and strengthening our schools system, as well as strengthening pension schemes and improving long-term security for savers.

As ever, a mix of detailed committee work, pushing the Government in the chamber, and voting on legislation that shapes the country. It’s great now to be back home in Oldham to finish the week with meetings & engagements across Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton.

It was great to meet with democracy minister Sam Dixon to talk through the progress of introducing Votes at 16.

I was proud to be able to talk through the Oldham Youth Council Private Members Bill we presented to Parliament in 2017, which led to the establishment of the cross party group and eventually featuring in the Labour Party manifesto to now become a live bill making its way to become law.

I’ll obviously be supporting the Bill when it comes back to the Commons

In the Commons yesterday, I asked the Leader of the House about bringing forward a new round of the Community Ownership Fund.

Community ownership is an important Co-operative Party campaign, it’s about empowerment, pride, identity, and keeping the places that matter in local hands. When a pub, a sports club, or a community space is at risk, people should have a real chance to step in and save it.

Sometimes protection by listing as a community asset is enough, as we’ve secured with Boundary Park and pubs like the Daisy Field Inn, but when they need greater protection ownership really matters. I’ve pushed this before with Avro FC. A brilliant local club with deep roots in the community, fighting not just for survival but for its future.

For some communities they have the resources to step in, but many do not. Often it’s the communities who need it most who need the greatest financial backing. That’s why we need new round of the Community Ownership Fund.

Big moment in the Commons this week as we entered the final stages of the English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill’s passage through Parliament before it receives Royal Assent. A landmark shift in where power sits in this country, delivering devolution by default, and I’m proud to have initiated the Bill during my time as a minister:

Devolution of power, resources and new freedoms so decisions made are closer to home, and those making the decisions are accountable to local people.

New powers over things that matter like transport, housing and planning, economic development, and skills.

New neighbourhood level decision making so that everyone, everywhere can get local change in their community.

Levelling the playing field so communities have more power to protect, and if needed to take over, local assets which are important to them, with automatic protection for sporting grounds and facilities.

For too long, decisions have been hoarded in Whitehall. This Bill flips that. It puts power where it belongs: in our towns, our cities, and our communities.

It builds on what we know works. We’ve seen it with places like Greater Manchester and other mayoral areas. Better transport, better jobs & real change all because decisions are made closer to the people they affect.

Now we take that further with a clear, consistent system of devolution; more powers for local leaders and real tools for communities, including a stronger right to shape and own what matters locally.