Oldham Coliseum to Reopen!

Oldham Coliseum will reopen in late 2025!

Oldham Coliseum being saved, with its historic site and amazing heritage, is brilliant news and a direct result of grassroots community action. The value culture and the arts have in forging relationships between people and the places where they call home is evident. I applaud those who came together to make this happen, including local people, local arts organisations and Oldham Council.

Theatres in this country have suffered not only from the impact of the economic crisis, as hard-hit families have been forced to reprioritise budgets and spend less on cultural activities, but also from reductions in central arts funding and from the squeeze on local government budgets, which local arts organisations rely on for much of their funding.

My fourth priority at the general election for the people of Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton was securing community ownership. The hard work we’ve put in to save the Coliseum with the co-operative model of ownership shows the success community ownership can bring in safeguarding our heritage and local venues.

Local investment and the co-operative model now mean local people are in charge of their community venue, giving communities a stake in the future of the Coliseum. This innovative approach across organisations in Oldham and beyond will help ensure that the Coliseum Theatre becomes stronger, more resilient and able to continue its inspirational work for generations to come.

Minister of State Appointment

I am honoured to be asked to serve as Minister of State by the Prime Minister.

I’m looking forward to working with colleagues in local government, our elected mayors, and others to deliver our ambitious plans for devolution and growth which is felt by every community in every region.

I am deeply grateful to constituents who voted Labour & Co-operative last week; returning a Labour government after 14 years in opposition and giving Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton a seat at the table.

Our borough knows more than most the urgent need to tackle head on the issues which hold our country and our communities back, and that we do it in partnership and co-operation.

That work starts now.

Happy Chadderton Day

Wishing everyone across Chadderton a Happy Chadderton Day.

I’m delighted that we succeeded in securing Chadderton’s rightful place in the name of the parliamentary constituency. As the constituency’s second largest town it was always wrong not to have it represented.

Chadderton Historical Society are due significant praise for the longstanding work they did to support the cause, never failing to speak up to the boundary commission when the time came. It’s a nice win to chalk up.

Hope you all have a great day whether it’s going along to the final moments of celebrations at Foxdenton Hall and park, visiting one of the towns other great parks like Chadderton Hall Park, or a walk down the Rochdale Canal, enjoying a local pub, or anything else the area has to offer.

2024 General Election Result

A late night but I wanted to say thank you to the 13,232 people across Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton who placed their vote with Labour and Co-operative.

After 14 long years it’s time for change, and I’m delighted to be part of bringing that to our borough.

Thank you to our amazing members for everything. We’ve asked a lot of them and knocked on thousands of doors and hand delivered many more thousands of letters and leaflets.

And a thank you to the elections staff at the count and polling stations for working to support our democracy.

Now home…

Medlock Bulldogs Visit

I had a brilliant time yesterday visiting Fitton Hill Bulldogs, thank you for having me.

We discussed the clubs plans for the future and how they want the club to be a hub for the community on Fitton Hill.

I commend the great work that is being done, which sets an example of the potential community institutions like this have to empower neighbourhoods and bring local people together.

Co-op Congress Speech

I spent some time in Birmingham this week speaking to the Co-operative Party and at the Co-op Congress about our priorities for government.

The four key themes were co-operative growth, local ownership, community energy and safer high streets; with plans for achieving each endorsed in Labour’s manifesto.

As the Chair of the Co-operative Party, I am passionate about our plans and excited for what a Labour and Co-op government could do to effect co-operative change which could transform the lives of people all around Britain.