Our agenda for local government reform and English devolution represents the biggest transfer of power away from Westminster to local communities like Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton across England for a generation.

This restructuring will improve accountability, enable better frontline public service delivery, and put local government finances on a sustainable footing for the long-term.

This is an encouraging step in the right direction for constituents of mine in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton who deserve good quality drinking water as well as clean rivers and streams where they live. However, more needs to be done to improve water quality and bring down water bills for the long term – one way in which I am fighting to foster decent homes for local people, a priority of mine at the election for local people.

The government’s Water Bill, which is currently going through the legislative process in Parliament, and the launch of a new Independent Water Commission are just two ways in which we are swiftly acting to strengthen regulation, boost investment, and reform the water sector.

Labour promised at last year’s general election to force water companies to clean up our rivers, give regulators new powers to block the payment of bonuses to executives who pollute our waterways, and bring criminal charges against persistent law breakers. We are delivering on these promises, in a way which the Conservatives failed to do for 14 years.

The last Labour government left a legacy of the cleanest water since the Industrial Revolution, and we want to reverse the Tory damage to build on that legacy.

We are all shocked at the senseless attack which took place on a nurse in the Acute Medical Unit of the Royal Oldham Hospital on Saturday night.

Our thoughts are with the nurse, family and friends as we wish a full recovery. The GMP have swiftly arrested and detained a suspect, and they have my full support in doing so.

Nobody should ever go into their place of work and face this type of violence, especially someone whose profession is dedicated to helping others and saving lives. I am appalled that anyone goes into work fearing for their own safety, and action must be taken to ensure no one has to feel that way.

Thank you to the Oldham Youth Council for meeting with me to discuss the work you have been doing as Youth Councillors for our Borough and Labour’s plans for Votes at 16.

I have long been committed to Votes at 16 as MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton, as can be seen by the Private Member’s Bill I put forward Young People’s Enfranchisement and Education Bill 2017-19, and the Westminster Hall Debate I initiated on the subject in 2019.

In our manifesto at the election, Labour committed to extending the voting age to 16 and 17 year olds, something which we now have a mandate to deliver.

It was great to visit West Vale housing development in Coldhurst, thanks to First Choice Homes Oldham for having me.

I met the CEO and directors, discussed FCHO’s future development strategy for Oldham, had a tour of the development, and spoke about Labour’s plans to provide safe, secure and affordable homes for local people – with fighting for decent homes being a priority of mine for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton at the election.

Labour are tackling the housing crisis in government. We have committed to building 1.5 million new homes; are abolishing section 21 no-fault evictions for renters; are delivering the Homes for Heroes scheme for veterans, carers and key workers; and are carrying out a Brownfield First Strategy – as can be seen locally with the Oldham Town Living Development Framework.

It’s good to see GMP and Oldham Council working together to crack down on crime. Operation AVRO, which included a series of proactive arrests, warrant executions, traffic enforcement and public transport initiatives, is what local law-abiding people want: police forces and governments at every level who are aligned in their work to be tough on crime and tough on its causes.

Data shows that thanks to the hard work of the Oldham district team and the Labour-led council, over the last year arrests, solved crime rates, and emergency responses were up with the number of thefts, burglaries, robberies and vehicle offences down. While this is encouraging, we are not satisfied yet and certainly not complacent.

More needs to be done to continue this improvement, which is why I prioritised creating a safe place for the people of Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton at the election.

The government has already announced new powers for the police and local councils to tackle anti-social behaviour, with half a billion pounds of additional funding for policing coming this year. Labour has committed to bring back neighbourhood police in every community with 13,000 additional officers, PCSOs and special constables. We will also soon be legislating for both a Crime and Policing Bill and a Victims, Courts, and Public Protection Bill.

With Labour in power at every level of government, we are taking back our streets from crime and creating safer communities.