The Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton constituency has a number of war graves maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, with a memorial accompanying Chadderton Cemetery where 74 Commonwealth war graves from the First World War and 49 from the Second World War are located throughout the cemetery.

Records are held by the CWGC of each grave here and across the world.

Nearby St. Matthew’s Churchyard contains war graves of 14 service personnel from First World War and 9 from the Second World War. The archive contains correspondence including a letter from the church warden on receipt of the headstones in 1950 (and a complaint about the ‘unhelpful’ men who delivered them).

Royton St. Anne’s Churchyard contains the war graves of 14 service personnel from World War I and 5 from World War II. With Royton Cemetery home to 22 Commonwealth war graves from the First World War and 14 from the Second World War. The archive contains correspondence which also raises concern from then Urban District Council about the use of Portland Stone.

Hollinwood Cemetery hosts 43 Commonwealth war graves from the First World War and 35 Commonwealth war graves from the Second World War. Nearby St. Margaret’s Churchyard includes a single Commonwealth war grave of William Hunt Garlick who was 32 years old when died in 1921, serving in the Royal Engineers

30th Div. Signal Coy.

Outside the constituency there are also Commonwealth War Graves at Greenacres Cemetery, St Thomas Moorside, Failsworth Cemetery, Failsworth Jewish Cemetery, Waterhead Holy Trinity, Lees Cemetery, Delph, St Thomas Saddleworth, and St Chads Saddleworth and at St Gabriel’s at Middleton Junction.

The cenotaphs across the towns mark a collective memorial, but it is very powerful to see individual graves of those who didn’t return home, and the ultimate sacrifice they made for our freedom.

The CWGC maintains detailed records of war casualties. By visiting their website, you can search for individuals buried at individual cemeteries and churchyards, which may provide insights into their ranks, regiments, and backgrounds. You can find out more here https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/

It was straight to business on arriving on Monday with a host of meetings from stakeholders, commissioners and councils on a wide range of issues from devolution, reorganisation and interventions. Monday was topped with “Adjournment Debate” after evening votes on behalf of the government regarding Closure of Owens in Hastings and Town Deal funding. The specific debate secured reflected just one example of where the previous government failed to invest properly and support small businesses, leaving with boarded-up shopfronts becoming all too common on high streets.

This government is acting decisively to reverse the decline through town deals, based on local partnerships and local decision making, by putting in £20 million of funding and support for Hastings through our new Plan for Neighbourhoods – action which is being replicated in communities across the country.

Then it was onto Tuesdays Westminster Hall Debate on the effectiveness of the “Nolan Principles” in Local Government. These principles – selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership – are the least local people deserve from their representatives.

We need to make sure these values aren’t just words on paper. The public must feel that they can have confidence in their local leaders to abide by them, and we need to strengthen accountability to make sure the highest standards are upheld for councillors of every stripe. It’s also important that all councillors and officers can act without fear of bullying and harassment, which I’m afraid has been too common in some chambers.

As we move on with the devolution agenda it was to talk at the Institute for Government on support for Mayoral Combined Authorities to deliver local growth. We are determined to drive up living standards far & wide and our English Devolution White Paper sets out ambitious plans to make that happen.

With the week also taken up with many meetings and discussions on the upcoming English Devolution Bill legalisation it’s very timely!

We then had one of our regular Co-op Parliamentary Group meetings which included discussions with customer owned mutual Nationwide Building Society, who this week have announced £50 cash reward for customers, including 10,012 members in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton who we will be paying a total of £500,600.

I also took the opportunity to raise ahead the need to ensure that in the recent take over of Virgin Money we aren’t faced with branch closures without fully consulting local people, as has been too often the case with banks. As there is both a Nationwide and Virgin branch in Oldham now owned by the same building society it is very important. I was assured that there are no immediate plans for either to be affected, and they maintain their commitment to branches, and if that changes local people won’t be an afterthought.

One of the other highlights of the week was an ‘inter-ministerial group meeting’, which was a fancy way of saying we worked across government on important issues. This one was with South Yorkshire Mayor and Sheffield Council with frontline workers on our push to reform local public services so that we redirect far more investment to early intervention and prevention, rather than more expensive firefighting of issues.

We are also now working through the spending review preparations, and significant changes to how councils are funded to focus better on funding following need.

Managed to get out of Westminster to speak at the District Councils Network Annual Conference in Old Windsor where much of the focus was on plans to end the two tier system of local government (county and district councils) and redirect resources to frontline services, with fewer but more empowered and better resourced councils and councillors.

And before heading to Oldham constituency meetings it was a pleasure to meet with my Irish counterpart, Minister O’Donnell in at the consulate in Manchester – not bad timing for a visit with the St Patrick’s Day celebrations which will follow in the city over the weekend.

Great to respond on behalf of the government in a Westminster Hall Debate on the effectiveness of the Nolan Principles in Local Government. These principles – selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership – are the least local people deserve from their representatives and are essential for ensuring that local councils are working in the best interests of the people they serve.

We need to make sure these values aren’t just words on paper. Councils should be living and breathing them in everything they do, from decision-making to delivering frontline public services. The public must feel that they can have confidence in their local leaders, and we need to strengthen accountability to make sure the highest standards are upheld for councillors of every stripe.

Ensuring the standards regime has the teeth to be able to enforce a more explicit code-of-conduct with proper independent scrutiny is vital, especially given local concerns about recent behaviour at Oldham Council.

There have been growing issues with opposition councillors disrupting meetings and failing to show the respect needed for proper debate. Our community deserves better. We must all work together, regardless of party affiliation, to create a council that sets a positive example, upholds the highest standards of behaviour, and focuses on what’s best for our borough.

From restructuring local government, to devolving more powers to communities and increasing accountability for those deliver services; Labour is working towards building a local government system that everyone can be proud of.

Head to my Facebook page to see more.

This Labour Government is focused on improving housing and infrastructure through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. This will have a tangible difference for Oldham through boosting housing, transportation, and local development and creating more decent jobs in skilled trades.

Nationally, the Bill supports the building of 1.5 million homes and the making of 150 decisions on major infrastructure projects by the end of this Parliament, while also accelerating clean energy projects to meet the Clean Power 2030 goal.

Key reforms include:

Faster approvals for infrastructure, including clean energy and transport.

Smarter planning for better environmental and economic outcomes.

Improved local council decision-making and better use of land for investment, including councils being able to purchase land at a reduced cost with better compulsory purchase powers.

Enhanced planning for larger projects across regions.

For Oldham, this means more local control over planning decisions so we can address any regional housing shortages, particularly in social housing. Oldham Council will now be able to set their own planning fees ensuring they can cover costs, speed up the planning process and make decisions that benefit our community.

The Bill will also speed up important national projects like reservoirs, clean energy sites, and transport links, ensuring they get built as quickly as possible, supporting jobs and growth.

Labour is committed to getting Britain building again and driving growth at every corner of the country.

Today the Employment Rights Bill returns to Parliament for its remaining stages, and through its completion will make significant changes for working people in Oldham and across the country.

The Employment Rights Bill is a landmark piece of legislation that strengthens workers’ rights and provides the protections that employees deserve in an ever-evolving world of work. It’s about ensuring that every worker has access to fair treatment and a safe working environment.

At the election I prioritised good jobs for the people of Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton. A good job is one with security, fair working conditions, and sufficient pay. This Bill goes some way to achieving this by improving protections for zero-hour contracts, ensuring better sick pay, and giving workers more say in their conditions. It’s a win for all those in our local factories, shops, and services who work hard to keep our town moving forward.

The fight for fair pay, better conditions, and equal opportunities continues, but this Bill is a crucial milestone in making that a reality. I’m proud to vote for this Bill, and to fight for workers’ rights now and always for our town.

We’re building a fairer future, one where workers come first.

Last night Parliament passed Second Reading of the Crime and Policing Bill, moving it closer to becoming law and giving victims the justice they deserve .

𝘾𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙨

The Bill introduces new powers to tackle child sexual abuse and other sexual offences, strengthening protections for victims, and closing legal loopholes that have allowed offenders to evade justice. These changes help to tackle abhorrent child exploitation, online abuse, and the inadequacy of the current law in addressing emerging threats.

It will take forward two significant recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨

First, the bill would make grooming an aggravating factor in sentencing adults convicted of child sexual offences. This means that if an offender is found to have engaged in grooming behavior—such as building trust with a child, manipulating them, or coercing them into a vulnerable situation—this will lead to a more severe sentence.

By now recognising grooming as an aggravating factor, the courts will have the power to impose harsher penalties on those who exploit children in this way.

𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙪𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩

Secondly, the bill would introduce a legal duty to report child sexual abuse for those in positions of responsibility, such as teachers, healthcare workers, social workers, and potentially others who work closely with children.

Ensuring that cases are identified and acted upon at the earliest opportunity to prevent further harm to victims. There has never been an excuse for professionals who fail in their basic duty of care, or worse who turn a blind eye, but now there will be consequences.

𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙚

The Bill goes further to combat the creation and possession of child sexual abuse material. Given the rise in online exploitation and the increasing sophistication of offenders in distributing illegal content, the law brings in stronger penalties for offenders found guilty of producing, sharing, or possessing such material.

This would help the police and prosecutors better tackle the growing threat posed by online platforms being used to facilitate abuse.

“𝙎𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙝’𝙨 𝙇𝙖𝙬” 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚

Furthermore, the bill seeks to place ‘Sarah’s Law’—the child sex offender disclosure scheme—on a legal footing. Introduced in 2011, Sarah’s Law allows parents, carers, and guardians to request information from the police about whether an individual with access to a child has a history of child sexual offences.

𝙊𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨

The bill would also introduce several new offences including taking of intimate images and voyeurism, addressing growing concerns about non-consensual photography and the misuse of technology to exploit victims. This includes strengthening laws around ‘upskirting’ and ‘downblousing,’ as well as criminalising the sharing of intimate images without consent, commonly referred to as ‘revenge porn.’ These provisions aim to protect individuals from privacy violations and modern forms of sexual harassment that have been facilitated by digital communication and online platforms.

Taken together, these measures represent a significant step forward in addressing sexual offences, particularly those involving children and vulnerable individuals, creating a safer environment and ensuring that perpetrators of sexual crimes face the full force of the law.

At the election, I promised to make Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton a safe place for everyone to live. Today, I will vote for the Crime and Policing Bill to improve local services and fulfil the promise of a safe community.

The impact of reducing neighbourhood policing, austerity measures, and cuts to public services under the Tories can not be underestimated; leaving us with rising crime, increasing antisocial behaviour, and a sense of insecurity in our community.

The Crime and Policing Bill will make a fundamental shift towards making our streets safer, our community more secure, and ensuring that the most vulnerable among us have the protection they deserve.

It covers a wide range of issues, including violence against women and girls, anti-social behaviour, offensive weapons, retail crime, child exploitation and abuse, sexual offences, fraud, police powers, and terrorism and national security. The Bill includes measures such as:

Largest investment in neighbourhood policing in a generation through the recruitment of 13,000 new police staff to support local communities.

Introducing new powers for the police to crack down on theft and burglaries.

Cracking down on retail crime after the alarming rise in violence against workers.

“Respect orders” and tougher enforcement on issues like public disorder to allow the police to curb antisocial behaviour.

Creating a new offence of possessing a weapon with intent to cause unlawful violence or serious property damage, increasing the penalties for the sale of offensive weapons.

Criminalising the possession or supply of electronic devices for use in vehicle theft, criminalising the possession or supply of ‘SIM farms’ (used for sending scam texts and calls), and criminalising the possession or supply of technologies that can be used in online fraud.

And it goes further to protect children and young people. Real action after years of inaction;

Implementing the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, by introducing mandatory reporting and an aggravating factor of grooming behaviour.

A new offence of child criminal exploitation and establishing a new civil preventative order designed to prevent child exploitation.

Introducing new offences around the taking of intimate images, a standalone offence of administering a harmful substance (including by spiking), and giving victims of stalking the right to know the identity of their perpetrator, and restricting the ability of sex offenders to change their name where there is a risk of sexual harm.

And we recognise that early intervention is critical, especially when it comes to giving young people positive choices and activities to reduce the likelihood of drifting into bad behaviour.

𝙍𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 “𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚”! 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙.

And we’ve seen how young people from our town and others, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, can be groomed into gangs, drug dealing, and county lines operations. I have consistently spoken out on this growing issue and I welcome Labour’s commitment to disrupt criminal networks and protect vulnerable young people.

That is why investment in supporting families through Early Intervention Hubs is also important, bringing together police, schools, and social services to spot the warning signs early and provide the right support before problems escalate, alongside investment in Violence Reduction Units to tackle and disrupt organised crime and gangs.

After years of police cuts and a hollowing-out of local services, Labour is taking action. This Bill represents a real shift towards community safety, focusing not just on enforcement, but on prevention, support, and rebuilding trust in policing.

I am proud to support this landmark investment in safer streets, stronger neighbourhoods, and better opportunities for young people—and I am proud to vote for this Bill to make our communities safer.