Keep up to date with the latest news from around Denton & Reddish

This week in Denton & Reddish
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** Dear Constituent,
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Here's your latest edition of Denton and Reddish Weekly News.

It seems like the first time in a long time that I haven't had to say that restrictions are changing. Here's a reminder of the current national rules:
National restrictions from 5 November ([link removed])
Take care and stay safe.
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Headlines


** Remembering them differently
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The Coronavirus pandemic has stood in the way of many things over the past eight months or so; holidays, family celebrations, sports fixtures, even – sadly – funerals. Both Easter and Bonfire Night were muted affairs this year, and we’re all hoping that we can safely celebrate Christmas with friends and family next month, even as we know that it will be far from a normal holiday.


Unfortunately, one of the many events affected this year is – for me – one of the most important; remembrance. For me, this is a very moving time. It allows us to come together and give thanks to those who have served in our Armed Forces and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It’s a solemn occasion but also sometimes hopeful and inspirational, as we hear the stories of our veterans and can reflect on what we owe to them. Every year, I am thankful of the many freedoms that we enjoy thanks to our Armed Forces over the decades.


Most years this means solemn ceremonies, parades and church services across Tameside. Unfortunately, as a result of Covid, this has been stripped back considerably this year to keep people – including our veterans – safe from this deadly virus. I was, though, very proud to take part in a moving wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Denton’s Victoria Park on Remembrance Sunday, and have since paid my respects at the other memorials across my constituency.


It was also great to see so many people took part in the 2 minutes silence from their doorsteps on Remembrance Sunday and all of the poppies displayed proudly from windows. I think it’s also essential to remember that, whilst public and collective commemoration is a key part of remembrance, just as important is our private reflections – that, after all, is what the minute silence is all about. Thankfully these private moments have been unaffected by the pandemic.


Next year, of course, I hope that we can once again stand together to remember and give thanks, and recent news on potential vaccines give me a lot of hope that we can return to something like normality in time for the next Remembrance Day. Until that time, we can continue to commemorate the occasion at home – the important thing is to remember, lest we forget.


** Gwynne calls on Government to act on puppy smuggling
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Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has given his backing to a campaign to put a stop to the illegal importation of puppies into the country.

Since 2014, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, has been exposing the widespread abuse of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). The scheme, intended to allow people to take their family pets on holiday, has long been used as a cover by unscrupulous traders to illegally import thousands of puppies from Central and Eastern Europe into the country.

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic with restrictions on travel, the Dogs Trust has continued to see puppies being illegally brought into the country.

Puppies and pregnant dogs are smuggled in terrible conditions to be sold illegally.

As the UK leave the European Union, there is an opportunity to change legislation to end puppy smuggling.

Andrew Gwynne said:

“Now is the time for the Government to act and put an end to puppy smuggling.


“The conditions for dogs smuggled in this way are atrocious and their sale brings in huge amounts of money to unscrupulous criminals.


“Whilst we wait for the Government to act, I would encourage all constituents to research puppy smuggling if they are considering buying a puppy to ensure that they are buying their pets responsibly.”


** Gwynne joins campaign to demand increased funding for medical research charities
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Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has signed a cross-party letter calling on the Treasury to establish a Life Sciences Charity Partnership Fund, a scheme designed to support medical research charities who are suffering from a severe reduction in income as a result of COVID-19.

The letter, co-ordinated by SNP Health Spokesperson and MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, Neale Hanvey MP and Children with Cancer UK, highlights how without Government support, the short-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will result in long-term consequences for the future of medical research and development and the urgent need for financial support.

Parliamentarians are asking the UK Government to provide at least £310 million of funding in the financial year of 2020/21 to a Life Sciences Charity Partnership Fund, a proposal put forward by the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), who are the membership organisation of leading medical and health research charities in the UK. The AMRC is predicting an overall reduction in UK medical research investment of £252–£368 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The establishment of such a fund would secure medical research charities for the next three years and preserve research charities’ vital and unique contributions to the UK’s society and economy.

Children with Cancer UK, the leading national charity dedicated to research into childhood cancer, has warned that it is facing an income loss of around 40 percent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The charity is warning that without further support, much of its planned medical research will be cancelled, setting back cancer research and the discovery of better, kinder treatments by many years.

The letter was signed by a range of SNP, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs and Peers.

Andrew Gwynne said:

“Every day, families across the country experience the heartbreak and distress of finding out that their child has cancer.


“Sadly, the Coronavirus pandemic has hit medical research charities – including Children with Cancer UK – hard. Fewer funds sadly means less life-saving research.


“That’s why I’m calling on the UK Government to step in and set up a Life Sciences Charity Partnership Fund so that this research and development can continue in the battle against childhood cancer.”

Dr Jasmine Parkinson, Children with Cancer UK’s Research and Grants Manager, added:

“Children with Cancer UK is currently facing a funding gap of between £4–5 million as a result of COVID-19. This decline in funds will severely impact the amount that charities such as ours can pledge towards the funding of potentially lifesaving medical research projects.


“Since our formation the research we have helped fund has led to an increase in childhood cancer survival rates and the discovery of more effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects. Sadly, without further support future developments are at risk.”

Read More of This Week's Stories ([link removed])
Andrew in the constituency

On Remembrance Sunday, I paid respect and lay my wreath at Denton Cenotaph at a small, socially distanced ceremony. Thanks to Tameside Council and the Royal British Legion for organising. Cllr Yvonne Guariento laid my wreath at Stockport at the same time.

On Monday, I visited the other main War Memorials in the Denton and Reddish Constituency to pay my respects:

• Haughton Green
• Willow Grove, Reddish
• Dukinfield
• Audenshaw
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🛒 Please shop local during lockdown. Many small local businesses are having to diversify to survive.

One is Howard's Neighbourhood Bar in Denton, who’ve reopened as a Delicatessen. I popped in and there’s a fantastic range of specialist food and drink on sale. Well worth a visit.
Andrew in Parliament
Here are videos of some of my contributions in the House of Commons this week:

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📺 WATCH: A welcome Government u-turn on child holiday hunger over Christmas, but not a single ‘thank you’ from the Minister to Marcus Rashford, so this Man City fan did it for her.

But it’s not just about food poverty, there’s a £20 Universal Credit cut in April that will plunge more families into poverty. I call for another u-turn.
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📺 WATCH: The decision by the Chinese authorities to expel pro-democracy MPs from the Hong Kong legislature is the fatal blow to ‘one country, two systems’ and the international agreement Britain is co-signatory to.

Our Government needs to seriously consider all actions, including sanctions, against those who’ve torn up their promises.

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📺 WATCH: We’ve been through a lot over the last year, so the announcement of a long bank holiday weekend in 2022 for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is welcome.

I ask the minister to ensure celebrations also focus on the massive technological, scientific and social changes over the last 70 years.
Andrew in the media

📰 WATCH: Tory MP Jake Berry made a bizarre and patronising speech in Parliament this week, in which he said that southerners like ballet while northerners like football. The Mirror picked up on my criticism of these divisive and inaccurate stereotypes.

Read the full article here. ([link removed])
Community Board

For the first time, the charity Children's Hospital Pyjamas is collecting donations of children's pyjamas in Greater Manchester.

These will go to Tameside Hospital, Stepping Hill Hospital and MRI Hospital for Children.

You can find out more, including how to donate, here. ([link removed])

For more info email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Christ Church is part of the community of Reddish providing church services and community events along with being home to the longest running drama group in Reddish ‘The Green Group.’ Christ Church is an old building with substantial upkeep costs the majority of which are funded by the income from the Green Group’s shows. Covid has meant these shows couldn't take place. Christ Church and the Green Group are running a GoFundMe to keep the church open.

You can find out more and donate here. ([link removed])
Eight community credit unions in Greater Manchester have joined together to launch a Covid-19 recovery plan.

The Consortium, known as Sound Pound, wants to show communities across the city region that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that their local community credit union is there to support them at this time of uncertainty and financial hardship.

You can find out more on the Sound Pound website. ([link removed])
The Team Hiitman YouTube channel is available here. ([link removed])

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