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

There's plenty to update you. Before that, however, some of you may have heard that in May I'll be taking to the skies in a sponsored Wing Walk for 9-year old Florence.

Florence has a very rare degenerative genetic condition called #GM1. It’s a life limiting condition which means Florence’s body will continue to stop functioning. We're raising money for Florence and her family to make wonderful memories.

If you're able, it would mean the world if you could give any amount to this fantastic girl and her family. To donate please scan the QR code below or click the donate button. Thanks again! 

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has backed calls for the Government to prevent and tackle cervical cancer.

To mark Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, Gwynne met with the CEO of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust Samantha Dixon in Parliament. 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in the UK, despite the cancer being largely preventable through HPV vaccination and screening.

Following the meeting, Gwynne called on the Government to tackle inequalities in prevention. Gwynne has backed Labour’s plan to invest in the biggest expansion of the NHS workforce in history, which would see the number of medical school places doubled to 15,000 a year, 5,000 new health visitors and 10,000 more nursing and midwifery placements each year.

Commenting, Andrew Gwynne said:

“I’m really proud to be supporting the work of Jo’s Cervical Trust in Parliament.

“Cervical cancer is preventable, we should be doing everything we can to end it. That means addressing inequalities in prevention, but also crucially giving the NHS the tools and technology it needs.

I look forward to continuing to working with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust towards a future free of this tragic disease.”

Pictured: Gwynne with Jo’s CEO Samantha Dixon at a parliamentary event last week.

One of the best parts of being a Member of Parliament is getting to visit local schools and talk politics, local issues and the future.

There’s nothing quite as inspiring as getting to a school and meeting young people who are genuinely passionate about the world around them and want to make a tangible difference. I had this experience in abundance last week when I visited pupils at St Thomas More RC College and St Anne’s Primary School in Denton, where both Cllr Allison Gwynne and I spoke about our respective roles.

I chatted with pupils about how being an MP works practically, local challenges and what kind of policies I want to see implemented nationally. Part of my job is answering questions in high-pressure situations, but nothing can prepare you for a grilling from a room full of informed young people.

But this is how it should be. Young people have just as much right to be represented as adults. Unfortunately, I think school-age kids are all too often overlooked by policymakers.

After all, young people have faced huge upheavals – both to their learning and their social interaction – thanks to the pandemic. It falls on us, then, to make sure that we give students the tools and support to thrive.

That’s why I’m so proud to support Labour’s plans to end unfair tax breaks for private schools and use the £1.7bn a year raised to invest in great state education and boost new teacher recruitment.

Not only is supporting young people morally important, but also practically necessary too. From the climate crisis to global conflict to an ever-expanding digital world, we will rely on the next generation to resolve some unprecedented challenges. It’s vital, therefore, that we do away with the inequality that says where you grow up or how wealthy your parents are determines the quality of education you receive. I want to see a Britain where no matter the financial circumstances you grow up, you can have access to brilliant state education.

Hopefully, we see these changes implemented sooner rather than later. Until then, however, I’ll do everything I can to fight for the young people I represent in Tameside. There is so much talent locally, and it gives me real hope for the future.

CITIZEN'S AWARD: Steven and Sue Muir 

This morning I headed over to The Together Centre in Dukinfield to catch up with my constituents Steven and Sue who have been nominated by Councillors Jackie Lane and Councillor Naila Sharif for their work in the community.

Both work tirelessly in supporting Pauline Town from The Station Pub in Ashton to help those less fortunate than ourselves and especially homeless people and parents who are struggling. A well deserved award. THANK YOU both for all you do!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FLORENCE 

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY this week to the beautiful Florence. This is the little Dukinfield girl born with a very rare degenerative genetic condition called #GM1.

As mentioned at the top of this newsletter, I’m joining Fundraising for Florence on a wing walk to raise money for Florence and her family.

Last weekend, to celebrate Florence's birthday, we went round with Italian Wolverine and Mia, who baked the most amazing cake*

*No cake for me sadly, I’ve lost one stone for the wing walk… I need to lose another stone to be able to do it! If you see me, please don’t feed me!

A reminder that you can can donate to this year's wing walk here. 

 WATCH: Last July it was reported that Nadhim Zahawi was being investigated over his tax affairs.

The media knew. We all knew. Yet we're supposed to believe that Rishi Sunak didn't when he appointed him as Tory Party Chair.

Enough excuses. This Prime Minister is too weak to tackle Tory sleaze.

 WATCH: I ask the Minister about the reported sharp rise in veterans’ mental health issues as a consequence of the cost of living crisis - something reported by the veterans’ charities themselves - and whether Government will match Labour on investing in Mental Health services for veterans.

Not only won’t he match the pledge, he doesn’t think there’s much of a mental health problem in veteran communities.

 WATCH: Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister, is currently facing investigation for a number of serious bullying allegations.

There are reports that employees felt physically sick and suicidal as a result of the Deputy PM's behaviour. I make the point to the Minister that if this was any other workplace,
Dominic Raab would have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

I'm not sure what question he answered, but it certainly wasn't the one I asked!

WATCH: In Cabinet Office questions, I ask about the Government's Public Procurement Bill.

High-level apprenticeships are vital if we want to build a more prosperous economy that works for everyone.

I'll be keeping a close eye on how this Bill progresses, and will continue to urge the Government to boost opportunities for advanced apprenticeships.

 WATCH: Many local authorities rely on the Public Health Grant to support things like drug and alcohol treatment, sexual and reproductive health, health visiting, school nursing, suicide prevention, health protection and more.

Unfortunately, the Government has still not set out what the grant will be for 2023/2024, leaving many local authorities unable to adequately plan ahead for the next financial year.

In Business Questions, I ask the Leader of the House when we can expect this important information.

 WATCH: The Government has released a strategy setting out a number of reforms in children's social care, including some long-overdue recognition of the role of kinship carers.

The strategy also recognises that there is really patchy support for kinship carers, with some local authorities having little to no provision in place.

As a kinship carer myself, I feel really strongly that we should be supporting carers, and empowering families to give loving homes to children and young people. I'll continue to work on a cross-party basis to make this a reality.

 WATCH: In Westminster Hall we have a debate on the impact of cystic fibrosis on living costs. I respond in my capacity as Labour's Shadow Public Health Minister.

Many of those living with cystic fibrosis face an additional financial hit of over £500 per month. In the current economic climate, that is nothing short of devastating for many households affected by the condition.

It's really important, then, that the Government provides support for those with acute conditions like cystic fibrosis, not only in relation to the cost of living, but also in accessing employment and welfare.

READ: Thanks to the Independent for covering my comments on the bullying allegations against the Deputy Prime Minister.

Bullying should be taken seriously, and I can't understand why Rishi Sunak hasn't even taken the basic step of suspending Dominic Raab while these extremely concerning allegations are investigated. 

Read the full piece here.

READ: Thanks to the Stockport Express for publishing my column on local efforts to help families through the cost of living crisis. 

Read the full piece here.