Another good week in Westminster with plenty happening across local government, devolution, health and community power

𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

I was back at the Despatch Box for MHCLG oral questions, answering on local government, devolution and regional growth. Devolving power from Whitehall and giving local leaders the tools to grow their economies and deliver for their communities remains a key priority. Listening and involving local MPs is an important part of this journey.

𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

I was alongside the Secretary of State Angela Rayner when she made a statement on changes to the local government reorganisation programme, including pausing and reviewing the process. It’s important we get this right, listening to councils and communities and making sure any changes deliver the best possible outcomes.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗼. 𝟭𝟬 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵

It was great to be at the Mayoral Council, hosted at at No. 10 North, which brought mayors together to discuss the next steps in our devolution agenda. It was great to see local leaders at the heart of conversations about the future of their regions.

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲

I attended the Chairs Board meeting for the Pride in Place programme, looking at how we turn this major investment into lasting change in communities. Putting residents at the heart of decisions about their neighbourhoods is central to the programme.

𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴

There was another important vote on assisted dying this week. I remain concerned about whether the safeguards are strong enough to protect vulnerable people and believe everyone should have access to high-quality palliative and end-of-life care, however was pleased to see it’s return given I didn’t support the Lords purposefully allowing it to run out of time in the previous parliamentary session.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹

Member also voted to complete the Health Bill’s passage through the Commons, with the Bill now moving to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. There has been important debate and discussion throughout its passage, and I’ll continue to follow its progress closely as we reform the NHS to make it serve local people better.

Now back to Oldham…

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is back in Parliament today for the new Parliamentary session starting again at its second reading.

As I have said previously, my position on the substance of the Bill has not changed. I remain concerned that the safeguards are not yet strong enough to protect vulnerable people from coercion, pressure or unintended consequences and I do not believe it is the role of the state to sanction the circumstances under which someone should die.

For those reasons, 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹. However, I do believe it is right that the Bill is back before the House of Commons.

Last time, MPs voted for the Bill to progress through Parliament, only for its passage to be stopped in the House of Lords. I was clear about my own opposition to the Bill, but I also believe strongly in respecting the democratic process. Where the elected House of Commons has considered an issue and reached a decision, that decision should not simply be frustrated through procedural obstruction.

This is an issue that deserves proper debate and a clear decision by Parliament. I therefore welcome the opportunity for MPs to consider the Bill again and for the arguments, concerns and safeguards to be properly tested.

I know this is a deeply personal and emotional issue and I continue to have enormous respect for those who hold different views to mine. I have listened carefully to constituents on both sides and will continue to approach this debate with care and conscience.

Whatever the outcome, we must also continue to focus on ensuring everyone has access to high-quality palliative, hospice & end-of-life care, so that nobody feels they are being denied the dignity, the compassion or the support they deserve at the end of their life.

Thank you again to all constituents who have taken the time to share their views with me since the initial bill was first brought forward.

Great to see Levers Chippy doing so well in its new home, an institution of our town centre which I hope continues to thrive well into the future!

We had our summer school dinner at the Tommyfield Market chippy in the final weeks, and it was packed then. I know local people will get behind it and appreciate the support offered by the council in the move across to its new home, which I think is perfectly located between the bus station and high street.

As the weather has shown, it’s definitely the end of the summer and it’s been good to be back in Westminster after the recess. It’s been a shorter week with the bank holiday, but hasn’t felt any less busy back in the department, getting on with the job

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻

I heard the new Prime Minister’s first speech from the Despatch Box, setting out the direction of the Government, a vision for the country and a clear plan to get there. There’s a big job ahead but it’s good to be part of a Government focused on delivering real change and getting on with the job of rebuilding our country.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

I also responded on behalf of the Government to two Westminster Hall debates looking at the particular challenges facing rural upper-tier local authorities, and on local government reorganisation. Different places have different needs, and our approach needs to local government recognise that.

𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲

Great to be at the Key Cities Innovation Network parliamentary dinner to discuss their report on the early challenges and opportunities in delivering Pride in Place. As the minister responsible for the programme, I outlined the Government’s strategy to shift power & resources towards local communities, so those who are impacted by decisions are the ones who make them.

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 & 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

I sat in on Angela Rayner’s oral statement to the Commons as Secretary of State on building homes & renewing communities. Delivering the homes our country needs while renewing the communities around them is a key part of the Government’s plans for the future.

𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹

MPs also voted on the Representation of the People Bill, which has now completed its passage through the Commons and will head to the Lords before becoming law. It’s an important piece of legislation that will strengthen our democracy by delivering Votes at 16 – which I’ve campaigned for locally for many years, improving voter registration, and strengthening the rules around political donations and foreign interference.

We had a wide range of calls and meetings this week including contacting chairs of important local government groups.

Now back home for the weekend with some time in Oldham as well as working from No. 10 North – and a nice opportunity to meet Gordon Brown who was present to met with First Secretary of State Louise Haigh.

And of course this weekend is North West Co-op Conference in Manchester. Always great discussion and great people too.

Today I was delighted to join co-operators, activists and community leaders from across the North West at the Co-operative Party’s Community Britain conference in Manchester.

As Chair of the Co-operative Party, I spoke about the role we can play in Government in putting communities at the heart of our work — giving people a greater say over the places they live and building an economy that works for everyone.

The co-operative movement has always understood something important: when people come together, we can achieve far more than we ever could alone.

From community ownership of important assets like pubs, sporting grounds and more, the ideas discussed today are about turning that principle into practical action. The same too across co-operative and community led housing, energy and enterprise.

It was also fantastic to hear from so many people already making a difference in their communities across the North West.

There is a huge amount of energy and ambition across our movement. Our job now is to harness it and build a Community Britain where power, opportunity and prosperity are shared more fairly.

Thank you to everyone who took part today.

The Oldham Way flyover was due to be closed for six and a half weeks over the school holidays, but reports now confirm the works could take further 8–10 weeks.

With King Street still closed following the building collapse, the combined impact is putting huge pressure on Oldham’s roads and making journeys harder for residents, businesses and bus passengers.

I’ve written to the Council to ask what is being done to minimise the impact of the extended closure and for action.

I’ve raised issues with King Street previously and am doing so again for the building to be made safe and the road reopened at the earliest opportunity where it is safe and practical to do so. If the owner cannot act with more urgency, the Council should consider carrying out the necessary works and recovering the costs.

We also need a proper review of the other road closures, temporary traffic lights and roadworks across the town. Where roads such as Middleton Road, Ashton Road and Chadderton Way are already carrying increased traffic, further roadworks including temporary traffic lights and closure on surrounding adjoining roads are only making matters worse. Unless they are urgent safety works they should be held off until the pressure is eased.

Some disruption is unavoidable when major works and safety issues have to be dealt with.

See my letter in full below: