Dear Constituent,

 

You may have heard that, over the bank holiday, a speeding motorist ploughed into Audenshaw’s historic cattle trough and transformer pillar, doing immense damage to both. This needless damage to such an important Audenshaw landmark is, of course, very upsetting and thankfully Tameside Council have acted swiftly and will do what they can to restore the trough and pillar.

 

The strong feeling among local residents about the damage done is partly because of the importance of the trough and pillar as recognisable Audenshaw landmarks, but is also a good indicator of local heritage to communities. Historic England has recognised the historical importance of the trough and pillar with Grade II listed status. They are reminders of how we used to live – the trough was for use by cattle and horses that would still have been regular users of our roads when the trough was built in 1879, and the transformer served long-gone trams.

 

Our heritage sites aren’t just reminders of how we lived, but also how we worked. I was very proud back in 2014 to help secure Grade II listed status for a bow garret in Denton; a historic two-storey workshop associated with the town’s long hatting history. Our industrial history can easily disappear along with our industries, but I think it’s really important to understand how and why our towns grew when and where they did.

 

Then, of course, there are the beautiful historic sites like Ryecroft Hall or our many churches and chapels. These buildings make our communities more attractive and pleasant places to live regardless of their historic importance. In fact, I think without our unique heritage sites, there’d be a real danger that every town in the UK would look more or less the same, with the same combination of shops and very similar looking houses and office blocks.

 

Local heritage really matters and that’s why it’s so important that we protect it. I really hope that the council is able to salvage and repair Audenshaw’s trough and transformer and return them to their previous condition. I believe that if we lose our heritage sites, we lose something far more than just the sites themselves.

 

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has been appointed to the UK delegation to OSCE Parliamentary Assembly subject to approval of the Labour members by the Prime Minister.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world’s largest regional security organisation whose 57 participating States span the geographical area from Vancouver to Vladivostok. The Parliamentary Assembly on the OSCE brings together 323 delegates from 56 parliaments. Its areas of competence are to:

• assess the implementation of OSCE objectives by participating States;
• discuss subjects addressed during meetings of the Ministerial Council and summit meetings of OSCE Heads of State or Government;
• develop and promote mechanisms for the prevention and resolution of conflicts;
• support the strengthening and consolidation of democratic institutions in OSCE participating States;
• contribute to the development of OSCE institutional structures and of relations and co-operation between existing OSCE institutions.

The UK has 13 full representatives in the Assembly and 13 substitute members. The Delegation is appointed by the Prime Minister by Written Ministerial Statement in Parliament.

Andrew Gwynne said:

“I’m delighted to be part of the Labour delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

 

“This body brings together parliamentarians from around Europe and North America to discuss some of the most important issues facing our countries collectively.

 

“The ongoing Coronavirus crisis shows just how important international collaboration is and I’m looking forward to getting going with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.”

 

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has added his name to a cross-party statement on Hong Kong.

The international joint-statement led by the former Governor of Hong Kong Lord Patten and the former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind is a response to recent developments in Hong Kong.

Last week, the National People’s Congress of China announced its decision to enact national security legislation unilaterally in Hong Kong via Annex III of the Hong Kong Basic Law. It is expected that the law will introduce a range of vague and draconian charges to Hong Kong law including ‘subversion’, ‘secession’, and ‘colluding with foreign political forces’.

The Sino-British Joint Declaration states that the Hong Kong government is to be granted a “high degree of autonomy” on all matters aside from defence and diplomacy. The Hong Kong Basic Law states that national security legislation of this type will be enacted by the Hong Kong government ‘on its own’.

The decision to use Annex III of the Hong Kong Basic Law for Beijing to directly legislate national security legislation is therefore an unprecedented and highly controversial intervention.

Andrew Gwynne said:

“I am very concerned about recent developments regarding Hong Kong, which I think threatens the cit’s autonomy, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms.

 

“The autonomy of Hong Kong is guaranteed by the Sino-British Joint Declaration and this is a clear breach of that agreement.]

 

“I hope that this international joint statement will encourage Chinese authorities to reconsider this regressive move.”