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

It was a privilege to meet with the Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister, Oleksii Kuleba, this week where we reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s unwavering support and solidarity with Ukraine in these challenging times.

Our discussions focused on the ongoing efforts to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty, as well as the devastating humanitarian impact of Russia’s illegal invasion. The bravery and resilience shown by the Ukrainian people continue to inspire us all, and it is clear that the international community must remain united in providing the necessary support to Ukraine.

Our shared values of democracy, freedom, and human rights will always guide us in standing by Ukraine.

It was great to join ministers from across the world at the OECD Ministerial on Regional Development in Warsaw . We had thoughtful discussions on how local approaches are vital to tackling the big challenges we face – from climate to growth. Grateful to the OECD as a leading institution for evidence-based policy.

The evidence is clear: the UK is one of the most centralised countries in the OECD. I set out how our English Devolution agenda is changing that – empowering communities to drive growth, invest in what matters locally, and shape their own future.

Then went to Leeds on Thursday to speak at the UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum. We are working alongside so many local leaders and mayors, who are driving forward our ambitions to boost regional growth, unlock jobs and build the homes and communities people across the country deserve.

Ended the week back in London at the largest Mayoral Council yet, where we met with the Deputy Prime Minister and combined authority Mayors of all political stripes from across England to discuss our ongoing work to boost growth by taking power out of Westminster and putting it in the hands of local people in the places where they live.

Now the House has risen for the Whitsun recess, I am able to be back in Oldham for the bank holiday weekend.

Our thoughts are with the victims of the Manchester Arena attack and their loved ones still grieving this cruel loss.

Today we remember the 22, including Alison Howe and Lisa Lees from Royton, two mums who who were collecting their daughters from the concert and never came home to their families.

We also pay respect today to Royal Fusilier Lee Rigby, 12 years on from the terror attack in which he was killed, leaving behind a young son.

We can never forget where extremism leads, or the very real hatred which fuels it. Acts of terror like these were designed to drive us apart – but they did not succeed.

Greater Manchester responded to the heinous and horrific arena attack with huge strength and courage, and ever since has shown love, compassion, and unity against the attack which attempted to cause fear, hatred, and division.

As Jo Cox said: we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.

My thoughts as always at this time of year are with the all those affected.Our thoughts are with the victims of the Manchester Arena attack and their loved ones still grieving this cruel loss.

Today we remember the 22, including Alison Howe and Lisa Lees from Royton, two mums who who were collecting their daughters from the concert and never came home to their families.

We also pay respect today to Royal Fusilier Lee Rigby, 12 years on from the terror attack in which he was killed, leaving behind a young son.

We can never forget where extremism leads, or the very real hatred which fuels it. Acts of terror like these were designed to drive us apart – but they did not succeed.

Greater Manchester responded to the heinous and horrific arena attack with huge strength and courage, and ever since has shown love, compassion, and unity against the attack which attempted to cause fear, hatred, and division.

As Jo Cox said: we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.

My thoughts as always at this time of year are with the all those affected.

This summer, thousands of students across Greater Manchester – including right here in Oldham – will be the first in the country to receive their GCSE results through a brand-new digital app.

The app stores qualifications and learning history all in one secure place, making it quicker and easier for young people to apply for jobs, apprenticeships, or further education. It’s a simple change that unlocks big opportunities.

Schools in Oldham invited to take part include:

North Chadderton School

The Radclyffe School

Blessed John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College

The Hathershaw College

Oasis Academy Oldham

The Brian Clarke Church of England Academy

E-ACT The Oldham Academy North

The Springboard Project

But this isn’t just about helping students take their next steps. It’s about making life easier for our teachers and school staff too. This new digital system is set to save up to £30 million a year in admin costs across the country – money that can be reinvested into schools to support staff, improve buildings, and strengthen education where it’s needed most.

By embracing smart technology like this, we’re cutting paperwork, reducing hassle for parents, and freeing up time for teachers to do what they do best – teach. It’s all part of our Plan for Change to modernise public services and make them work better for people in Oldham and across the country.

Easy access for students. Less admin for schools. Better value for taxpayers. A 21st-century solution for a 21st-century education system.

Over the years, the Holy Rosary Church on Fitton Hill has stood as more than just bricks and mortar – it’s been a place where people came together, shared stories, supported one another, and built a strong sense of community.

Sadly, like too many community buildings in recent times, it’s been left unused for far too long. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.

There’s a real opportunity here to bring the Holy Rosary Church back into use – not just as a place of worship, but as a hub for local groups, youth activities, wellbeing support, and services that matter to local people on Fitton Hill.

We’ve got incredible community spirit in Oldham. If we can come together – residents, local organisations, and the council – we can breathe new life into this space and make it work for the community once more.

If you’re part of a local group that could use a base, or if you’ve got ideas for how the building could serve the surrounding community once again, I want to hear from you.

Let’s not let another community asset go to waste. Let’s bring Holy Rosary back to life – for the people of our borough.

Began the week by catching up with Kim McGuiness, the Mayor of the North East, to discuss the brilliant work she is doing to pioneer devolution in the North and the ambitions she has going forward. Driving down child poverty, building affordable housing and supporting local businesses – the true power of devolution at play.

It was great to respond to a Westminster Hall Debate on Tuesday on the impact of churches and religious buildings on communities. I reflected on how these institutions are not just places of worship but also serve as vital community hubs through their involvement in various social action projects, such as food banks, community larders, and support services for individuals facing challenges like addiction and mental health issues.

As well as regular departmental meetings, this week I have taken a lot of political meetings with labour colleagues to discuss specific councils and how as parliamentarians we can support our areas and the frontline staff working tirelessly to deliver services. These meetings culminated in an MP surgery on Wednesday where I spoke to numerous MPs on issues ranging from adequately funding adult social care, recognising regionally specific issues and preferred geographies for devolution.

On Wednesday, for the first time ever, the Co-op party was invited to a meeting in No.10 Downing Street and it was great to be there as the chair of the party. The Co-op party’s ambition is to put co-operators at the decision table to be able to make meaningful change and grow the sector. This week we did just that. It was great to reflect on where the movement has come from, and also where it is going in collaboration with the Government to meet Labour’s manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector.

Due to the vote on the Assisted Dying Bill, MPs remained in Parliament until Friday. This is an incredibly sensitive and deeply personal issue for many, and I want to thank all constituents who took the time to share their views with me. After much consideration and listening to a range of perspectives, I made the decision to vote against the Bill – as I have done previously. I understand the strength of feeling on both sides of the debate, but I personally believe we are not yet at a point to provide the robust safeguards that vulnerable people deserve at the end of their life.