Update on Shabir Ahmed on Radio 4 this morning

News that the Home Secretary will announce measures to close the loophole preventing the deportation of notorious child abuse and exploitation offender Shabir Ahmed.

This is a welcome move and while we await to hear the full details on Monday, it is a vital step in the UK getting its own house in order – coupled with diplomatic discussions with the receiving country, in this case Pakistan.

I hope for the victims and survivors this is the path to the justice they are due.

Co-operators in parliament formally welcomed our newest MP Andy Burnham this week.

Andy won a resounding victory in Makerfield and is on course to become the first ever Labour and Co-operative Prime Minster, taking us into our historic centenary year as a sister party next year!

As chair of the Co-operative Party I couldn’t be prouder: it was uplifting to hear his longstanding commitment to co-operation and how much it formed his community politics.

Getting changes to mileage rates right with the Chancellor

It was great to meet with the Chancellor at No.11 yesterday to talk about how the HMRC mileage rate campaign will be implemented after she backed our calls and instructed officials to backdate the new higher rate to April.

This Labour government is backing working people with the first rate rise in 15 years from 45p a mile to 55p, alongside a wider review to go further ahead of the next budget being on the way too.

For a worker driving 10,000 miles a year such as a home care worker in a rural area, they will be £1,000 a year better off, and many trades people can easily do 20,000 miles a year, meaning they would be £2,000 a year better off.

But it also holds an important principle, working people should not have to pay to work.

Big thanks to Unison and the RAC Foundation for the longstanding work they’ve done on this important issue!

Up to £20,000 to improve shopfronts in Oldham town centre

Good to see another round of Shop Front Improvement Grants now available for businesses in Oldham town centre.

Alongside investment in the new indoor market, the Coliseum, the Hive, our heritage buildings and new homes, supporting existing businesses is an essential part of creating a town centre where people want to shop, work, spend time and invest.

If you’re an eligible business, I’d encourage you to take a look at the scheme and apply. Every improved shopfront helps build a town centre we can all be proud of.

https://www.notreallyheremedia.com/news/oldham-reporter/improvement-grants-of-up-to-20000-available-to-help-oldham-businesses

Protecting Oldham’s heritage

Pleased that SAVE Britain’s Heritage has added both Harry’s Bar and the Werneth Park Music Rooms to its national ‘Buildings at Risk’ register.

I raised concerns with SAVE about the threat facing Harry’s Bar because we shouldn’t be wiping away our history in the name of progress. Its inclusion on the register reinforces the value of the interwar building and makes the case that restoration and reuse should always be properly considered before demolition.

That’s why I’ve called for a clear strategy from Oldham Council to protect our historic pubs. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. I’m looking forward to a follow up meeting with council officials on this soon.

I’ve seen what’s possible by working with SAVE before, including on Holy Rosary Church where we’re making progress towards bringing an important historic building back into community use rather than losing it. Still a lot to do here but there is a real energy to save it.

In Oldham we’re proud of our rich heritage and as we continue to regenerate our borough, let’s make sure we protect the buildings that tell our story too.

You can see the register of buildings at risk here https://www.savebritainsheritage.org/buildings-at-risk

Thank you to my 10-Minute Rule Bill sponsors!

I want to thank the cross party MPs who have agreed to sponsor the Stillbirth Registration Ten-Minute Rule Bill I will present to Parliament on Wednesday 15 July.

This Bill was proposed by Chadderton couple Cassie and Ryan Claydon, who experienced the heartbreak of baby loss and then had to register their stillbirth in person at the registrar’s office, alongside new parents. That added trauma is something no family should have to face.

Scotland already allows remote registration. This Bill would extend that option to England and Wales, giving bereaved parents the dignity and space they deserve at an unimaginably difficult time.

Thank you to the MPs supporting this important change:

✅ Rushanara Ali — Bethnal Green and Stepney

✅ Anneliese Dodds — Oxford East

✅ Maya Ellis — Ribble Valley

✅ Carolyn Harris — Neath and Swansea East

✅ Simon Hoare — North Dorset

✅ Wera Hobhouse — Bath

✅ Alicia Kearns — Rutland and Stamford

✅ Uma Kumaran — Stratford and Bow

✅ Andy MacNae — Rossendale and Darwen

✅ Sarah Smith — Hyndburn

✅ Gareth Snell — Stoke-on-Trent Central

New Indoor Market Success

I’m so pleased the new indoor market is thriving and the trust and confidence of the traders has been rewarded.

Well done to Oldhamers for getting behind it, in the end that custom sustains it.

Good work to Oldham Council and its team, and the market staff themselves for working so hard to manage the transition from Tommyfield.

Oldham Times https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/26249152.think-oldhams-indoor-market-huge-success/