I can confirm that I will be requesting the permission of the NEC to stand in the Makerfield by-election.
I grew up in this area and have lived here for 25 years. I care deeply about it and its people. I know they have been let down by national politics.
Ten years ago, I decided to leave Westminster. Why? Because, after 16 years, I came to the conclusion that our national political system does not work for areas like ours. I learnt this fighting its failure to invest in the Wigan borough, for justice for the Hillsborough families and against its treatment of Greater Manchester during the pandemic.
Over the last decade, I have been challenging this failure from the outside and building a new and better way of doing politics. We have built Greater Manchester into the fastest-growing city-region in the UK and put buses back under public control, introducing a £2 fare cap to help people with cost-of-living pressures.
However, there is only so much that can be done from Greater Manchester. Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again. This is why I now seek people’s support to return to Parliament: to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people.
Millions are struggling and they need the Labour Government to succeed. It has already made changes to make life better for them in its first two years. After this week, we owe it to people to come back together as a Labour movement, giving the Prime Minister and the Government the space and stability they need as the by-election takes place.
I want to recognise the difficult decision taken by Josh Simons and the sacrifice he and his family are making. I have worked closely with him as Mayor on issues like flooding and illegal waste dumping and have seen first-hand how effective he has been. He has put the communities of Makerfield first, made a real difference for them and should take great pride in that.
Finally, I truly do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times. We will change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again.
ENDS
@TheIanHalstead I was a huge proponent of Jeremy Corbyn, shame how it ended. Burnham is a much different candidate now than he was then. The same can be said for Ed Miliband on that front.
Rayner has been cleared, but the media ran 30 front pages in total, averaging 4 front pages a day during the peak of the story.
Farage's £5 million gift has had two front page stories.
Why would there be such a difference in reporting standards for the two?
We shouldn’t take away from the job that Scott Parker did in the Championship, it was a fine effort. But he’s been a lame duck manager since December, and this season feels like a waste.
We start again. I’d like Thomas Frank or Dyche, but they’d need convincing. #twitterclarets
@Tomlawton17 It’s a fair point. Sometimes in life you shouldn’t go back, and perhaps we should just accept the brilliant legacy he has with us.
Like you, I’d be knocking on Frank’s door. Did a brilliant job at Brentford. Think he’ll be in line for another Premier League gig though
Ahead of tomorrow’s @parisroubaix, make sure to relive @TamauPogi’s debut from last year ⤵️
✍🏼 The timeless inner sanctum: Pogačar steps into the Paris-Roubaix showers
#WeAreUAE | #ParisRoubaix
🔗 https://t.co/fXVeGNNXXO
Fantastic week in Belgium with good company, great rides and some performances to be proud of from the team 👊🏻
Time to take the form home to the hellengen of Lancashire and Yorkshire…