Wishing everyone across Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

However you choose to spend it I hope it is peaceful and positive, and a time spent with loved ones.

Best wishes

Jim

We are looking for a Constituency Caseworker to join my busy team based at Chadderton Town Hall. The post is fixed term for a four month period to cover the career sabbatical of an existing member of staff.

Because this is a fixed term position for a short period previous experience in a similar or transferable role will be essential.

We support around 8,000 personal casework and campaign lobbies from constituents each year, helping many people to get a fair deal from government departments and local public bodies, including housing, welfare, education, and health services to name just a few. Many cases are personal and often sensitive and so a high level of humility and compassion, as well as an attention to detail, good organisation and a professional manner is required.

We support all constituents regardless of how they voted, whether they voted or not, and without fear or favour to ensure everyone who needs it has access to appropriate support and guidance.

𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀:

– Assist surgeries and other meetings and follow up as appropriate.

– Deal with large numbers of standard queries, as well as assisting on more complex cases from members of the public by phone, email, social media, or face-to-face. Ongoing communication may be required.

– Gather relevant information to assist with resolving cases.

– Log all cases; monitor progress and ensure all identified actions are taken.

– Ensure records are kept and information managed confidentially in line with the data protection legislation.

– Draft responses to constituents.

– Critically analyse patterns of enquiries and articulate the findings in reports and communication with the MP and other staff members.

– Establish, monitor, and update a social media and online presence in the constituency. Produce online graphics and video content, as well as publicising surgeries and news alerts etc.

– Establish, monitor, and update a social media and online presence in the constituency. Produce online graphics and video content, as well as publicising surgeries and news alerts etc.

– Manage and monitor social media enquiries, dealing with cases that do not need to be transferred to a higher level. Ensure all enquiries are dealt with in a timely manner.

– Ensure that each case is dealt with promptly, sensitively, confidentially, and accurately in accordance with the MP.

– A working knowledge of IT including basic Microsoft packages including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint is essential, and training can be provided if needed on our specialist casework tracking and reporting system.

– A driving license would be an advantage as you will also support constituency-based events as required. Evenings and weekend working will be required in support of advice surgeries and public meetings on casework related issues.

𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀:

The salary range is set by IPSA (Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority), and this position is in line with them.

All staff are auto enrolled into the Parliamentary Pension Scheme.

Upon appointment you will be required to apply for security clearance, undertaken by the Parliamentary Security Vetting and Pass Office.

To apply please send a brief covering letter outlining your experience and reasons for applying, together with your CV to jim.mcmahon.mp@parliament.uk no later than 5pm 30/01/26.

More information including role responsibilities can be found by visiting https://www.w4mpjobs.org/JobDetails.aspx?jobid=98157

You can view IPSA job groups by visiting https://www.ipsaonline.org.uk/guidance/pay-and-benefits….

It was great to visit the Oldham Coliseum Theatre at Fairbottom Street to see how works are progressing.

I joined Friends of Oldham Coliseum Julie Hesmondhalgh and Zoe Hodges alongside Cllr Arooj Shah and contractor Tilbury Douglas.

The sheer scale of works is significant and the repairs needed go deep into almost every aspect of the structure. It was odd to see parts of the building visitors would be familiar with bare and stripped back to the original structure.

There were a few interesting finds, one was what is believed to an original timber from the old 1885 wooden circus originally on Henshaw Street and relocated to Fairbottom Street two years later.

It was also the first time with the whole stage and fully tower exposed and seating removed to see just how vital the flytower is to the operation of the theatre.

And still very striking are the personal messages left on the walls of what was the corridor near dressing rooms, not all of which can be repeated (!) which show the strength of feeling and love for the Coli. Thankfully efforts to secure its future are coming together nicely.

Keep up the good work everyone.

It was a pleasure to attend the Freeman of the Borough presentation for Cllr Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE today, and wonderful to see his children attend to experience the moment.

It’s a rare honour offered to few, and the first ceremony of its kind to be held in the new council chamber.

It was a bittersweet event without Zahid’s wife and former Mayoress Afsheen who sadly passed away in March 2024. She was very much in our thoughts today.

I was delighted to have celebrated 10 years as an MP this month and there’s been so many people who have helped throughout the years, those in my team who made a big impact and supported so many local people, but Shirley has been by my side from the beginning.

Having previously worked for Michael Meacher Shirley brought huge experience with her, and being Oldham through and through she knows the town inside and out.

Thanks for everything Shirley, for me personally and for the thousands of local people you’ve helped make such a difference to.

We couldn’t do without you, and looking forward to the years ahead

A great final week down in Westminster as the house rose on Thursday for the Christmas recess.

The week began in Oldham with the Sports Town roundtable at Boundary Park before heading to the station.

Parliamentary activity began with a Westminster Hall 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁, where I pressed the Government to make sure the law does enough to protect people, especially children, and keeps pace with how fast the online world is changing.

In the Chamber on Wednesday, I made a statement on the 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 and what this means for Oldham and our local frontline services, setting out why fair funding matters and what what will change for local people after years of Tory underfunding.

I met with representatives from 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀’𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 & 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 to discuss a number of fairness campaigns whether it’s council tax collection, parking enforcement or the work I’m undertaking on HMRC mileage allowance payment so it reflects the real costs people face and stops working people being left out of pocket. A long way to go but great to see so many stakeholders & organisations engaging in our campaign.

There were also votes in the Commons this week on a number of Government bills which now mean that both the 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁 and the 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁 are now in law strengthening workers’ rights and helping unlock the homes and infrastructure our communities need.

Then back up home to Oldham for our team Christmas meal at the fantastic Stocco restaurant on Yorkshire Street, and today through the weekend some important meetings, visits & engagements across the constituency before staying put into January.

Wishing everyone in Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year