Matthew Brown

Preston City Council Labour Leader - Plungington and Preston Central West. UK Senior Fellow (Democracy Collaborative). Unite and Coop Party member. Changemaker.

[Matthew Brown @MatthewBrownLab]

This has been the toughest set of elections @prestonlabour has faced for decades and out of the 8 seats we defended we held half. All brilliant Labour women🌹.

So gutted for comrades we lost caught up in forces outside their control which is no reflection on their hard work, talent and dedication.

We remain the largest party by far with 22 seats out of 48 and I am confident our administration will continue with the radical zeal we are known for.

[Martyn_Rolly @martynrolly]

Vehicle barriers being installed around Waverley Park as part of @prestonlabour successful £20m Levelling Up fund bid, includes new play area, improved football pitches and new changing facility, pump track and more…
Part of the Labour Council’s £100m+ capital programme.

[Matthew Brown @MatthewBrownLab]

Lovely as always to join our local Hindu community at @FriendsBAPSPre for their warm and colourful Diwali celebrations.

Such a friendly welcome and the central Diwali message of light triumphing over darkness remains as relevant as ever ❤️.

[Matthew Brown @MatthewBrownLab]

Attended the moving and poignant Remembrance Sunday event today as our entire community in Preston came together.

We remembered the many brave men and women we lost to war and prayed for a world free from conflict.

Their ultimate sacrifice wasn’t just to secure peace, but to protect our very freedom against the evils of tyranny and oppression. #LestWeForget #Preston

[Matthew Brown @MatthewBrownLab]

Great news for our city centre that Unit 6 of our city owned Animate cinema complex will be operated by Preston based @ChewsYard.

They will bring together several great independent businesses leading a partnership that includes Preston's Paul Heathcoate and celebrated chef Steve Smith.

This will be an amazing food, drink and entertainment offer for all Prestonians to enjoy.

[Preston City Council @prestoncouncil]

We’re delighted to welcome Escapade Events to Animate Preston, where they’ll be bringing a new warehouse-style food hall to the city centre.

The venue will feature independent food vendors, including award-winning chef Steve Smith, alongside a bar run by Escapade Events.

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[Matthew Brown @MatthewBrownLab]

“We will put the residents of Brookfield first.” said Reform UK.

Apparently, "first" means for exactly six months.

Just half a year after being elected, Councillor Rob Walsh is already playing musical chairs and standing for a second council in neighbouring South Ribble.

To add to this madness, their newly announced Brookfield candidate next May is Simon Evans who currently represents Skelmersdale on Lancashire County Council, 25 miles away!

Well, I might want to be Director General of the BBC one day, but usually, you at least finish the first shift before applying for the promotion!

[Blog Preston @blogpreston]

A second Reform UK councillor has confirmed his intention to stand in an area outside of where he was first elected in the 2027 local elections.

https://t.co/LdpVbaiNzI

[Matthew Brown @MatthewBrownLab]

Check out this amazing video documenting the reopening of Preston's iconic tram bridge.

From grassroots campaigning to commissioning local developers, suppliers, and architects, community engagement, and the grand opening this year.

It is a wonderful insight into the collective spirit that restored a beloved landmark from Preston's history.

[Preston City Council @prestoncouncil]

🏆 CECA North West 'Project of the Year'

A landmark restored. A connection renewed. A piece of Preston’s history brought back to life. The story behind the Tram Bridge reopening.

Watch the full video 👇
https://t.co/PgOwEco0sL

[Co-operative Party @CoopParty]

New @resfoundation research shows job satisfaction has hit a record low.

Want workers invested? Give them a stake and a say.

Better pay, more flexibility and a voice at work can go together with higher productivity.

Co-ops deliver. 🐝

[Preston Labour @prestonlabour]

Your Labour Council have enabled investment in community facilities on Larches following a Cabinet decision tonight. Details are confidential at this time and community consultation on all plans will follow.

[Martyn_Rolly @martynrolly]

Following the news that Reform Brookfield Councillor of just 5 months, Rob Walsh, is off to fight an election in South Ribble, they announce that their next candidate in Brookfield in PRESTON is a sitting Councillor in SKELMERSDALE 😬🙈🤪

[Trades Union Congress @The_TUC]

RIP Patrick Stewart.

Enterprise Captain, X-Man, and committed trade unionist.

[Matthew Brown @MatthewBrownLab]

Brilliant work by our Cabinet Member @ZafarC and our hard working waste collection staff with #Preston confirmed the best out of 14 Lancashire local authority areas for food waste recycling.

This is great news for both Preston households and the wider environment 👏👏👏.

[Preston City Council @prestoncouncil]

Small caddy. Big difference. Well done Preston!

♻️Since April 26, you've helped collect around 3,000 tonnes of food waste putting Preston on top in Lancs!

Every peel, core and scrape adds up.

Thanks to everyone making their food waste caddy part of their daily routine💚

[Matthew Brown @MatthewBrownLab]

My statement on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Hebron - a city Preston has a friendship arrangement with.

[Preston City Council @prestoncouncil]

Statement from Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader at Preston City Council re: Humanitarian Situation, City of Hebron.

[Andy Burnham @andyburnham]

Congratulations to President @LulaOficial on your re-election - a true victory for democracy and progressive values.

I look forward continuing to work together as we create opportunities for people in the UK and Brazil.

[Matthew Brown @MatthewBrownLab]

A historic victory for progress, justice, and sanity in Latin America 🇧🇷.

A monumental day for both Brazil and the world showing that when working-class communities are truly galvanised, they can take control of their destinies and defeat the divisive forces of the right.

[The New York Times @nytimes]

Breaking News: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated Flávio Bolsonaro to stay president of Brazil, halting the right’s march in Latin America. Follow live updates. https://t.co/vr6TetYb1D

[Dave Ward @DaveWardGS]

This is an important and brave message from workers at Meta, where the CWU have members.

If the allegations are true that big tech firms have been suppressing the voice of @LulaOficial and ignoring extreme right-wing disinformation, everyone who believes in fair play should be seriously concerned.

American tech billionaires must not be allowed to interfere in democratic elections - the future of Brazil must be decided by the Brazilian people alone.

[Matthew Brown @MatthewBrownLab]

Please stay safe everyone in this unsettling weather🙏.

Some important advice and contact numbers from @prestoncouncil in the event of falling trees and blocked highways etc ⬇️.

[Preston City Council @prestoncouncil]

Amber Weather Warning
The wet and windy weather set to continue throughout the day and an Amber weather warning remains in place for Lancashire till 9pm tonight.

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[Richard Burgon MP @RichardBurgon]

Brazil votes on Sunday in an election that'll help shape the future of the world: fascism or social progress.

I’ve joined 40 MPs & 10 union general secretaries warning against Trump’s interference in Brazil, which is a blatant attempt to stop Lula winning
https://t.co/JzBXqyNuml

[Preston Labour @prestonlabour]

Preston Reform Councillor ditches Brookfield after just 5 months…

[Matthew Brown @MatthewBrownLab]

Preston's wages jump 10%+ in one year, ranking 6th out of 70 UK areas! 🚀

Critics dismiss the #PrestonModel but our choice to invest £120m in publicly owned city centre regeneration supporting local supply chains alongside fairer working practices and the Real Living Wage delivers real results.

[Lancashire Post @leponline]

Lancashire wage divide revealed as Preston pay jumps 10% while other towns lag behind https://t.co/ua0htZAu9m

[Matthew Brown @MatthewBrownLab]

The big banks are leaving Preston and the North West behind!

While mega-banks like Barclays boast £2.3bn in quarterly pre-tax profits, they have closed 75% of local branches over the last ten years and now 5,000 jobs are at risk.

The system is broken. That is why at @prestonlabour we are supporting @MutualNorth as a member-owned, ethical regional cooperative bank to reopen community branches and back local families and businesses.

[BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking]

Barclays cutting 5,000 jobs as bank increases its use of AI https://t.co/VKZXs87cLm