Letter from Parliament - Tony Lloyd MP

Tony Lloyd MP

On Monday, I spoke in a debate on behalf of the Labour Party about travellers. There is a need for those who cause a nuisance to show respect for our local community, but, of course, this is not all travellers. There must also be a balance with education and employment for travelling families.

Tuesday was World Mental Health Day. A lot of young people do not access the mental health services they need. One in four people are affected by a mental health problem in any year.

I raised the issue of more early years support in Rochdale with First Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Damien Green. Four in ten children are not ready for school, and this rises in our community no matter the child’s background or ethnicity. I received no acceptable answer and I am going to continue to press the government on what is an important topic.

I attended a drop in advice session on how to stay warm this winter, which is targeted towards the older generation. Unlike Scandinavian countries, which are much colder than ours, we have a high death rate and this was about making people aware and calling on the government for things like the winter fuel allowance. It can get horribly cold in winter here in Rochdale and our homes need to be fit for modern purpose.

I was pleased to meet Unite the Union Northern Ireland who are fighting for their jobs with Bombardier Aircraft, our manufacturing base and a just trading deal with the USA. Although it is a long way off, it will almost beyond doubt affect Rochdale.

My advice bureau in the week also showed we need a transparency in our trade deals.

I showed my support for the respect for shop workers campaign. Everyone has the right to go to work safely and work without fear. A high number of shop workers are subject to a number of physical and verbal attacks. People like you and I have the right to go out to work and not live in the fear of coming home injured.

It was very sad attending the baby loss awareness week in Parliament where I heard many sad stories of family bereavement. This is a very serious issue of family tragedy and is a very important event.

It was great to see WASPI Campaign women lobbying parliament this week. Their demand for a fair transition to the state pension they paid into is just.

I attended a drop in for breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer is a huge success story these days when it once often had a death sentence. However, many are not aware of secondary breast cancer, which is almost always incurable. This was calling for an early diagnosis with primary breast cancer and the need for proper nursing services who have the knowledge of secondary breast cancer in both Rochdale and Greater Manchester.

On Thursday, I raised the issue of overcrowding in our prisons. Riots occur on a daily basis because there are just too many in our prisons, which is not acceptable. A cheaper option, with a better success rate, is sentencing people to a proper community sentence, which is far from a soft option, and is far more effective in stopping crime. Then we can create space in our prisons for the real work inside.

I have also taken up the issue of Rakewood turbine in Littleborough as a lot have been affected by it.

I had a meeting at Hopwood Hall College, another of Rochdale’s very good success stories. So many young people achieve a lot in their time there.

On Sunday, I will be visiting the Ukrainian Catholic Church and meeting the community there; I am really looking forward to it.