Great to be in central Manchester yesterday to visit Channel 4’s new office and spend time with the team there.

We had a good conversation about my push for more working-class representation in our country’s world-class creative industries, something I’ve been raising in Parliament with ministers through written questions. Talent is everywhere in Oldham, but opportunity still isn’t.

It was also great to hear about the work Channel 4 are doing reaching out to schools, including here in Oldham, and championing high-quality apprenticeships. As a former apprentice myself, I know just how powerful that route into a career can be.

The UK is recognised across the world as a cultural superpower and Labour is working hard in power locally and nationally to fight for our creative industries which provide good jobs and enrich our lives.

From saving Oldham Coliseum, to modernising Gallery Oldham & the central library, to then making law new tax relief for British films – Labour is backing our creative industries.

What’s important is connecting the dots. Here in Oldham we’ve got a growing creative ecosystem which includes the Oldham Coliseum, the Oldham Theatre Workshop, the Lyceum Theatre Oldham, and The Sharp Project right on the boundary of our borough, as well as across our city-region from MediaCityUK to Aviva Studios.

Institutions like Channel 4 have a real opportunity to tap into that talent and help open the door to the next generation. Thanks for having me!

The consultation has opened on the plans for Broadbent Moss and Beal Valley. Proposals include around 1,700 new homes along with new infrastructure, including a Metrolink stop at Cop Road, green space and improved connections across the area.

Development on this scale needs to be done properly. That means the right infrastructure, good design and making sure existing communities are fully considered.

This consultation focuses on the masterplan and design code for the site, setting out how the area could be developed.

It opened last week and 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝟭𝟮 𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. If you live nearby now is the time to have your say and help shape what comes next

https://bigoldhamconvo.oldham.gov.uk/hub-page/draft-beal-valley-and-broadbent-moss-masterplan-and-spatial-design-code-supplementary-planning-document?fbclid=IwY2xjawQbc11leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA81MTQ3NzE1NjkyMjgwNjEAAR6HM665FHnXvqNt4iDK5BdM7O0l5pxNGbLucq2NT4VuRrEixwxIPHFfZYUvVQ_aem_Q72Wkwemr89krQcHG_rQjg

Thank you to Chadderton FC for having me this week to show me around the new facilities, displaying the power of community-led sport.

The over £1 million investment into the new 3G pitch, renovated changing rooms & new viewing area are a brilliant examples of what local investment backed by the local council can deliver. Facilities like this mean more young people playing, training and being part of something positive.

Chadderton FC is member owned too, something I am proud to champion as Chair of the Co-operative Party. Community ownership works, in brings people together, gives them a stake in the future and protects vital local facilities for years to come.

The original visit was planned a while ago with Dale Harris. I know his passing was a shock to the club and its members, and more widely across the community. My condolences to everyone who knew and continues to miss him.

It’s been a busy week back in Westminster after the February recess and the parliamentary delegation to Ukraine, so here’s what’s been happening:

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀

Big news for Greater Manchester, the 09:30 limit on concessionary bus passes has been scrapped by our Mayor Andy Burnham. Now disabled and elderly residents can travel free anytime on the Bee Network. It’s about making public transport truly accessible and giving people the freedom to get around when they need to.

𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟲 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲

I contributed to the Second Reading of the Representation of the People Bill, pushing for young people to have a real voice in our democracy. This is thanks to the hard work of Oldham Youth Council to help draft my 2017 Private members Bill which went on to be a manifesto commitment and now to the floor of the house.

𝗢𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁

On Monday I made a statement on the situation in the Middle East, highlighting the urgent need for action, humanitarian support, and a focus on protecting civilians. It’s important Parliament stays engaged on international crises and holds governments accountable.

𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗠𝗥𝗖 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

After the Spring Statement, I asked the Chancellor about updating HMRC’s mileage rates so that people aren’t left out of pocket when travelling for work. Fair reimbursement matters for NHS staff, care workers & the self-employed across the country.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲

Great to be at the Association of Colleges Beacon Award ceremony in Parliament this week where Oldham College was a finalist for the Bell Foundation Award for Excellence in ESOL. As a former apprentice from Oldham College, it’s great to see the local institution recognised for it’s great work.

𝗧𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

Good to join the University of Manchester for Arts in Youth Justice: Shaping the Research Agenda event. On youth violence, I’m backing tougher hotspot action, including Section 60s where needed and pushing to replicate Operation Vulcan beyond Derker, into areas like Limeside.

But enforcement alone isn’t enough. Prevention matters. That’s why institutions like Avro FC, Anthony Crolla Boxing Gym and SPARK Oldham are vital, early intervention, purpose and belonging.

𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬

I asked the Leader of the House about creating a cross-government taskforce to improve neighbourhood services. Everyone deserves streets that are safe, potholes filled, pavements intact, parks cared for, and litter & fly-tipping cleared quickly. Communities thrive when the basics are done right.

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

I sat in on the Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee, examining the draft Climate Change Levy (Fuel Use and Recycling Processes) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. Scrutinising these regulations helps ensure businesses are encouraged to adopt greener practices without unfair penalties.

𝗖𝗼-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

During the Estimates Day debate, I highlighted the vital role the co-operative Movement plays in international development – creating good jobs, giving people a stake in their future, and promoting sustainable growth in communities abroad.

Now it’s back up north for meetings and engagements across Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton, hearing directly from residents and seeing the issues that matter most at home.

Local people deserve to step out of their front door and see that the basics are being done right. It’s clear that after over a decade of decline things have taken their toll. It takes time to rebuild but there is an urgency.

Potholes filled. Fly-tipping cleared. Parks & green spaces looked after. These things matter. They shape how people feel about where they live.

That’s why in Parliament I asked whether a cross-government taskforce could help drive improvements in neighbourhood services so councils can get the basics right.

𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞

Flagship campaigns like Don’t Trash Oldham show the commitment our Labour-led Council has to these services which matches the pride local people have in their communities. But councils also need the resources and greater powers to match that pride.

We also need to rebuild pride so that far less mess is accumulated in the first place – flytipping and littering lining our streets, alleyways and countryside isn’t normal but it is becoming normalised in a way which really impacts on the quality of life for decent people who do take pride. It is completely avoidable and completely selfish for some to treat the borough so poorly.

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐬

The response to the environmental vandals should be determined and reflect the misery they bring. The means the must fear being caught, and when they are they must feel its impact in the pocket. That needs more powers such as quicker and easier CCTV in hotspots.

The Fair Funding Review is being implemented so that like Oldham have the resources needed to deliver the neighbourhood services residents expect and deserve. But it needs more and critically it needs a collective effort to put it right.

𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐧

Same too of our roads, years of underinvestment by the previous government and harsh cold and wet winters quickly expose the fragile roads, too many of which can feel more like off-roading than a trip to the supermarket. Money is coming, and over £5m was invested locally on roads this year, but the scale of the challenge is huge.

I think a cross national government and local government task force (focusing on action) would add value too. It would include all the key departments like environment, transport and housing and communities, and of course local council representation. Either way it’s on the ground improvements felt everywhere which matters.

It was an honour to represent the UK Parliament on a cross-party delegation marking the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The UK Government signed a historic 100-year partnership agreement with Ukraine last year and has long been a steadfast ally and supporter of Ukraine and its people. Today, more than 150 Ukrainians live in Oldham as part of the Homes for Ukraine programme, with residents opening their hearts and homes to provide safe sanctuary.

Because the war has resulted in restricted airspace over Ukraine, access must be achieved through a neighbouring country. The delegation therefore travelled via Moldova, where it was a pleasure to meet the Ambassador and her team, as well as parliamentarians and the Speaker of the Parliament of Moldova.

The first leg of the visit was to the port city of Odesa, which has endured almost daily attacks on its infrastructure and residential areas. During our overnight stay, we were called to the bunker as an air raid siren sounded, quickly followed by drone and missile bombardment in the neighbourhood where we were staying. At dawn, reports confirmed that four residential blocks and a local school had been struck. It served as a stark reminder of how everyday life continues under the shadow of war.

We visited the nearby port area to hear about the impact of the war on exports, particularly given Ukraine’s critical role in the global food supply. We also visited the awe-inspiring Odesa Opera House, one of many magnificent buildings reflecting the country’s rich cultural heritage.

From there, it was a long drive to Kyiv for the Justice Conference, which focused on the tens of thousands of abducted Ukrainian children taken into Russia and placed under forced adoption, and for the annual YES Conference, with discussions on strengthening the international coalition to support Ukraine and bring the war to a peaceful resolution, held alongside the fourth anniversary commemorations.

Like Odesa, Kyiv remains a key target of Russian aggression. Once again, we spent the night in a bunker (a hotel car park) as a significant attack saw ballistic missiles and drones raining down on the capital. Most of our official engagements took place in Kyiv. We visited residential districts where military and civil support centres had been established to assist hundreds of thousands of residents enduring temperatures of -20 degrees after heating supplies had been cut off. We also visited a rehabilitation centre supporting troops returning from the front line with life-changing injuries, met with members of the armed forces, and held discussions with fellow Members of Parliament. These included attending the official opening of the plenary session and meetings with representatives from the Office of the President.

One visit that was, I suspect, on many MPs’ wish lists was to Chernobyl. The abandoned town of Pripyat was a haunting highlight. We also visited Reactor 4, the reactor that exploded in 1986, causing the nuclear fallout that followed. It is now encased in a vast protective structure designed to prevent radiation leakage. The site remains a highly secured zone and has been targeted by drone activity during the conflict.

Beyond the occupied territories in the east and south, daily attacks across the country have become a tragic reality for millions. To witness war once again in Europe, something many believed had been consigned to history after the sacrifices of previous generations, is deeply sobering.

One moment will remain with me for a long time. While visiting a residential building that had been bombed months earlier, we were shown the damaged structure and the community support centre established nearby. As we walked around the site, we saw a woman standing silently, clearly distressed. Through a translator, we learned that the rubble before us had once been the home she shared with her family, destroyed in an attack that killed her six-year-old daughter.

The main conference and commemoration brought together world leaders, defence ministers, foreign secretaries and parliamentarians. The UK delegation included senior representatives, and it was a particular privilege to meet Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, for discussions on sustaining international support.

As part of the cross-party delegation, I had the honour of laying a candle in remembrance. Few expected the war to last four years, and some doubted Ukraine could withstand the scale of Russian aggression. It is also the case that Russia has been supported by the Iranian regime with thousands of drones and, according to widely reported assessments, hundreds of ballistic missiles used to cause death and destruction on European soil.

Russia underestimated the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people. However, continued and strengthened support will be required to secure a lasting and just peace.

I am proud of the leadership the UK has shown, and proud too of the people of Oldham who have stepped forward to offer safe sanctuary to those in need.

Slava Ukraini.