It is great to see the amazing work of the Oldham Youth Council is being held up as an example which is planned to be rolled out across the country in the UK Government new Pride in Place Strategy.

I was proud to be the leader at the time when they were the first youth council in the UK to be formally recognised in the local council’s constitution, giving them constitutional powers to submit motions at full council meetings so their voices and the issues they feel are important are heard and debated.

I’ve also been privileged to work alongside the OYC has led several high-impact campaigns driven by young people including the ground-breaking Votes at 16 private members bill we worked on together and which is now set to become law!

And they’ve lead on campaigns like Every Life Matters – a campaign after a fatal road accidents, resulting in speed-reduction measures and wider awareness work for young drivers, and the important mental health & wellbeing initiatives: “I Love Me”, “SNAP! Mental Health”, and others where youth councillors have designed awareness-raising work and influenced local health education policy.

These examples show how OYC doesn’t just ‘sit’ – it acts: gathering views, creating campaigns that matter to young people, influencing real council decisions, and helping shape the policies and services that impact their lives.

With the new Pride in Place Strategy now encouraging other areas to follow Oldham’s lead by March 2026 in establishing new Youth Councils, it feels like a moment where youth participation is finally being taken seriously by national government.

Oldham is rightly being recognised, and I’m so pleased the Oldham Youth Council is growing it’s impact all the time.

I strongly support the recent decision in Oldham to pull the brakes on the rapid rise of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). This move, requiring smaller HMOs to seek planning permission, is an important step in protecting our communities and ensuring housing works for local people.

I’ve heard repeated concerns from residents about the impact HMOs are having on our towns. Time and again, I’ve heard how family homes are being lost to conversions, leaving fewer options for young families who want to stay in the area where they grew up. When landlords find it more profitable to split a house into rooms, it drives up both rents and house prices – and the people who lose out are often those who contribute the most to our community.

I share these concerns. Beyond affordability, there’s also the question of standards. Too often, HMOs are converted with little care for safety, quality, or long-term upkeep. I’ve seen examples where corners are cut, maintenance is ignored, and tenants are left in conditions that fall well short of what anyone should have to accept. We cannot allow rogue landlords to cash in at the expense of people’s dignity and security.

We also need to think about what makes a community strong. Stability, neighbourliness, and the connections that build up over years – these are put at risk when too many homes become short-term, transient rentals. Sometimes its the small things, gardens left unkept, rubbish building up and uncollected, and quick turnover of tenants. Families and long-term residents are the backbone of our neighbourhoods, and we need to make sure housing policy reflects that.

The previous government allowed a free for all. There wasn’t an office block, pub, shop or family house that wasn’t left vulnerable. It is time to tip the power back in the hands of local people and the council who represent them.

Greater Manchester Police have made arrests as part of ongoing investigations into “non-recent” Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) under Operation Sherwood.

Operation Sherwood was launched following the Oldham Assurance Review, commissioned by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, which aimed to pursue all lines of enquiry and bring offenders to justice. So far, 21 suspected offenders have been arrested.

As these are live investigations, no specific details of the allegations or individuals will be commented on, and due process must take its course. However, given the specialist nature of this operation and the high level of public interest, it’s important to acknowledge today’s developments. It is hoped this action encourages others to seek support and report abuse, ensuring no abuser escapes the full force of the law.

Above all, today is a time to reflect on the remarkable bravery of victims and survivors who have come forward. They must remain at the forefront of our minds.

In Oldham, we have not avoided addressing the fact that there has been a distinct pattern of abuse, where groups of predominantly Pakistani men targeted vulnerable young white working-class girls. It is essential to discuss this openly and transparently to build confidence for victims and survivors to come forward. At the same time, it’s crucial to recognise that exploitation occurs in every community, with perpetrators from all backgrounds. Recent local convictions of abusers from various groups including White British and Bangladeshi communities highlight this.

Protecting young people requires vigilance from everyone, especially as online risks continue to grow. Safeguarding is a collective responsibility, and we all share the duty to protect children and young people from harm. Further information, including details of support services and warning signs, can be found at www.itsnotokay.co.uk

GMP press statement can be found at https://www.gmp.police.uk/…/more-suspects-arrested-as…/

Great news from the Co-operative and Mutual Economy Report: co-ops and mutuals have had a record-breaking year, proving they’re not just resilient but thriving – from start-ups and community pubs to large member-owned businesses.

Here in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, we’ve always believed in the power of people coming together to take control, create good jobs, and build a fairer local economy. Whether it’s communities saving much-loved pubs, or co-ops giving workers a real say in the workplace, the difference is felt on our doorstep.

The Co-op Party’s ambition is clear: to double the size of the co-operative and mutual sector. With the right policies – fair access to finance, and real support for democratic ownership – we can make this vision a reality, strengthening places like ours in the process.

Oldham’s co-operative heritage runs deep – and this report shows our future can be even stronger when we put co-operation at the heart of our economy.

Labour governments root out child poverty, support working families and invests in the future.

The two child benefit cap was wrong when the Tories brought it in and its reversal should be a priority for this Labour government.

Nationally 1.6m children are impacted, and more and more are being driven into poverty as a result. Of those a million are in working families. For Oldham 11,340 children in 3,160 households are currently affected by the two-child benefit limit, that’s around 1 in 5 children.

It also makes financial and economic sense. Lower income households, unsurprisingly, do not hoard money; they spend it on essentials like shopping which goes straight back into the local economy. And with an aging population needing social care, pensions and good public services in older age, it will require working age people driving the economy and paying into the tax system in generations which follow. So, the country needs to do more to support families to afford and raise children.

And more, it’s what Labour government do; we’ve reduced child poverty before and we must set about doing it again. This is one of the quickest and most impactful ways of achieving it.

There are much bigger questions the government must answer about the structure of the British economy which relies far too much on low pay and insecure work, meaning so many decent people are doing everything asked of them, but still struggling to make ends meet.

I’m pleased this is gaining ground in the deputy leadership contest and hope progress is made soon.

There has been a lot going on ahead of the Recess for party conferences, but I didn’t want to let this go without notice!

After a series of 12 votes we are now closer to delivering the biggest upgrade to rights at work in a generation. Labour’s landmark Employment Rights Bill, which has passed through both the House of Commons and House of Lords is now in its final stages in the legislative process.

At the general election, we prioritised good jobs for the people of Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, and nationally we put forward the New Deal for Working People – and this delivers on those promises:

Banning exploitative zero-hour contracts

Ending fire and rehire

Day one rights

Delivering a genuine living wage

Extending statutory sick pay to 1.3 million of the lowest earners

While we are acting to drive up employment standards, provide the security & respect working people deserve, and create the level playing field businesses need to invest & boost growth; the Tories & Reform voted against improving working conditions.

This is real change for working people across our country and by keeping this promise, we are showing that politics really can make a difference.

For all workers, Labour is making work pay.

I had the pleasure of joining students and partners at the launch of the MEGA Hub Scholarship Programme here in Oldham.

It was fantastic to congratulate the 𝟓𝟎 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐄𝐆𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 after their outstanding achievements earlier this year. Each student will now benefit from tailored support, mentoring, and a £1,000 bursary to help them take their next steps in education and work.

The MEGA Hub (Motivated, Educated Generation with Ambition) is all about giving young people in Oldham the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the industries of the future; digital, cyber, AI and green tech. This is about opening doors, broadening horizons, and making sure no young person is held back by disadvantage or lack of opportunity.

I’m proud that Oldham is leading the way, with First Choice Homes Oldham, local colleges, and national partners all coming together to make this happen.

Congratulations once again to our new 𝐌𝐄𝐆𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬!