Letter From Parliament - Tony Lloyd MP

Tony Lloyd MP

This week I helped a couple, Tony and Christine Bibby, from Littleborough fly home after they were stuck in the Caribbean during Hurricane Irma.

It must have been frightening for them and their family here.

It took the good part of several days to get information for them and it was a relief when they were on a flight home.

MPs have to get involved and see people pull out all the stops for people like the Bibbys, whose wellbeing was at risk.

On Sunday I attended the Well Centre Church where Ian and Margaret Wight, who have been leading services for decades, were taking their last service.

It was nice to be there as it was like Rochdale in miniature with a warm community.

I also attended a meeting about the Rohingya, hosted by the BACP at their community centre on Ramsey Street.

I showed my support for the breast cancer event, Pink Promenade, at Littleborough Sports Club.

Hanson Springs is a major employer in Rochdale and a really important manufacturer with world class engineers. I met with them on Monday to discuss economy needs and skills training.

I met with officials responsible for the strategic housing and houses to be completed over the next 20 years in Greater Manchester.

We have a major housing crisis in Rochdale for buying or renting. We need to see more good quality homes built for the future and something serious done with hundreds backlogged with bad housing and overcrowding.

On Tuesday I attended a reception for Pakistani Consul General at the Town Hall.

Wednesday morning I was in London for international trade meetings, which included a lengthy briefing on how the government intends to support businesses wanting to get into the export market.

We need to look to the future around Brexit and how we can get the best in the town for industry and employment. Not all businesses will export but some can and will and they should be encouraged.

Wednesday afternoon I was back in Rochdale for the Rochdale Biz Show at Rochdale Town Hall. The place was buzzing with over 30 local small business exhibitors - Rochdale does have first class businesses.

Rochdale Soup Kitchen does a really good job and I visited again on Wednesday evening.

Thursday I was at an educational attainment meeting hearing about work to raise education standards. I met with the Council Leader and senior councillors and officers in children’s services.

Hopwood Hall College and Rochdale Sixth Form are amongst the top Further Education colleges in the country but even so, we need to raise standards for every young person in Rochdale so they have the skills and job opportunities.

The Hopwood Hall awards ceremony on Friday showed that Further Education is not just for 16-19-year-olds. Education can be throughout a lifetime. Some of the students have done amazing stuff and it was a chance to celebrate their achievements with them.

I also attended the Rochdale Sports and Culture awards, celebrating a whole range of talent, with people like Azeem Amir and the M6 theatre winning awards. Genuine amazing talent exists in Rochdale and that is what is right about Rochdale.

On Saturday I will be campaigning in Littleborough before travelling to Brighton in the afternoon for the Labour Party Conference.