KM

me

[Andy Burnham @andyburnham]

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

[PmAmTraveller @pmamtraveller]

Yuko Shimizu - Fighting back the male gaze

[Explorer Of Moments @ExplorerMoment]

A father teaching his son to ride a bike in Central Park, New York City. ca 1973

[Twonks @twonkscomics]

London Marathon

[Peter Lucier @PeterLucier]

Maya Angelou on the joys of being edited

[Tommy Siegel @TommySiegel]

the types of podcasts: a guide

[eloise @soupforeloise]

please stop showing me that lonely monkey and its plushie, I do not have the mental fortitude to withstand the psychic damage

[Allie ✞ @allie__voss]

The whole "GUYS just don't say WEDDING!!!" advice is one of those things that immediately tells you the person is out of touch with how weddings work these days

[Paulie Doyle @BigPaulieDoyle]

I think it's a pretty positive development that socially outcast women are no longer locked up in church-run prisons for the crime of getting pregnant out of wedlock

[jynx @jynxbby]

me at the mechanic trying to look tough so they don't scam me

[Cork GAA @OfficialCorkGAA]

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final @MunsterGAA #SportsDirectIreland #BorntoPlay #RebelsRising
Full time
Cork: 1-30(33)
Limerick: 2-27(33)

Cork win by 3-2 on Penalty Shoot Out

Munster Champions

[Cork GAA @OfficialCorkGAA]

The Cork Senior Hurling team to play Limerick in the Munster Final at TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday 7th June @ 6pm has been announced. Best wishes to the Cork team and management. #BornToPlay #RebelsRising

[Séamus Malekafzali @Seamus_Malek]

For me, I will remember him as the Pope who called the Holy Family Church in Gaza every day as the city, and even the church itself, was bombed by Israel.