Building an NHS fit for the future was one of Labour’s five missions for government that we put forward in our manifesto at the general election. In our first week in office, we are taking steps to achieve this mission by addressing the junior doctors strikes we inherited from the Conservatives.

The government has hit the reset button on relations between the government and junior doctors by actually getting in the room to try and come to a resolution over pay and conditions so that junior doctors can get back to doing what they want to do: carry out vital, life-saving work. In this way, Labour is already delivering for towns like Oldham across Britain.

On Tuesday, I spoke with Kay Burley on Sky News about this, along with what Labour is going to do to cut waiting lists and remodel the health service towards prevention, thereby making outcomes better for both staff and patients.

At the general election, one of my four priorities for the people of Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton was to fight for decent homes for local people.

Our new Labour government is hitting the ground running in our first week in office with the Chancellor announcing how we are going to reform planning to ensure we build the 1.5 million new homes over this parliament we pledged to build at the general election.

We will work with communities to utilise brownfield sites and distinguish between the green belt which protects us from urban sprawl, the countryside which makes up our world-class landscapes, and the ‘grey belt’ which includes disused car parks and other areas which local people want to be developed.

Brownfield and ‘grey belt’ sites must be where we solve our housing crisis and rebuild national infrastructure to reignite sustained economic growth to boost living standards and allow us to properly fund our vital public services. By contrast, green belt land and our countryside must be protected and preserved. In this way, work will be done with communities, not done to communities.

I discussed the new government’s initial work to review the National Planning Policy Framework with Kay Burley on Sky News yesterday morning.

I was proud to be officially sworn in again as the MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton yesterday afternoon. Every day I will continue to work hard and fight for local people.

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.

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.

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…

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.