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.

Wishing everyone in England and the English around the world a Happy St. George’s Day!

St. George’s Day symbolises the triumph of good over evil with the legendary fight against George and the dragon.

I hope you have a great day however you’re spending it celebrating England’s proud history and heritage!

Pavement parking on Union Street has been a real problem for far too long, and residents are right to be frustrated.

Too often, people are forced into the road just to get by. Whether you are pushing a pram, using a wheelchair, or simply walking through the town centre, it is not just inconvenient, it is dangerous.

That is why it is good to see GMP team out enforcing and taking action. Visible enforcement is exactly what has been missing, especially in hotspots like Union Street.

This is about fairness. Our pavements should be safe, accessible, and there for everyone, not blocked by inconsiderate parking.

We have pushed for stronger powers and a tougher approach and this is a step in the right direction. But it has to be sustained.

Let us keep it up and if you are seeing problems, keep reporting them.

Great to see so many local people have signed mine and Dr. Saniya Abid’s petition to call for a GP practice to return to Limeside.

Residents have been clear that having a GP practice close to home is not a luxury but a basic necessity.

Saniya works as an NHS hospital doctor and understands how vital early support and easy access to primary care are. As a local campaigner and a candidate for Hollinwood, she knows there is a clear need to re-establish primary care services that are local, convenient, and designed with the community in mind.

After St Chad’s Medical Practice closed in 2023, many patients were moved to surgeries located further away, making access more difficult. We want that to change.

If you haven’t already, please head to https://mailchi.mp/925bc588bfdf/bring-a-gp-service-back-to-limeside to sign our petition calling for a GP practice to return to Limeside.

Really positive news for Butler Green in Chadderton South.

I’m pleased that, following direct action from Chadderton South Labour & Co-op candidate Kyle Phythian, First Choice Homes Oldham have now agreed a programme of improvement works to bring the parade back up to standard.

This will include cleaning and repairing roofs, gutters and drainage, repainting shopfront balconies, fixing damage to prevent water ingress, and restoring the brickwork. This is a proper package of works that should make a visible difference to the area.

Kyle made this a priority in his campaign, took it up straight away, and has secured a win even before polling day – exactly the kind of proactive approach we need locally.

This is what strong local representation looks like: listening to residents, taking action, and getting results.

I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Kyle to deliver further improvements for Chadderton South.

Good to be back in Westminster after the easter recess, this is a snapshot of what I got up to

𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

Back to voting with so many bills coming back from the Lord’s, the Commons has blocks of back to back votes, each are done in person and take around 15 minutes each usually; that said we were back to paper registers for part of the week as the online system crashed, which took much longer and meant that session lasted around three hours! But at least the business is being done and new laws are coming through to deliver on our manifesto and the big issues facing the country.

𝗣𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁

During the final stages of the legislative process for the Crime and Policing Bill, we voted to get back to basics through visible policing and tougher action on antisocial behaviour, as well as for real support for victims & survivors such as pardoning those who were issued with a caution or convicted of a historic ‘child prostitution’ offence.

𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

On the Lords amendments to the Pension Schemes Bill, members backed changes that keep workers’ savings safer and the system more transparent as well as delivering better value and channelling more investment into local infrastructure and future industries.

𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿

Members voted on measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill too as it came a step closer to becoming law. It will expand access to free school meals and help lift around 100,000 more children out of poverty as well was having stronger safeguarding.

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

Great to welcome a delegation from the French co-operative movement to Parliament this week. As Chair of the Co-operative Party, I joined the UK Co-operative Panel to talk straight about what matters: political influence, scaling the sector, and making sure co-ops have a bigger role in building a fairer economy.

I see every day how the co-operative model gives people more control over the things that matter to them; here in Oldham we know the value of that better than most, co-operative heritage runs deep. The Government is serious about doubling the size of the co-operative sector as pledged and we are backing this model.

𝗧𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗸𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲

Knife crime won’t fall unless we tackle the root causes. I welcome the Government’s Halving Knife Crime Action Plan and £26m investment, plus the rollout of Young Futures Hubs in 50 areas.

But prevention can’t wait. Oldham should be included in that rollout and see further investment in prevention to break the cycle of harm and keep young people safe.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

It was good to meet with DWP Secretary of State Pat McFadden following my question on apprenticeships a few weeks ago. It was reassuring to hear the work being done to prioritise young people and give more opportunities to learn and earn for school leavers.

There is a lot to do to make the system work for working class kids setting out in their working life and in keen to use my own experience and that of so many Oldhamers to make a difference on it.

𝗖𝗼-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

It was a different co-op parliamentary group meeting as Preet Gill stood down as chair after years working with me on the NEC and doing a great job. Dame Meg Hillier was elected as our new parliamentary chair and as party chair I wish her well and thank Preet for her service to the party.

Now back up North for engagements with local stakeholders, meetings with constituents & speaking to residents on the door.

It was great to spend more time at home in Oldham over Easter while Parliament was in recess, and to look back at the casework and campaigns coming into the office.

We take pride in going out to bat for local people and I’m incredibly lucky to have a dedicated casework team based at Chadderton Town Hall who really care about getting a good result.

From housing issues and delayed benefits, to NHS access, visa issues, council services and neighbourhood concerns, my team has been working through case after case, pushing for answers, and making sure people aren’t left in limbo.

In March alone 1,068 emails sent out initiating cases and chasing for responses; with 449 new casework cases opened and 750 cases closed, and 228 campaign lobbies received.

On top of this we have the priority campaigns we are working through which you’ll see on social media and on my website such as dangerous driving, youth gangs and knife crime, and investment in community facilities amongst others.

If you’ve got an issue you need help with get in touch with my office at jim.mcmahon.mp@parliament.uk

To find out how we deal with casework and lobbies go to https://jimmcmahon.co.uk/seekingsupport/