Labour have announced that we will deliver vital maintenance in hospitals to help prevent cancelled appointments and operations, with patients in our borough set to benefit from the Government’s Plan for Change.

Across the country, over 400 hospitals, mental health units and ambulance sites will be handed £750 million to tackle long-term problems such as leaky pipes, poor ventilation and electrical issues, helping to prevent thousands of cancelled operations and appointments.

This includes £𝟏𝟎,𝟕𝟐𝟗,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬 like Royal Oldham Hospital and £𝟔,𝟖𝟑𝟔,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬 like North Manchester General Hospital. This funding is vital and another step in this Government’s mission to fix the dire state of public service infrastructure we inherited from the Tories.

The projects include much needed fire safety, drainage, electrical & energy systems and roof works at these hospitals which will help patients in Oldham, Chadderton and Royton benefit from better services and facilities throughout the health system. Across the country, fixing the backlog of maintenance at NHS hospitals will help prevent cancellations, with services disrupted over 4,000 times in 2023/24 due to issues with poor quality buildings.

The hospital funding package was confirmed in last year’s Autumn Budget, in which an extra £22.6 billion was secured for the NHS by the Labour Government.

The Tories inherited an NHS from the last Labour government which delivered the lowest NHS waiting lists on record, then left NHS waiting lists peaking at their highest level ever of 7.8 million. However, already we have delivered 𝐬𝐢𝐱 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐰. Labour pledged at the election to deliver two million more NHS appointments a year as our first step and we hit that target seven months early.

We promised to get the NHS back off it’s knees and make it fit for the future after 14 years of chronic underfunding and mismanagement, and we are delivering on that promise.

What a home coming! It was great to be back in Oldham today at the Civic Centre and then Boundary Park to celebrate Oldham Athletics’ play-off final win at Wembley and promotion back to the Football League after a 3 year absence, attended by a record-breaking 52,115!

It was fantastic to see so many fans gather in Oldham to see the team bus return and then thousands at the parade and Party in the Park at Boundary Park.

Local clubs have to be a businesses, that’s the reality of paying the bills, but they are much more than that. They are part of a town’s identity, and owners who understand that and embrace it as true custodians are rare. We are incredibly fortunate to have the Rothwell’s at the helm with Oldhams own football “Royle family” driving its future alongside them.

And there is something very special about so many Oldhamers singing, clapping and even crying together – in joy – it really lifts the soul.

This is a new era and the future is bright!

𝗢𝗹𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝟯 – 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝟮!

Today at Wembley in a dramatic match, Latics secured their place back in the Football League and with it, reignited the spirit of a proud footballing town.

This victory isn’t just about what happened on the pitch, as thrilling as it was. It’s about what this club means to the people of Oldham. Through years of struggle, uncertainty, and change, Latics have been a source of identity, unity and pride.

I know from speaking with fans, from generations of families who’ve followed the club home and away, just how much today means. The last time we had a Wembley final was 35 years ago and today a new generation got to experience that special feeling.

To the players, staff, Frank, Judith & the whole Rothwell family and CEO Darren Royle: thank you for giving fans hope again. You’ve built something that reflects the best of who we are: determined, hardworking, and resilient in the face of challenge.

The Rothwell family have created a new era by giving the club a boost and renewed focus. After years of uncertainty, where fans have been worried about the future of Oldham Athletic, the future is now looking up – from the new ownership, to the football on the pitch!

To the record-breaking thousands of Oldhamers who travelled down, sang their hearts out and carried the club with them – you did us proud.

This is more than a football result. It’s a signal that Oldham is back.

With the promotion final just days away the club has secured further ticket allocations.

Originally, Wembley announced an allocation of 17,500 for each club, which fell far short of the expected number of fans due to buy tickets.

The club have been working around the clock and exploring every avenue to have this allocation increased, including arranging coaches for thousands of fans.

I know the importance of the match for the club and the town, and was eager to help when asked by the club.

Over the past few days there has been positive exchanges with the Mayor of London and TfL who have engaged with Wembley/the FA and Brent Council to look at options to increase the ticket allocation, with early success increasing both clubs allocation by 4,000 to 21,500. When taken with the FA allocation of 5,000 (early bird sales etc) it takes it to 48,000.

It is envisaged this will accommodate the vast majority of Oldham fans wishing to travel, with further headroom possible through coach packages.

As of this morning, Latics report 20,628 tickets have been sold, with tickets still available to be bought by fans ahead of Sunday.

Without these representations and the actions of the club to secure 2,400 fans on coach packages, it was possible that thousands of loyal fans would have been denied the chance to witness this historic match.

The club has done everything possible to lobby the FA and others to increase ticket allocations and the additional tickets show it was worth the effort.

Transport arrangements now in place include:

Increased Bakerloo line frequency serving Wembley Central

Two extra Chiltern Railways services per hour to Wembley Stadium station

London Overground’s Lioness line operating as normal to Wembley Central

Expanded coach and car parking agreed by Brent Council and Wembley Stadium

I’m told that the highest attendance at this fixture in the past has been around 47,000, I think it can be broken on Sunday given the extra allocation is allowed!

This weekend is about more than just football. It’s about civic pride, history, and a club determined to rise again. Let’s back the team and make it a day to remember.

Next stop Wembley. Good luck!

Thanks Jim

Earlier this month, the Admin Team from the Oldham Armed Forces Breakfast Club attended this year’s Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. I hope you all had an amazing day.

At the event, they met Andrew Spence and Maria Hanley who received an invite from the Lord Lieutenant of Manchester as a thank you for their hard work in bring back a World War One memorial to Royton which had been sold. This now hangs in Royton Library along with an history folder detailing all those on the memorial.

The dedicated work you do in the breakfast clubs to foster connections, offer support and provide a welcoming & safe space is commendable. We thank you and the Royton Branch of the Royal British Legion for all the work you do to support those who have given so much for our country to defend peace, democracy and freedom. We owe a debt to all of you.

Great to see that local councillors Junaid Hussain and Umar Nasheen, along with the newly-elected Mayor of Oldham Eddie Moores, were at the opening of the refurbished facilities at Fitton Hill Bulldogs.

After visiting the site in June last year, you can see the hard work that has been put in over many years for the club to be in the position it is in now, with a brand new hub which will serve the surrounding community well.

So much progress has been made, from re-establishing the sports club in 2000, to acquiring a 25-year lease for the playing fields from Oldham Council, and then teaming up with local organisations to get the funding to revitalise the facilities.

Now it provides a host of regular community drop-in and sports events including junior football; activities to support adults with learning disabilities and autism; social events for the over-60s; and free Yoga classes.

Grassroots action rooted in the community has always driven me, and giving local people opportunities to build institutions like this is what politics is all about.

It was a pleasure to join with Cllr Eddie Moores the new Mayor of Oldham for the annual Mayoral Sunday procession through the town centre accompanied by a church service at the Parish Church.

It was a wonderful service led by Revd Canon Daniel Burton, and Revd Hannah Currin.

The service reminded political leaders, local and national, of the need to put service before self, build peace and not conflict, and keep grounded in the lives of those we represent.

Wise words. Perhaps some of that was informed by the vicars attendance at the annual meeting of Oldham Council last week. Or, to the fair the numerous examples often seen in Parliament itself.

In my experience Eddie has always been grounded, starting working life as an apprentice engineer in the rail industry, and he is rooted in family and community. He has served faithfully as a local councillor and I’ve had the pleasure to work alongside him many times.

Can I wish Eddie and Kath a wonderful year and say that I know with confidence that they will get a lot from it. There is nothing more inspiring and humbling than seeing the richness of charity, volunteering, and neighbourliness which exists throughout our borough and its many towns and villages.

Best wishes,

Jim