Free breakfast clubs being rolled out to every primary school

300 new school-based nurseries

30 hours free childcare for working parents

New student concessions on Bee Network buses

Capped school uniform costs

Over £2 billion extra investment going into the early years sector

Schools are back for the new academic year next wee and we know cost-of-living pressures are still affecting working families. That’s why have been implementing measures in our first year in government to support parents.

The rollout of free breakfast clubs began in April in a number of primary schools, including Whitegate End, Richmond Academy, Westwood Academy and Northmoor Academy in this constituency. These breakfast clubs mean that every child in those schools will now start their day with a healthy breakfast and at least 30 minutes of free childcare.

The IGO Pass and the Our Pass will continue meaning 11-16 year olds can travel using discounted child tickets on buses & trams and 16-18 year-olds get free local bus travel in Greater Manchester. From next week, there will be a new 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟏𝟖 𝐭𝐨 𝟐𝟏 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 as well.

Looking ahead to next year, we have a plan to cut costs further. From September 2026, we will be expanding access to free school meals across the country, which is set to 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝟏𝟎𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲. With Labour, over half a million more children will get free school meals because any child in England whose parents are on Universal Credit will be eligible.

This will mean the 9800 children in Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton between years 3-11 who are in families currently claiming universal credit will benefit from the extension. We’re giving every child, no matter their background, the nutrition they need to learn, grow and thrive from an early age.

We are proud that the last Labour government took almost 1 million children out of poverty. However, 14 years of Tory chaos and decline led to us reaching record levels of child poverty in the months before they left office. However, this new government is acting to tackle child poverty head on through our recently launched Child Poverty Taskforce and these measures to cut costs for hard-working families.

We’ve been contacted by a large number of residents in Chadderton & Werneth who are rightly concerned about the late-night use of fireworks – often well beyond acceptable hours – causing serious distress for families, older residents, pet owners, and those with mental health conditions.

The GMP acknowledge that this illegal use of fireworks is a real problem at the moment and difficult for them to police because once fireworks go off, the illegal activity is long over and concealed by the time the police receive any reports.

Chadderton & Werneth’s local neighbourhood policing team have confirmed to us that they have:

an 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺-𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 to lower demand throughout our borough.

𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 in visits to licenced vendors in Oldham.

issued 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 & 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 use in visits to wedding venues & religious establishments.

continued their 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 on the risks associated with firework misuse.

To be absolutely clear: this kind of antisocial behaviour is unacceptable, and no one should feel unsafe or unable to sleep peacefully in their own home. And it’s fair to say that public patience with these all too regular selfish acts has worn thin.

While fireworks can be part of cultural and family celebrations, they must be used responsibly and within the law. Under the Fireworks Regulations 2004, it is an offence to use fireworks after 11pm and before 7am without permission (except on permitted fireworks nights when the times are extended).

In government, Labour is committed to tackling this issue head on.

Giving the police stronger powers to tackle antisocial behaviour, including the misuse of fireworks, by introducing 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 in the Crime and Policing Bill which is moving through Parliament.

Confirmed the timeline for delivery of our neighbourhood policing guarantee, with 𝟯,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 will be in post within the next 12 months. Our guarantee is a named, contactable officer in every community so that patrols of hotspot areas can increase and enforcement of existing laws can be stronger.

𝗧𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗲 of fireworks to stop them getting into the wrong hands, particularly the sale of fireworks to children.

We are encouraging residents to report any illegal or nuisance firework usage to Oldham’s environmental health team, capturing any evidence on phones of the breach of the rules can help the environmental health team appropriately enforce the matter.

Built in phases between 1962 and 1977, the Oldham Civic Centre and Queen Elizabeth Hall became home of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council in 1977 when they were officially opened by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother – the hall named to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.

The photos below show the civic centre at its best over recent years: with England flags flying high on St George’s Day, lit up for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, towering over the town centre as a staple of our borough’s skyline, and as part of a model for the bus station I saw at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport.

It was a privilege to spend over a decade as local councillor for Failsworth East & over 4 years as Leader of Oldham Council based at the Civic Centre. As a candidate at a by-election in 2015 and 3 general elections since then, I have spent long nights in the Queen Elizabeth Hall as votes have been counted. These institutions have played a big role in my life, as they have for so many.

But as one chapter ends, another begins. With Council offices moving to Spindles and to the JR Clynes Building, many milestones have been hit in the regeneration of Oldham Town Centre.

The New Market Hall & Events Space off Parliament Square are nearing completion, the Coliseum has been saved at its historic home on Fairbottom Street ready for next year, the Old Town Hall jigsaw has neared completion with the recent opening of the Egyptian Room, and the Oldham Town Living Development Framework is well underway.

These projects have a shared goal: protecting our rich heritage, bringing the modern facilities & institutions local people deserve to our town centre, and concentrating footfall to support high street retailers & small businesses.

Well done to all those receiving their GCSE results today, a day I remember well after all this time.

Students, their families, and their teachers have put years of hard work in for this day – you should all be very proud.

Enjoy the celebrations and best wishes as you go onto the next chapter of your lives!

A plaque to commemorate the restored Old Library on Union Street was unveiled this weekend by Oldham Council Leader, Cllr Arooj Shah, and the Mayor of Oldham, Cllr Eddie Moores. It has been named after a historic figure who walked the terraced streets of our town, grew up under the smoke-filled skies and the relentless beat of the cotton mills, and rose to become one of the most senior figures in British politics.

John Robert Clynes (1869-1949) was a remarkable figure who transitioned from mill worker to trade unionist and senior Labour Party politician.

Serving as a Member of Parliament (MP) for 35 years, he led the Labour Party during its pivotal breakthrough in the 1922 general election, increasing the party’s representation from 85 to 142 MPs. Clynes went on to serve as Deputy Leader for a decade, became Minister for Food Control during World War I, and rose to the position of Home Secretary during the interwar period. He was also the Oldham Secretary of the National Gasworkers and General Labourers Union, which later evolved into today’s GMB Trade Union.

His journey from Dowry Mill to Downing Street is one of purpose, and a deep-rooted connection to the working people of Lancashire. This celebration our town’s history and how it shaped the country is great to see.

Its right that this local building of heritage, which I had the pleasure of visiting earlier this month, that has been named in his honour has been done so it can be put to community use as a vibrant civic and cultural hub. It includes a fully restored Council Chamber and Mayor’s Parlour, creative studio spaces for Oldham Theatre Workshop, a beautiful upstairs art gallery, and brand-new landscaped gardens that will host events all year round.

Earlier this year, I wrote a piece to mark 156 years since his birth to celebrate our boroughs history and how those who came before us shaped our country. To find out more about his life, and how Oldham shaped him into the leader he became., then head to the link for that piece here: https://jimmcmahon.co.uk/…/celebrating-an-oldhamer-who…/.

After 130 years of being a cornerstone of community life as Oldham’s library, this historic building has been brought into the modern day with its rich legacy intact as the JR Clynes Building

Congratulations to all those in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton who are receiving A-Level, T-Level and BTEC results today.

Your hard-work has surely paid off and I hope you enjoy your success. Good luck and best wishes for the future as you all go onto the next stage of your lives.

Well done all!

#ResultsDay2025