Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Denton and Reddish Weekly News. 

What a week it's been. On Saturday, we had the historic Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and we're now looking forward to the Eurovision Song Contest final tomorrow night in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine (good luck Mae Muller!).

I was lucky enough to attend the Coronation at Westminster Abbey, so scroll down for my article in the Tameside Reporter about my experience, with some snaps from the day.

There's lots of community events taking place over the weekend, including an FoTV bramble clear out and litter pick in Shepley Wood tomorrow at 10am. Scroll down to the community board for all the details.

In just over a week, I'll be taking to the skies in a Wing Walk for 9-year old Florence. Florence has a rare life-limiting degenerative condition called #GM1. We're raising money for Florence and her family to make wonderful memories. If you can, please donate by clicking the button below!

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, is showing his support for this year’s National Numeracy Day and encouraging local people to get involved.

National Numeracy Day, which this year falls on the 17th of May, is an independent charity formed to help raise low levels of numeracy among both adults and children and to promote the importance of everyday maths skills.

As a nation, UK numeracy levels are significantly below average for developed countries which costs the UK economy millions of pounds in unemployment, poor health, debt and the skills gap. Low confidence and competence with numbers disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities, with anxiety about numbers often passed on from generation to generation.

By breaking down confidence barriers and encouraging a growth mindset, National Numeracy empowers people to learn – whether to help with formal qualifications, career prospects, family life or financial well-being.

The National Numeracy website has lots of resources for adults and children to sink their teeth into, including a ‘family maths toolkit’ to help parents and carers feel more confident in helping their kids with school work and maths puzzles.

Commenting, Andrew Gwynne said: 

“I’m really pleased to be supporting this year’s National Numeracy Day. We all know that feeling confident understanding and using numbers makes a vital, positive difference to people’s lives and prosperity. As a parent who dreaded helping my kids with maths homework, I wish these excellent resources were available to me back then!

So I’d really encourage local children, schools, guardians and teachers to get involved with National Numeracy Day. Maths is for everyone, and we should all feel empowered to learn skills that will help us prosper at work, school or just in day-to-day life.

Last Saturday, my alarm went off at 5am. I’ll be honest, I’m not usually a morning person, but as I threw on my suit and wolfed down my breakfast, I was beyond excited.

Today, I would be attending the Coronation of His Majesty the King. The Parliamentary authorities allocated just 17 spots for Labour MPs. We all had to enter a ballot – and as luck would have it – I was successful.

We had to be seated at 7:30am in Westminster Abbey. As a self-confessed history buff, the Abbey has always held a special place in my heart. However, on Saturday it felt particularly magical.

 From my vantage in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Gallery, I could see   the point of Coronation, as well as the Shrine of St Edward the   Confessor.

 While hymns and music filled the Abbey, you really could feel the   weight of a thousand years of history and ritual bearing down on this   moment. As I sat waiting for King Charles III and Queen Camilla to be   crowned, I thought of what would be happening in Tameside. There   would be street parties, celebrations in Victoria Park, and local people   would be coming together to mark this historic occasion.

This, to me, is the power of our monarchy. It’s not just about putting a crown on someone’s head. It’s about recognising the vibrant and astonishing history of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and Overseas Territories.

There is no better demonstration of this than the ‘Coronation Chair’, an ancient piece of furniture which has been the centre piece of Coronations for 700 years. When King Charles III was crowned, it was on the very seat that Henry IV, Elizabeth I, and 38 other monarchs had sat on during their ceremonies.

The back of the Chair is covered in scribbles and engravings, not ancient messages from monarchs gone by, but graffiti from Westminster schoolboys and tourists in the 18th and 19th Centuries (thankfully security protecting the chair is now a bit better!). This Chair connects Kings and Queens from centuries ago with mischievous Georgian schoolboys and tourists right up to you and me.

It speaks to the unique nature of our history, and why this ceremony was so important. It was a profound honour to represent Tameside at this Coronation, and something I will treasure for the rest of my life.

So too will I treasure the feeling of community and joy it brought to so many local people across Tameside. Long live the King!

FRIENDS OF THE TAME VALLEY CORONATION CLEAN-UP

 WATCH: In Treasury Questions, I raise reports that investors in the Teesworks freeport site have sought written assurances that the site was acquired appropriately after allegations of corruption.

Given that this freeport will involve taxpayers money and have a substantial impact on jobs, it's right that the Government addresses these concerns.

It seems that the Minister doesn't know whether or not his department has sought the same assurances.

 WATCH: Great to join BBC North West on Sunday morning to talk about the local elections.

Ahead of these elections, voters were asked a key question "are you better off after 13 years of Tory Government?" and the answer was heard loud and clear across the country.

Under the leadership of Keir Starmer, Labour has come an awful long way and is winning in key areas. Of course, there is always more work to do, but we're committed to bringing about the positive change that local people are crying out for.

 WATCH: On Sky News on Monday, it was great to chat about the Coronation, local elections and the Government's latest attempt to improve GP access.

The truth is, GP access can only be improved through utilising community care and pharmacies, alongside training more doctors. Labour has pledged to train 7,500 additional doctors, paid for by abolishing the non-dom tax status. The Government should swallow its pride and pinch this plan.

I also managed to get a cheeky mention in for Friends of the Tame Valley's Coronation litter pick. 

WATCH: On GB News I also talked through Labour's workforce plans in a bit more detail.

We'd abolish the non-dom tax status, and use the money generated to implement the biggest expansion of the NHS workforce since its inception.

Patients deserve top quality care through the NHS, and the Government are failing to deliver that. It's time for change.