Monthly round-up by Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon

As Parliament goes into Recess it provides important constituency time and the start of my Summer School for young people interested in the world of politics, media and community work. It also provides important research time, as well as the opportunity to deal with complex casework requiring detailed investigation and follow up.

Casework is a top priority for me. In the first six months of 2018 my office worked on 1,793 individual cases and lobbies from constituents generating over 3,000 letters or emails to resolve the issues they raise and to feedback. This is significantly higher than both 2016 and 2017.

Pressures of Housing, jobs and welfare changes in particular are having a big impact, as too are local concerns about crime and public services. We don’t win every battle, and some can take a long time to resolve, but it’s thanks to a dedicated team who work hard to help people that we can support those we do.

Labour MPs made sure that July was a productive month in Parliament. The Government tried to bring recess forward to save their own skin, but we stopped them and protected valuable time to debate important issues facing our public services.

I asked the Government Minister in charge of local government to explain the link between the rise in crime and cuts to police and community safety in Oldham. He didn’t offer a satisfactory answer at all. We’ve had some positive discussion in Greater Manchester to address public concerns about safety on and around Metrolink stations, with steps being taken to improve the safety of passengers and local residents. Although some of the recent reports have caused public concern I am hopeful that there is a determination to rebuild public confidence through enforcement and some practical improvements for tram users and nearby residents.

We are well on the way to realising our fundraising target to erect a statue of Annie Kenney in Oldham town centre, and in July we raised £1,300 at our fundraising diner alone! The special moment of the evening was sculptor Denise Dutton presenting the miniature scale model, called a maquette, to show how work is progressing.

We had a lot to celebrate with the 70th anniversary of our cherished NHS opening its doors. We also celebrated ‘co-operative fortnight’ too, paying homage to the great work that local co-ops and mutual do to provide fair goods and services, as well as quality jobs. Co-ops are firmly part of our heritage but an important part of our future too.

Even with some signs of rain coming, a hosepipe ban is due to kick in on August 5 following the longest heatwave since 1976. Along with other Greater Manchester MPs I have joined calls for United Utilities to do much to fix leaks to save water, perhaps by reinvesting more of the money currently paid out in shareholder dividends.

Have a great summer!