Letter from Parliament - Tony Lloyd MP

Tony Lloyd MP

The first event I attended this week was ‘Inventing the Co-operative: a vision for Rochdale’ at Number One Riverside.

This was a look back on the history of the Rochdale Pioneers, and how their actions are relevant in this day and age. For example, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing is a modern example of a co-operative. Co-operation should be a movement between different services working together, such as the police, health and children’s services.

I attended an MPs briefing event with Rear Admiral Simon Williams about a focus on the Navy and needs in the country, and met with representatives from the Baltic countries – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – about common security and pressure from Russia. I also held my weekly advice bureau.

I found myself voting with the government in a debate about the importance of connecting the north with the high-speed rail link. However, it is important that places outside the city centre like Rochdale, Smithy Bridge and Littleborough are included as well.

I met with some human rights defenders from Honduras who have been under a lot of pressure with the authorities there following a very contested election.

Centrica held a demonstration about reducing their carbon footprint, a very important topic.

I was also involved in a major debate about the renewal of the parliamentary buildings. It is highly controversial as it will cost billions, but they are globally iconic buildings.

I attended a meeting with senior education officers at the town hall about education attainments. In addition to good new, some challenges were presented, including monetary challenges.

I also attended St Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Academy Trust (made up of St Patrick's Roman Catholic Primary School and Alice Ingham Catholic Primary School) about child poverty. The children in Year 3 and 4 were brilliant, they set out their concerns and how they can help by collecting and how they can help in the future with soup kitchens and money going to the foodbank.

It was so inspiring for me, these children care about child poverty and they expect their government to as well. I will be banging on the government’s door asking what they intend to do about this issue.

End of life care for children and young adults with terminal illnesses needs more support. They need plans and regimes to meet their needs that are focused on and driven by them.

Next week is hate crime awareness week. I met with the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester as there has been a sad rise in anti-Semitic attacks.

Capita announced a ‘profits warning’ this week. Essentially, they are experiencing financial difficulty across vital public services that companies perform. They can not just fail to stop. Our government is very committed to a private sector solution, but these public services need to be maintained.

At weekend, I will be speaking at a Local Government Authority conference in Nottingham.