Good evening john,

This week's update includes an update on the successful Tynedale Jobs Fair, the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, the launch of my annual Christmas card competition and the proposed closure of Lloyds in Ponteland.

As ever, if you have an issue you would like to raise with me as your local Member of Parliament, please email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

Jobs fair success!

I recently hosted the Tynedale Jobs Fair after a years absence because of the pandemic. It was attended by over 75 employers from across the North East and attended by hundreds of people from across the region.

Hundreds of jobs were on offer from local and national employers, such as Britishvolt, Nissan, Network Rail, Aldi and McDonalds.

For the first time ever, this year’s event featured a Kickstart zone, promoting the Government’s Kickstart Scheme which helps to pay the wages for 16–24-year-olds currently on Universal Credit. Under the terms of the scheme, the Government helps employers by paying minimum wage for 25 hours a week to Kickstart candidates, as well as paying other costs such as National Insurance and pension contributions. Placements last for six months and applicants must be aged between 16 and 24 and receiving Universal Credit when they apply.
A big thank you must go to my own team, Chris Howard and the staff at Hexham Jobcentre Plus, our sponsors Essity, and more than 70 local employers who showcased the hundreds of jobs on offer.

As we build back better from the pandemic, jobs must be our focus, and the event showcased the huge range of opportunities available.


** Global action required at COP26
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The UK hosts COP26 between 31^st October and 13^th November. The summit is seen as a significant moment as the world comes together to address the imminent threat of climate change.

Since being elected in 2010, I have been a vocal campaigner in tackling climate change both nationally and locally. my campaign opposing Whittonstall and Halton Lea Gate open cast coal mines in my constituency. I was also strongly opposed to the plans of a new open cast mine at Dewley Hill, describing the plans at the time as a complete climate change disaster waiting to happen.

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L-R: Jos Forester-Melville, Eileen Killen, and my constituent Helen Crowe at Dewley Hill in 2019
Nationally, as the UK’s Pensions Minister, I guided the landmark Pension Schemes Act through Parliament in October 2020, ensuring that UK pension schemes take due account of climate change in their investment practices.
Conservative-run Northumberland County Council were one of the first local authorities to announce a ‘climate emergency’ and have an ambitious target of hitting carbon neutrality by 2030.

As the first major economy to commit in law to net zero by 2050 and hosts of the historic UN COP26 climate summit, the UK is leading international efforts and setting the bar for countries around the world to follow.

In the biggest step forward in protecting the world’s forests in a generation, more than 100 leaders have committed to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 at an event convened by the Prime Minister at COP26 last week. The pledge is backed by almost £14 billion ($19.2 billion) in public and private funding.

Through our 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution, the UK is taking firm action to reduce our carbon emissions. However, globally, more must be done. I hope leaders from around the world will come to COP26 ready to agree a clear plan to reduce carbon emissions and protect our planet for future generations to come.


** Sign up for my annual Christmas card competition!
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I am very pleased to be once again launching my Christmas card competition. Past competition winners were excellent, and I am expecting high quality festive entries this year!

The 2021 Christmas card competition is for the first time ever open to all primary-school age children in the Hexham constituency, from Years 1-6.

The winning design will be turned into my constituency Christmas card, which will be presented directly to the Prime Minister and sent to other members of the Cabinet, local businesses and residents.

The deadline for entries is Friday 19th November.

Full competition guidelines can be found by clicking HERE ([link removed]) .


** I urge Lloyds to rethink closing their Ponteland branch
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I am very disappointed and concerned by the announcement from Lloyds that they are closing their bank branch in Ponteland.

Lloyds have announced that they are closing a total of 48 bank branches nationally, including Ponteland, in the Hexham Constituency. This news follows a recent spate of bank branch closures in rural areas, where access to cash and banking facilities are vital for residents.

I urge Lloyds to urgently rethink their position. Access to cash and an in-person counter are vital services to residents who may not be able to access online banking services. The Ponteland branch serves many of the surrounding villages meaning it will hit another one of the rural communities in my constituency very hard.

Clearly, footfall in branches has reduced since the advent of the pandemic. However, in-person banking services continue to be vital – we must save this branch!

Guy Opperman MP

Member of Parliament for Tynedale and Ponteland

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