British Youth Council Convention Event.

British Youth Concil Convention Event in Preston.

Members of the British Youth Council.

It was fantastic to meet with members of the British Youth Council at the Youthforia Convention event in Preston. It was an ideal opportunity to discuss my Private Members Bill on Votes at 16 taking place on Friday 3rd November 2017. The Bill is a great opportunity to make headway on what has been historically a long campaign fighting for the rights of young people to be able to vote.

Decisions in Westminster increasingly affect young people and it is only right that their voice should not be ignored.

I made a call for action stressing the importance of the input that is required from young people to make this bill a reality. I have asked all my fellow MP’s to attend the bill in Parliament on the 3^rd of November but as young people you also have a right and the power to demand that your own local MP represents your voice in parliament on that day!.

 

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New Statesman Northern Powerhouse Launch Event.

New Statesman Northern Powerhouse Event with Jim McMahon , MP for Oldham West & Royton, Alison McGovern MP for Wirral South and George Eaton, Political Editor , New Statesman.

 

I was asked to speak at the New Statesmen Event at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on the topic of The Northern Powerhouse joined by my colleague Alison McGovern MP for Wirral south.

As Shadow Minister for Local Government and Devolution I raised my concerns for the Governments Northern Powerhouse Strategy and my lack of faith in their ability to deliver meaningful devolution with the ability to make a real difference on the ground. The Northern Powerhouse has failed to devolve real freedoms, genuine financial reform and sufficient funding to redress the economic and social imbalances which exist. Furthermore, it is crucial that all of the North feels the warmth of growth and prosperity – not just the city-regions who will be electing mayors this year. The government’s devolution agenda has failed to reach the smaller cities and towns, let alone rural areas.

For more on my views on the Governments current Devolution agenda you can read my recent article for LabourList here: https://labourlist.org/2017/10/jim-mcmahon-northern-powerhouse-is-a-toxic-tory-brand-that-fails-on-devolution/

 

Revised Parliamentary constituency boundary changes released

THE DECISION by government to reduce the number of MPs within a tightly defined remit has lead to proposals which has seen community ties disregarded and nonsensical constituencies created cutting through towns and boroughs.

Looking back: Old Town Hall fixtures

During the course of the refurbishment of the Old Town Hall fixtures and fittings were removed from the then ‘safe room’, which was the former ball room with a steel door securing its contents from would-be-thieves.

When work started on the Old Town Hall to create the wonderful cinema we see today the old fixtures and fittings were taken away in to secure off site storage. I had the opportunity to view them a few years ago and came across the photos in my archive.

I asked the Prime Minister to answer for the Government’s failings on meningitis vaccine for children

TODAY’S Prime Minister’s Questions was as boisterous as ever. It was also a first for me: the first time I’ve had the opportunity to ask a question to the PM since being elected as an MP. I chose to raise the issue of the lack of meningitis vaccine for all children, which led to the death of Layla Rose from Lime Side in Oldham.