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
.@POTUS: I recently directed @SecWar to begin releasing government files relating to UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomena. I am pleased to report this process is well underway. We've found many very interesting documents — and the first releases will begin very, very soon. 👽
What a lovely surprise this morning! ☀️Independent detections of similar transients in European plate archives — exactly the kind of cross-validation this field needs. So it’s not just Palomar anymore.
The study was carried out by a retired NASA scientist.
This is how a signal begins to emerge from the noise.
https://t.co/5Gq8HLm0u5
"Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs)..." - President Donald J. Trump
PETER DOOCY: “Barack Obama said that aliens are real. Have you seen any evidence of non-human visitors to Earth?”
TRUMP: “Well he gave classified information? He's not supposed to be doing that."
...
PETER DOOCY: “So aliens are real?”
TRUMP: “Well, I don't know if they're real or not. I can tell you he gave classified information. He's not supposed to be doing that. He made a big mistake, he took it out of classified information."
"I don't I don't have an opinion on it. I never talk about it, a lot of people do, a lot of people believe it."
The trailer for ‘THE AGE OF DISCLOSURE’ has been released.
The documentary will reportedly reveal an 80-year global cover-up of non-human intelligent life with testimony from members of government & intelligence communities
Releasing November 21 on Prime Video.
After a year of scientific scrutiny, a rock sample collected by the Perseverance rover has been confirmed to contain a potential biosignature. The sample is the best candidate so far to provide evidence of ancient microbial life on Mars. https://t.co/0BAO1dhMG8
Below is the video I revealed in our @GOPoversight UAP hearing today, made available to the public for the first time.
October 30th, 2024: MQ-9 Reaper allegedly tracking orb off coast of Yemen.
Greenlight given to engage, missile appears to be ineffective against the target.
**Footage presented as received from a whistleblower. Independent review is ongoing.**