The Tories have turned their back on Oldham and left it’s levelling up promise in tatters.

News that Phoenix House, the Department for Work and Pensions office on Union Street in the centre of Oldham is set to close marks a long and disgraceful programme of removing jobs from the town, at a time when we need support to recover from the pandemic.

There has not been any consultation with local Members of Parliament and follows on from the closure of the HMRC tax office in the same building only a few years ago. According to the PCS union, 168 jobs will be lost as a result of the latest round of cuts.

Taken together it shows a disregard for the town, and the importance of town centre workers supporting the local high street, spending money at lunch time and after work.

So far, the town has seen the closure of the Magistrates Court, the County Court, numerous police stations and custody cells, the HMRC tax office and now the DWP office. Together taking hundreds of workers out of the town.

Just this week it was reported that there were 5,270 unemployed claimants in Oldham West and Royton constituency alone, which was 7.9% of the population aged 16-64. This was 1,665 higher than March 2020, before the first UK lockdown began.

Worst still, the work previously done at Phoenix House will be moved to St Peters Square in Manchester City Centre, where office rents are some of the highest in the region.

The Tories never put towns like Oldham first, they have an agenda to strip back public services to the bone and drive a race to the bottom on living standards and quality of life for working people.

The government had information weeks before that a Russian invasion was coming, yet the Home Office has taken two weeks to get a system in place for processing those fleeing the war. Because of the Ukrainian restrictions on men of working age leaving the country,, those seeking sanctuary are most likely to be women and children.

The UK has some of the most advanced bio-metric and processing facilities in the world, that the government can’t seen to marshal quickly enough isn’t good enough.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority has released a statement on further delays relating to the independent investigation into CSE in Oldham.

I maintain the belief that the final review will be victim focused and robust.

I am concerned that this additional delay will be used to undermine the review. It’s evident from the previously announced delay, and coverage which followed it on social media pages, that false allegations of cover up and conspiracy will be repeated. But what ultimately matters is that the investigation is comprehensive, and if any failings are identified by organisations or individuals, they are fully explored and published.

I have been careful not to comment on the review until it is published, to avoid either pre-empting or prejudging it, but I can give an assurance that it is my intention to ensure, as I have always endeavoured, that victims are put first and foremost.

There are too many examples of victims not receiving the support they deserve, either because of individual professional judgement, organisational or political culture, systemic failure and at times the overwhelming demand not being met with adequate resources. If the additional time is spent securing justice, and I maintain confidence in those leading the review, then that must be allowed to conclude properly.

https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/news/update-on-the-publication-of-the-assurance-review-into-child-sexual-exploitation-in-oldham/?fbclid=IwAR2KHrKJkiwRcyk0QDs7ff1HdZU9P88A8W4wUTLuAuY8X_0ULZsLNXTue3g

Today was quite a moment.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy displayed his resolve over a video link to a silent House of Commons, which was showing rare cross party unity and purpose.

I took the opportunity last week to sign the book of support in Parliament on behalf of the people of Chadderton, Oldham and Royton, as well as sending a letter of support to the two local Ukrainian churches together with my colleague Debbie Abrahams.

Our words must be followed by firm leadership, including giving the people of Ukraine the means to defend themselves, humanitarian support and aide, and playing our part in providing refuge.

Labour has called on the Government to cancel its planned rise in National Insurance Contributions that will cost families an average of £500 per year from April 2022.

As well as energy bills going up, there is still going to be a devastating set of tax hikes coming in April.

According to the Resolution Foundation, “The average combined impact of the freeze to income tax thresholds and the 1.25 per cent increase in personal National Insurance contributions is £600 per household.”

Combined with the £444 increase in energy bills expected next financial year for a household that gets the Chancellor’s loan and council tax scheme, that means most households will still be more than £1,000 worse off in 2022/23.

That’s why Labour have long called for the National Insurance rise to be halted, so it doesn’t make the cost of living crisis worse.

Labour has also set out a plan to cut £600 off home energy bills, funded by a one-off windfall tax on oil and gas producers.

As this tax hike hits home, remember it started not on your street, but on Downing Street.

I know constituents with family in Ukraine will be distressed at the escalating conflict following the invasion by Russia. I have made contact with the Ukrainian Association in Oldham, and will do the same with my neighbouring MP Debbie Abrahams with the Ukrainian churches in Coldhurst and Glodwick.

We have worked closely with the UK Government to press for harder sanctions to accompany humanitarian and military aide in what will be a difficult and testing time. We remain committed to working across political divisions, and we believe the toughest and swiftest sanctions must be put in place, and the UK must go further. We also support calls for international cooperation and coordination of sanctions including blocking Russian access to global financial markets, investments and the Swift payment system.

The Foreign Office advice for British nationals is as follows;

The British Embassy office in Kyiv has temporarily relocated. Embassy staff are operating from the British Embassy office in Lviv. The in-person consular services that British Embassy office in Lviv can provide are extremely limited. If you are in need of assistance to leave Ukraine, you should call +380 44 490 3660 or +44 (0)1908 516666 and select the option for “consular services for British nationals.” You can also send an enquiry via the web contact form.

Russia’s military action in Ukraine will severely affect the British Government’s ability to provide consular assistance in Ukraine. British Nationals should not expect increased consular support or help with evacuating in these circumstances.

If you are an immediate family member* of a British National normally living in Ukraine and intend to apply for a visa under the Family Migration route, read the guidance on visas for immediate family members of British nationals normally living in Ukraine. You should call +44 (0) 300 3032785 for assistance before applying. Lines are open Monday – Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am-5.30pm.

*‘Immediate family member’ is defined as spouse/unmarried partner/ child under the age of 18/ parent if British National is child under 18/ adult dependant who normally resides with you due to a medical condition.