Dear Constituent,

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

I hope that you've had a good week, and have managed to stay warm during this week's cold snap! 

Scroll down to for your weekly update from Parliament and locally!

In May, I'll be taking to the skies in a Wing Walk for 9-year old Florence. Florence has a rare life-limiting degenerative condition called #GM1. We're raising money for Florence and her family to make wonderful memories. If you can, please click below to donate.

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has been appointed as the Regional Campaign Lead for the North West.

This morning, Keir Starmer announced a new project to provide political leadership on all aspects of campaigning in regions across England, Wales and Scotland. The move is part of preparations for the next General Election, which has to take place prior to January 2025.

Gwynne, who also serves as Labour’s Shadow Public Health Minister, will lead for the North West, where he will be supporting the work of Labour colleagues in the region.

Commenting, Andrew Gwynne said: 

“I’m absolutely delighted to have been appointed as the Regional Campaign Lead for the North West.

“Communities across the region have been badly let down by this Tory Government. The Conservatives have had 13 years, and what have people got to show for it? Soaring bills, an NHS at breaking point, and a stagnant economy.

“People are crying out for change, and the next Labour Government will deliver that.

“I look forward to working around the clock with brilliant Labour candidates, colleagues and campaigners so that Labour can get on with the job of building a better Britain.”

Editor’s Notes: 

• Campaign leads will take an overview of battleground seats and work in liaison with the regional/national team to monitor campaign activity and provide political support and advice. They will also provide regular feedback to me as the national campaign coordinator and raise any issues that need national political consideration.
• Campaign leads are as follows: 
  • Rachel Hopkins – Eastern
  • Liz Kendall – East Midlands
  • Ellie Reeves – London
  • Kevan Jones – North
  • Andrew Gwynne – North West
  • Ian Murray – Scotland
  • Stephen Morgan – South East
  • Darren Jones – South West
  • Jess Morden – Wales
  • Jess Philips – West Midlands
  • Steph Peacock – Yorkshire and the Humber

I’ve always believed that we can judge the mark of a society by how well it treats veterans.

Our veterans have made sacrifices beyond measure. It goes without saying that they deserve our respect and unyielding gratitude for their service.

In actual fact, however, they deserve more than just respect. They deserve support, and to be able to live dignified, happy and prosperous lives.

Sadly, for many veterans this isn’t the case. The Government has created a postcode lottery on veteran support, with some veterans finding unnecessary barriers in important areas like employment, pensions, social care and compensation.

Similarly, we’ve seen no national improvement in mental health support for veterans. This is despite the fact that nearly half of all medical discharges from our armed forces are due to mental health issues, and fewer people are being seen by the MOD’s specialist mental health services than they were five years ago.

Nationally, we need to be doing much more to support our veterans.

I’ve been inspired by work I’ve seen in Tameside.

I’ve written before about the fact that Tameside council were one of the first local authorities to sign the military covenant – a commitment to ensure that those who are serving or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly and given the respect they deserve.

This commitment is supported by the exceptional work of community groups like Tameside Armed Services Community.

I want to see this effort replicated nationally. That’s why I’ve been so proud to back Labour’s plans to boost mental health support for veterans, incorporate the armed forces covenant fully into law, and end miserable housing conditions for our veterans.

Crucially, the Party is also consulting as part of its ‘Veterans’ Voice’ campaign, which will give veterans and their families the opportunity to shape Labour’s plans for the next general election.

This work is long overdue and will be transformative for veterans and their families who have been overlooked for far too long by policymakers.

I want to see a government that is relentless in its drive to improve the lives of veterans. They have given so much for us, it is the least we can do for them.

Out on the doorstep

I had a good morning on Sunday on the #LabourDoorstep in the Ruby Street area with Denton & Reddish Labour and Team Denton West. It’s always good to speak to residents, and listen to what they have to say.

Lots of support and lots of casework.

Then off to my Constituency Labour Party meeting at Denton Labour Club.

Inology I.T.  

Good to visit Inology I.T. In Denton this afternoon. They’re an information technology company offering dedicated computer support, customer service and bespoke IT consultancy services.
They’ve also won the Northern Enterprise Award 2022 for Customer Service Excellence, which they’re rightly proud of.

I met them at St. Mary's Church & Community Food Bank, at Christmas so it was great to catch up with them, to find out a bit more about the company, and to hear about some of the great community and charity support they give in Tameside too.

A Q&A at Reddish Vale High School  

Thanks to Year 10 and Year 7 Citizenship students at Reddish Vale High School for a brilliant Q&A session about my role as MP for Denton & Reddish.

I had some brilliant questions. I always enjoy visits to schools in my constituency. Thank you

 WATCH: I was recently passed on a letter which seems to show that - as recently as January of this year - the DWP were still sending out incorrect information regarding state pension age.

As the Chair of the APPG on State Pension Inequality for Women, it is mind boggling that lessons haven't been learned by the DWP after their maladministration in communicating with 1950s-born women.

I've sent this off to the Minister. We need an urgent explanation from the DWP.

 WATCH: Yesterday, we had a Westminster Hall Debate to mark No Smoking Day in the UK. I respond as Labour's Shadow Public Health Minister.

The Government has committed to slashing smoking prevalence by 2030, but in the same breath has scrapped its Tobacco Control Plan and slashed public health media campaigns.

There's also real concern that the Public Health Grant, which funds stop smoking services in some of the most deprived communities, still hasn't been published for this year.

We need to see less talk and more action from the Government.

 WATCH: In Culture, Media and Sport Questions, I raise the issue of swimming and leisure facilities which are at risk of closure.

From April, the Government will remove support for these facilities, leaving them to bear the brunt of soaring energy bills. This could have a dreadful impact on health and wellbeing.

I ask the Minister what he plans to do about it.

WATCH: We are 24 days away from the start of the new financial year, but local councils are still none the wiser about the funding they will receive for public health.

Tory incompetence is putting essential local services at risk.

The Minister should apologise and tell us when the grant will be published. He does neither.

WATCH: Sue Gray, a civil servant with an impeccable reputation for impartiality and professionalism, has opted to join Keir Starmer's top team to help Labour prepare for Government.

The Tories are now tying themselves in knots with wild conspiracy theories to try and discredit the appointment.

It's faux outrage, and desperate from a Government that has run out of road.

WATCH: At DWP Questions I ask the Secretary of State what more he is doing to ensure all those low income pensioners eligible for Pension Credit actually get it. In Denton and Reddish there’s still around £4m of this benefit left unclaimed by eligible pensioners.

 WATCH: Yesterday in Westminster Hall, we had a debate on the Government's consultation to scrap free prescriptions for the over 60s. I respond in my capacity as Labour's Shadow Public Health Minister.

In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, it's little wonder that people are worried about prescriptions, and feel like they are being priced out of accessing vital medication.

 On Tuesday #TeamTameside addressed the HS2 Bill Committee to argue that our petition against the mothballing of the Ashton Metrolink line should be heard. 

It’s unacceptable that HS2 Ltd. tried to knock out our petition. Hopefully common sense will prevail and the voices of Droylsden, Audenshaw and Ashton residents will be heard!

Great to meet with 1950s-born women at their rally before PMQs today.

On International Womens Day, these women continue to fight for pension justice, and are a real inspiration.

I’ve backed them for years, and will continue to do so until we get a resolution to this injustice which has lasted for far too long.
#WASPI
#IWD23
Pension Partners For Justice
We Paid In You Pay Out -

  READ: Thank to Yahoo News for covering my comments about the Government's consultation to scrap free prescriptions for the over 60s. 

This consultation, and then the radio silence from the Government, has caused real worry to those who rely on these prescriptions. We need clarity. 

Read the full piece here.