Following my appointment to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by the Prime Minister, I am delighted to have received confirmation of the portfolio I will lead as 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡.

This covers local government finance (council tax, business rates, grants and pensions), policy, standards and intervention; alongside devolution and regional government in England; local growth funds such as Pride in Place; and a renewed focus on high streets, town centres and community assets.

I’m particularly proud that co-operative development will be a specific focus in the coming months supported by community ownership and the flagship Community Right to Buy fund.

All these things are important for people in every postcode feeling the benefit of a Labour and Co-operative government and I’ve ready hit the ground running on what promises to be a great experience.

Ministerial responsibilities in full;

Local government finance, including local taxation, business rates and local government pensions

Local government policy, including standards, stewardship, local audit and governance

Local government reorganisation

English devolution, including integrated settlements, Combined Authorities and pan-regional bodies

Local and regional growth and investment

Growth funds, including Pride in Place and Community Right to Buy Fund

Community ownership and co-operative development

High streets and town centres

Town and parish councils

Planning casework

The Prime Minister’s announcement of new powers for councils to tackle the over-concentration of vape and betting shops on our high streets is welcome.

We’ve seen a marked increase in these businesses in Oldham. Councils need the tools to act where there is over-concentration and too many end up replacing services and community spaces people rely on.

Alongside these new powers, the Government is already investing £20m in National Crime Agency officers to crack down on dodgy shops and our new Mayor Bev Craig announcing this week a £20m high streets fund for local businesses and community groups to shape their high streets.

This is all good news for our high streets and for the many law-abiding businesses that too often get tarred with the same brush.

We need to make sure we get our fair share of the additional enforcement resources.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg90el9236o

A huge congratulations to everyone across Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton receiving their A-Level, T-Level & VTQ results today.

Today is a chance to celebrate the dedication & determination you have put in over the past few years. I hope you can take pride in everything you have achieved and enjoy this special moment.

Whether you’re heading to university, starting an apprenticeship, entering employment, or taking a different path, I wish you every success and happiness for the next chapter.

Congratulations and very well done to you all!

I was delighted to be appointed as a Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by the new Prime Minister in July. Since then, I’ve had a chance to reflect on my 10-month period on the backbenches, where the focus was on a series of campaigns and projects that were important to constituents in Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton.

These included:

Campaigning with Unison & the RAC Foundation for HMRC to update the 45p 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 to 55p per mile, which had been frozen for 15 years, as well as securing a commitment from the Treasury to review the system ahead of the next budget.

Thanks to the campaigning of Chadderton couple Ryan & Cassie Claydon, introduced a Bill to Parliament to allow 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 in England & Wales, avoiding the need for families to attend a registrar’s office in person.

Travelled as part of a 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲, including visits to Chernobyl and Kyiv, and later hosted Ukrainian co-operative leaders in Parliament to discuss the country’s recovery and rebuilding.

Helped 𝗔𝘃𝗿𝗼 𝗙𝗖 secure inclusion in a £4.5m community regeneration funding programme, supporting the club’s facilities and its work with hundreds of local young people.

Worked with local Labour Councillors in Coldhust to secure Council backing for the restoration of 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 through funding for a new all-weather pitch, new facilities and bringing the West End Street site back into community use.

Tackled the 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿-𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗠𝗢𝘀 by pushing for stronger planning controls, with Oldham Council acting to ensure smaller HMOs now face greater scrutiny through the planning process – as well as submitting a formal objection to the proposed HMO conversion on Long Lane in Chadderton

Supported and worked with the Shared Health Foundation in their work to end the plight of 𝗢𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 through better housing, higher standards, and an end to children living for years in unsuitable accommodation.

Brought National Highways, Costco, the council and local businesses together to push for a solution to the persistent congestion around the 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗰𝗼 𝗷𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗸.

Worked with local campaigners and community groups in Fitton Hill to explore bringing the long-disused 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲 for local groups, youth activities and support services.

Secured unanimous support from Oldham Council for action on 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽-𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 and challenged the airport directly over the impact on local residents and what can be done to extend more job opportunities at the airport to our borough.

Through the 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵-𝗜𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆, I worked with colleagues from across these islands on shared challenges and strengthening the UK-Ireland relationship.

Successfully challenged proposals for Royton Town Centre, with TfGM and the council agreeing that 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 to help keep pedestrians safe.

I’m grateful to everyone who helped turn those concerns into campaigns for change, each one started with local people and grassroots community action.

Being a local MP for me is about more than what happens in Westminster. It is about standing up for our communities, working with people to find solutions and getting things done.

While my time on the backbenches is over, I won’t stop trying to get things done for local people – after all, community work is the route I took into politics all those years ago.

(Chamber photo UK House of Commons)

I welcome the news that, according to figures released this week, knife deaths are now at their lowest level in 35 years.

Knife-enabled deaths have fallen by 26%, while knife crime overall has dropped by 11%.

I have been campaigning on gang crime, youth crime and child criminal exploitation in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, all of which are closely linked to knife crime.

The culture of carrying knives, driven by gangs and organised crime, spread to communities across the country. From my experience locally, it had the greatest impact on our most deprived communities, affecting people from all backgrounds. Over recent years, numerous Section 60 stop and search powers have been authorised in response.

Government data also shows that a staggering 15,000 knives have been taken off our streets during a national amnesty in the last year alone. These include ninja swords, zombie-style knives, machetes, swords and kitchen knives.

While there is still much more to do, these figures show that determined action can make our communities safer.

The challenges they have faced are incredibly difficult, and I want to thank them for taking the time to share their story and for raising awareness of an issue that matters to so many people.

As an MP, one of the most important parts of my role is listening to residents, understanding the barriers they face, and making sure their voices are heard by those responsible for delivering support and services, it was fantastic to host them in Parliament last month to present a 10 minute rule bill on this issue to the House, and to have Cassie & Ryan in attendance for it.

The work Cassie and Ryan are doing is brilliant. By sharing their experience and campaigning for change, they are helping to shine a light on an issue that needs to be addressed. Hopefully, together, we can help change the law and make sure others do not have to go through the same challenges.

Officers carried out warrants, made arrests, seized vehicles, tackled anti-social behaviour and engaged directly with local residents and businesses, sending a clear message that crime won’t be tolerated.

Being tough on crime also means being tough on the causes of crime. Alongside strong policing in a ‘day-of-action’ like this, we have also supported the complementary continuous, multi-year program of Operation Vulcan in Derker. It has shown what can be achieved when tough enforcement is backed by long-term investment in a community.

Now we need to take that same approach to other violent crime and Section 60 hotspots, including Limeside. We need support and multi-agency approach trusted local organisations like AVRO FC, as well as to fill-in gaps of provision by bringing the Young Futures Hubs programme to Oldham, and create opportunities that give young people a positive future.

Operation AVRO is making a real difference. The next step is ensuring more of our communities benefit from the same joined-up approach.

I am deeply concerned by reports of the proposed closure of Orchard House Day Hospital in Royton and, in particular, by the apparent lack of communication from Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust with service users, their families and my office.

I have made enquiries with the Trust on behalf of everyone affected to understand the reasons behind this proposal, what consultation has taken place, and what support or alternative provision is being offered to those who rely on this important service.

Orchard House provides a valued service for older people in our community, supporting those with a range of mental health needs and helping many to maintain their independence, wellbeing and connection with others.

I am also deeply concerned by the continued erosion of community-based health and social care services, which will almost certainly prove to be a false economy. I remain of the view that the pressures facing the hospital with A&E constantly backlogged and ward beds in short supply are partly the result of the loss of the town centre urgent care centre and the closure of numerous GP practices, including those in Limeside, Freehold, Rochdale Road and the town centre. Community mental health support is already under pressure.

If we fail to provide adequate community-based healthcare, we force more people into hospital and more intensive, expensive treatment. That is bad for the NHS and bad for local people.

I will continue to press Pennine Care for answers and ensure that the concerns of service users, their families and the wider Royton community are fully represented.

I will also make it clear to health trusts and health service commissioners that the continued erosion of local services, coupled with a lack of meaningful consultation, is simply not good enough.