Spring is here and the borough is beginning to bloom!

Good to be out in Fitton Hill earlier today for a visit to a local housing scheme, and to see the yellow petals of the daffodils are coming out.

Today the Biggest Ever Football Session returns to schools across the country!

Nationally this event provides an opportunity for schools to empower young people, especially young girls, to get involved in football. It is so important that we remember the history of women in football, particularly the countrywide ban on women’s football from 1921-1971, and reflect on how far we have come as a society since then, especially the success of the lionesses.

Educating young people is a vital step in the campaign for equal access to football. I am proud that Mills Hill Primary School, Thorp Primary School, Holy Rosary RC Primary School, Westwood Academy, St Patrick’s Primary, The Chadderton, and SS Aidan and Oswalds have all signed up to be involved.

It is great to see so many schools in my constituency are actively breaking down barriers for young girls in sports and widening opportunities. Women and girls don’t just belong in football; they are made for the game.

Pubs aren’t just places to grab a pint — they’re an essential part of our community; in bringing people together, being a key place of local pride and identity, and in boosting our local economy.

Last year alone, over 400 pubs shut their doors, bringing the total number of pubs in England and Wales to an all-time low of 38,989.

We have moved to provide financial support to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses including pubs (and of course high street shops), with an immediate 40% reduction on business rates, (subject to a £110,000 cap).

A new permanent relief coming in the following year will provide support for 99% of all pubs which have rateable value of less than the £500,000 threshold. That’s real action, long term and targeted, moving away from the year to year sticking plaster approach previously.

Too many of our pubs are unfortunately at risk of disappearing due to rising costs and developers eyeing prime locations. That is why we’re working in Government to go further by protecting these important assets.

In particular, Community Right to Buy would empower local communities by granting them the first right of refusal on valued assets such as pubs when they are put up for sale. This would allow people in our town to have a real stake in our high streets.

Locally we’ve worked to encourage protection of local pubs through the Asset of Community Value process, including the Daisyfield Inn at Bardsley.

When vital community spaces are at risk of being sold, we would give local people the first chance to own them and transfer power back to the people best suited to utilise it. Once communities have control over local assets, they cannot be easily taken away.

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As part of our Plan for Neighbourhoods, 75 towns across the UK will receive up to £20m of funding with specialist support over the next decade to unleash their full potential, and I am delighted that Chadderton is part of that list.

Under the Tories, Chadderton was promised funding that simply did not exist alongside inflexible restrictions on how this money could be spent. Our community should not be dictated by a Government in Whitehall, but instead we should have power to decide our own priorities.

Local change is best driven by those with the biggest stake, and through the plan for neighbourhoods, local people will decide where government funding is spent in their area.

As part of the Plan for Neighbourhoods, new Neighbourhood Boards will be set up across all of the towns selected, bringing together residents, businesses and community campaigners. The board will decide how to spend the funding, choosing from options that include rejuvenating highstreets, local parks, youth clubs, cultural venues and health services. In particular, I am hoping some of this funding is directed to restoring Foxdenton Hall.

This is the start of a very exciting future for Chadderton, and I can’t wait to work together to make a neighbourhood that we are all proud of!

Investing in our future is important for building on our past, and preserving the history of markets is close to a lot of people’s hearts across the country, but especially in Oldham. Our market charter was granted in 1849 as its industrial might was booming, already at this point home to around 200 cotton mills and the many thousands who worked in them.

While the market has evolved over time, I am glad that it still remains a central point of our community. That is why I am delighted that part of the new £20million funding will be directed to supporting relocated traders from the Tommyfield market to the shopping centre, and to developing a new outdoor market in George Square.

There has been significant engagement between the councils and traders and while change can be unsettling the truth is that this investment is essential or else we face an ever declining trade when faced with low cost online retailers often seeking similar goods.

The future has to bring our market into the heart of the town sitting alongside the shopping centre, food outlets and events hall, all adding to a focus to drive footfall.

Heritage matters, and we must protect this by preserving and being proud of our market, and of course shopping in it!

Local services are the backbone of our communities. From healthcare and education to public transport and essential community programs, these services directly impact our quality of life. That’s why securing proper funding for them is my priority in Government.

We must ensure that every pound invested goes where it’s needed most – to support the people who rely on these services day in and day out. It’s about keeping our community strong, resilient, and thriving.

That is why I am proud of our funding settlement as it will provide over £69 billion for local government across England, and have a material difference for towns such as Oldham. This cash increase will help meet the demand that the Council is facing and ensure that vital public services are there for when you need them.

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I’m thrilled that £20 million has been secured for the Community Regeneration Partnership in Oldham! This funding will help breathe new life into our high street, boost housing development, invest in our cultural and sports facilities and support local businesses.

Through collaboration between our local authority, the Government, and important stakeholders, the Community Regeneration Partnership will create sustainable developments that meet local priorities and local need. This will include building 2,000 new homes, investing to sports and educational pathways, and developing a new outdoor market in George Square.

This is a huge win for Oldham, and it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our community leaders, partners, and residents. This investment will help us break down barriers to opportunity, put more cash into people’s pockets, and bring vibrancy back to our community.

Together, we are building a stronger, more connected future for our town.

We are determined to find a path that ends Russia’s illegal war and ensures a just and lasting peace that secures Ukraine’s future sovereignty and security.

Local people have shown incredible solidarity, with many even opening their homes to families in need of sanctuary. They understand that it’s not just words but actions that truly matter as we continue working to secure peace on Europe’s soil.

Slava Ukraini.