A pleasure once again to address the Co-operative Party’s annual conference as party Chair in central London this weekend.

This year’s theme is our ongoing flagship campaign: Community Britain, exploring how we can put communities at the centre of politics and shape a fairer, more democratic country with people in the driver’s seat.

This government committed at the election to doubling the size of the co-operative sector and we are acting to make this happen, whether its community energy policy as part of the new publicly-owned energy company GB Energy, a strengthened Community Right-to-Buy in the English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill to enable communities to safeguard heritage and secure important local assets; or community-led housing being boosted in our drive to build 1.5 million more homes. And it was a moment to reflect on how our campaign with the Co-op and Usdaw to end violence against shop workers has now made it into law as a standalone offence.

Great to see co-operators from across trade unions, government, party branches and the wider co-operative & mutual sector, thanks for coming along.

Thank you to all the team for a fantastic job well done!

The House returned after the short November recess on Armistice Day. Instead of the usual debates or votes , time was set aside for a general 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 – 107 years on from the laying down of weapons and conflict ending in the First World War. It remains a moment for deep reflection on the sacrifice made by those who served and those who never came home.

I submitted various 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 this week on our local priorities and what matters to people in Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton; from increased funding to social & affordable housing to supporting CSE victims & survivors, repairing potholes, and devolving post-16 education.

We also considered amendments from the Lords to the 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 as it reaches its final stages before becoming law. After 14 years of economic stagnation under the Tories, our living standards have fallen and the services we rely on have been hollowed out. We are determined to turn this around.

The reforms in this Bill will help end the housing crisis and unlock the infrastructure improvements our communities need, from better roads and schools to modernised tram lines and hospitals, alongside the right environment for private investment and good local jobs. That is what is at stake with this legislation.

Rather than travelling back to Oldham, this week I am staying in London for the annual 𝗖𝗼-𝗼𝗽 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. It is always a highlight of the year and I look forward to meeting fellow co-operators as we take forward our plan to empower communities and grow the cooperative sector.

The level of abuse and harassment being directed towards councillors across the political spectrum is completely unacceptable and more often than not goes unchecked.

If we want local people to come forward and serve in public life, it must be safe and rewarding as a bare minimum.

Oldham is unfortunately a sad example of a politics which is being torn by extreme and divisive actors chasing wedge issues, launching personal attacks and openly disrupting even routine democratic meetings.

In a single week meetings have been disrupted, online abuse stepping well over the line into harassment which has all the hallmarks of being coordinated, private meetings were unlawfully recorded and shared online, and the leader of the council has had to face court for alleged abuse she experienced going about her everyday business in the town.

Members and activists don’t have to agree with each other to be able to debate issues they care about, they don’t even need to particularly like eachother. But they do need to show respect and behave appropriately.

That this has now become normalised is not acceptable. The law needs strengthening, as does the code of conduct. But that is no substitute for personal responsibility.

As a local MP who lives here and cares about the borough I’ll do all I can to call this out and support any measures to make things better.

For everyone trying their best to make the borough better by serving in public life, thank you

I welcome the pledge by Nationwide Building Society to keep its High Street branches open which are especially crucial for our town centre. Ensuring local access to face-to-face banking keeps our high street alive and supports local businesses and residents.

Since its acquisition of Virgin Money it now has two branches in Oldham which are important to drive footfall and secure banking facilities. Given we’ve seen the closure of Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays just doors away it gives choice to those who need face to face services.

Alongside the work to save the main Oldham Post Office, which was a rare success to celebrate, this is positive news.

It shows too that ownership matters. Nationwide is owned by its 16m UK members not distant shareholders, and it’s why I support building societies being protected and celebrated.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/…/nationwide-makes-vow-keep…

It’s incredibly sad to hear of the passing of former Mayor of Oldham, Ginny Alexander.

She was a wonderful woman and a real credit to Oldham.

My thoughts are with Adrian, the family, and all who loved and cared for her.

Jim

Oldham Council’s consultation on greater powers over the increasing number of HMOs in the borough is still opens but closes soon!

The Council has been seeking comments on this Article 4 Direction since 6th October. Have you say before the the deadline of 𝟭𝟭:𝟱𝟵𝗽𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 (16th November).

It’s welcomed progress and I once again urge local people to have their say

https://bigoldhamconvo.oldham.gov.uk/oldham-hmo-consultation

Through a lack of investment and no proper plan being put in place, the last government were pushing a clean air zone onto Greater Manchester.

Thanks to the hard work of Mayor Andy Burnham and local leaders who stood firm and delayed the scheme, 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 once we came to power while still meeting our clean air targets through the success of the Bee Network and making our taxis cleaner.

Earlier this year, this Labour government backed local plans in for a clean-air strategy that doesn’t make local people foot the bill. The investment-led package secured by GMCA will introduce 117 new lower and zero-emission buses in a £86 million scheme to clean up air, and not place the burden on motorists.

This is devolution at its best – local and national Labour working together to get things done.

Transport for Greater Manchester confirmed in July that the signs were set to be taken down, which is why I used a parliamentary intervention to press the Government to ensure proper funding is provided to remove the old Clean Air Zone signs.

While the Tories played politics with people’s livelihoods, Labour is getting on with the job of delivering for working people and building a cleaner and fairer future for Greater Manchester.

See my parliamentary intervention in full here

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/…/2025…/85842