Dear Constituent,

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Denton and Reddish weekly news! 

From leading an opposition day debate on underage vaping to challenging the Government over the ridiculous decision to close local rail ticket offices, it's been another busy week!

Have a look at some of what I've been up to.

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has urged the government to review their proposal to close ticket offices across the country.

Last week, the Government backed plans to close the majority of the remaining 1,007 rail ticket offices in the United Kingdom. Closures would include offices at Reddish North, Heaton Chapel, and Guide Bridge in Gwynne’s current constituency of Denton and Reddish, as well as and Gorton, Levenshulme and Burnage train stations, which Gwynne would serve as Labour’s candidate for the new Gorton and Denton constituency at the next General Election.

In a submission to the Rail Delivery Group’s consultation ahead of the closures, Gwynne called the proposals ‘ill-thought-out and rushed’ and urged the Government to reconsider its position.

Ticket offices provide customers with face-to-face sales, to those who are a part of vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, those who do not have access to technology, and those who are disabled, that may require more assistance whilst using train services.

Gwynne argues that if these ticket offices were closed, it would remove the vital in-person contact required to provide effective services to those who intend to use the railway.

Commenting, Andrew Gwynne stated:

‘‘This is a disgraceful decision that will hit the most vulnerable in our society.

”Ticket offices do not just provide tickets, but also the necessary face-to-face communication needed to travel on train services safely and smoothly. Not only will this decision cost jobs, it will make our railways less accessible and passenger-friendly.’

‘Ticket offices are are a vital asset to our community, and I’ll fight tooth and nail to keep them open.”

• Gwynne’s full letter to the Rail Delivery Group can be read here.
• Those wishing to take part in the RDG’s consultation can do so by clicking here. 

Stop any parent or guardian in Tameside and ask them what kind of Britain they want their children to grow up in and I’ll wager most will say something along the lines of “a country where if you work hard, you’ll be able to get on, no matter your background”.

It’s a simple principle, and one that is the bedrock of a successful society. Sadly, however, it is principle that Britain is currently failing to uphold.

Recent research has consistently shown that a child’s upbringing is increasingly dictating their outcomes as an adult. For example, someone who grows up receiving free school meals earns just over half as much as their better-off peers by age 28.

Here in Tameside, we have kids with bucketloads of ambition and even more talent. That these kids might be blocked from achieving their potential because of the wealth of their family is beyond depressing and must be addressed.

I want parents and guardians in Tameside to know that no matter the money in their pocket their kids will receive an exceptional education and access to opportunity.

Last week, Labour unveiled its mission to ‘break down the barriers to opportunity’. With commitments to expand high quality education, boost child development and improve young people’s school outcomes, the mission is a bold roadmap to unlocking the potential of our children and young people. I’m particularly excited by the plans to review the national curriculum, and to make it broader.

Not only will this ensure that young people don’t miss out on subjects like music and sport, but it will also guarantee that young people develop the skills they need to thrive in the world of work.

Most notably, Labour has committed to introducing ‘oracy’ which would see young people learning speaking skills. I think this is so important.

For instance, I’ve met plenty of young people who want to get into things like politics, business or teaching, but are nervous about speaking in front of a room filled with people. What I always say, though, is that you aren’t born with a gift for public speaking, it is something you learn. A skill to develop like any other.

Why shouldn’t we empower every young person to learn that skill? Tameside has so much potential, but it is being stymied by a Government that is out of road and out of ideas.

It’s time for change, and to build a Britain where there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain.

WATCH: Last year, 11,000 people, including 312 children, were hospitalised for malnutrition. The highest number on record.

Under this Government's watch, living standards have slumped, health inequalities have widened, and public health has taken a back seat.

At Health Questions, I press the Minister on these appalling statistics.

 WATCH: Labour is calling on the Government to ban the packaging and marketing of vapes to children.

It's estimated 650,000 children have vaped in England, with vape-related hospitalisations quadrupling over the last year. Vapes are a stop smoking tool, they're not for kids, and I don't want to see our young people getting hooked onto addictive substances.

I open the debate as Labour's Shadow Public Health Minister.

📰 READ: Thanks to the Northern Echo for covering my thoughts on the shocking statistics that reveal 100,000 children in the North East have tried vaping, and more than 650,000 across the country. Read the full piece here.

Thanks also to the Evening Standard for covering the debate on this issue in the Commons earlier this week.