This week began in Parliament with 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – a key opportunity for MPs from across the House to hold us to account and scrutinise our progress. We responded to questions on ensuring fair funding for rural communities and those facing higher levels of deprivation – essential to making sure money reaches the right places.

It was a privilege to then attend a 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝟎 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 celebrating the vital role Co-operatives and Mutuals play in driving UK growth and prosperity. After being 𝐫𝐞-𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨-𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 on Monday, it was fantastic to be there and discuss the real meaningful change the sector has brought to the UK.

On Wednesday, I sat in the chamber for weekly Prime Ministers’ Questions and for the Chancellor’s 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰. After hearing announcements on nuclear projects, boosts to affordable & social housing and putting our NHS on a firmer footing, we then focused on what the Spending Review means for local government and communicated this back to the sector through conversations with our mayors and labour leaders at the County Council Network.

Thursday was focused on 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥. While the Council has made encouraging progress for recovery, thanks to the hard work of local councillors and staff, there is still a long road ahead. My Written Ministerial Statement reaffirmed our commitment to working collaboratively with Croydon and other local authorities to stabilise finances and deliver for residents. Sometimes, deeper intervention is necessary- but always with partnership at its core.

The week also saw significant activity in the Commons. I supported votes on my Department’s 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥, which aims to create a planning system needed to deliver the high-quality homes and essential infrastructure that communities across the country need.

Friday was spent remaining in London through to participate in key votes on the 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥, including on amendments around advertising and the responsibilities of medical professionals in these deeply sensitive conversations. Next week, the bill will return for more scrutiny, and I will continue to listen to the debate and ensure that safeguards are not lost in this process.

Today, justice has finally been served for two incredibly brave survivors of the horrific abuse that took place in Rochdale over many years with connections to premises in Oldham and abusers from the town. The conviction of seven men for a range of appalling offences—including rape and indecent assault—marks a long-overdue recognition of the suffering these young women endured.

First and foremost, my thoughts are with the victims and survivors. Their courage in reliving traumatic experiences to ensure their abusers were held accountable is nothing short of remarkable. We owe them our gratitude, support, and respect.

This case has again laid bare historic and systemic failings—from institutions that should have protected vulnerable children, to individuals who dismissed or ignored clear signs of abuse. It is a stain on our collective conscience that these girls were failed so badly for so long.

Greater Manchester Police have rightly acknowledged these failings. It is vital they continue to act with transparency, urgency, and compassion—not just in this case, but in every case where justice has yet to be done.

Over a decade ago I called for transparency in exposing the abusers; being honest about the profile of offenders; mainly group based Pakistani men and the targeting of victims who were generally vulnerable white girls in high risk settings. You can read one of a number of articles I wrote at the time here; https://oldhamcouncil.wordpress.com/…/child-sexual…/

There can be no hiding place for abusers. No matter how long ago the offences took place, those responsible must be pursued, and victims given the confidence to come forward. It’s also self evidence from the case that there will be abusers still not held to account and I urge Greater Manchester Police to exhaust all avenues to bring them to book.

This case reinforces the need for lasting change: in how victims are treated, how services are resourced, and how institutions are held to account. I remain committed to working with survivors, campaigners, and authorities to ensure these lessons are not just learned—but acted upon.

If you or someone you know has been affected by abuse, please know that support is available. No one should suffer in silence.

Congratulations to all at Oldham Council for being recognised by the Local Government Chronicle as the “Most Improved Council” in the country.

It’s fair to say that often the council doesn’t get the recognition it deserves for the work it’s doing, whether that’s turning around Children’s Services to achieve a Good rating, driving forward vital regeneration projects that are key to the town’s long-term future, or on many other fronts.

No council has had an easy time over the past decade. Years of austerity have hit hard, and the pressures on children’s services, adult social care, and temporary accommodation have soared, including here in Oldham. That pressure has been felt in every part of the borough, as neighbourhood services have had to be scaled back to meet rising demand in legally mandated services.

But we are now beginning to turn a corner.

This year, with a new government determined to turn this around, councils have for the first time received funding allocations that genuinely reflect need, including higher levels of deprivation. That shift has made a real difference, and with major funding reforms on the horizon, councils like Oldham are finally being put in a stronger position to plan, invest, and deliver for their communities.

That said, it would be wrong to ignore the reality: Oldham has also had to operate in one of the most hostile political environments seen not just in its recent history, but anywhere in the country.

The council isn’t perfect, no institution is, and there will always be room to do things better. But I know that the vast majority of those who work within the council do so to make this borough better.

I include the political leadership in that too. I see the time, energy and personal commitment they put in day after day. Cllr Shah and her deputies Cllr Taylor and Cllr Jabbar and their wider group who have helped secure these improvements deserve this recognition.

And I’d extend that recognition to many members of the opposition as well. I may not agree with all their politics or proposals, but I respect those who show up, who care, and who give their time in what has become an increasingly difficult political climate.

I hope this recognition marks a turning point, a moment for the council to rebuild its confidence, to reflect on the progress that has been made, and to look ahead with a renewed determination.

Because when people step forward into public service, whatever their role, they carry with them the potential to make a real and lasting difference. And in places like Oldham, that collective leadership has the power to do immense good for our borough and the people who call it home.

Today the Chancellor delivered the Spending Review to Parliament, all focused on making working people better off, rebuilding schools and hospitals and reinvesting in the country after 14 years of Tory decline.

As well as detailing huge funding boosts to nuclear energy projects, the NHS and transport networks, the spending review showed a clear ambition to not leave communities like Oldham behind. For far too long there has been a disparity between the North and the South in terms of opportunity, infrastructure and investment. But this Labour Government is looking at ways to make up for lost time.

Whether it’s building more affordable homes, improving local transport links, or funding the frontline services people rely on every day, this is about making life that bit easier for working people – easier to get to work, to buy a home, to see a doctor, to feel safe in your community, and to get the skills you need to move forward.

For Oldham, this means:

More GPs and shorter NHS waiting times, thanks to a £29 billion funding boost to frontline healthcare.

The biggest investment in affordable housing in a generation – £39 billion to build social and affordable homes.

A safer Oldham, with police funding rising by 2.3% each year to help keep our streets secure.

Faster, easier travel, with £15.6 billion for better public transport focused on better connectivity for Northern towns such as Oldham.

Real opportunities for young people, with £1.2bn each year to support over a million young people into training and apprenticeships.

Lower bills, through a nationwide Warm Homes Plan that will save families and pensioners up to £600 a year.

Better support for children and schools, including massive investment to rebuild schools and crumbling classrooms, £555m transformation funding for children’s social care and improving local facilities like youth clubs, libraries and parks.

These are Labour choices made by a Labour Government, made for working people. Specifically, people in Oldham.

You voted for change, and we are delivering it. 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 between years 3-11 who are in families currently claiming universal credit will benefit from the extension. In this way, the government is 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 £𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬. We’re giving every child, no matter their background, the nutrition they need to learn, grow and thrive from an early age.

This builds on the work we have already done to put up to £450 a year back into parents’ pockets with the beginning of our Free Breakfast Clubs programme roll-out. Starting in April at Whitegate End, Richmond Academy, Northmoor Academy – which I visited early this year – and Westwood Academy, we will roll them out to every primary school in the country so every child can start their day with a healthy breakfast and and at least 30 minutes of free childcare.

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, our free breakfast club programme, our cap on uniform prices, enhanced government funded childcare and now our expansion of free school meals.