I feel a renewed sense of purpose and meaning when I play for you, and I hope you feel it too. These shows have been beyond anything I could have expected. Your support means so much to me and I honestly don’t know what I’d do without it. Thank you X
(2/4)
I wasn’t sure how shows would feel this time around. Since my first proper tour back in 2017, I’ve never really taken a long break like that from touring before. To come back now and feel this level of support has really moved me.
(1/4)
They sang I Will Survive like it was just another iconic moment, but Madonna had just survived a near-fatal infection, and Kylie had quietly overcome a second cancer relapse.
We were watching survival in real time and didn’t even know.
Kylie Minogue has revealed that she overcame breast cancer for a second time in 2021.
"As part of my routine check-ups in 2021, I was diagnosed with a second primary breast cancer. Early detection was very helpful and I am so grateful to be able to say that I am well today."
I am proud and humbled to have been selected as Labour’s candidate for Makerfield.
These proud working-class communities represent the very best values of our country and they deserve so much better. It would be my honour to work for them every day, if elected as their MP, to achieve that.
Many people here feel Westminster isn’t working for them and they are right. I am standing to change that and get the voice of these communities heard loud and clear.
I am glad that this by-election has finally put the places that make up the Makerfield constituency into the national spotlight. They have been neglected by national politics for too long. It is a good thing that all political parties are now on the hook to tell the voters here what they are going to do for them.
More than anything, people need life to be more affordable again. As Mayor, I have brought in changes which are helping, such as the £2 fare cap, free bus travel for our 16-18 year-olds and removing the 9.30am restriction from older and disabled people’s bus passes. But there is only so much I can do from Greater Manchester. If elected, I will have a relentless focus on reducing people’s everyday costs and bills and well as securing the investment these communities need.
I have been an elected representative in Greater Manchester for 25 years. Throughout that time, I have fought for the people of the North West of England on so many fronts. I am now ready to bring the whole weight of that experience to fighting for the communities of the Makerfield constituency and would be privileged to be given that opportunity.
Andy Burnham potentially becoming PM could be what the North of England needs. It could break away from London and form its own country. Build a Game of Thrones style ice wall somewhere around Birmingham and build an economy based on pies, Yorkshire puddings and gravy.
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
It’s album eve!!! I truly cannot believe it, feels quite surreal. I’m so excited for you all to hear it. Most beautiful experience I’ve had making music. I feel so so grateful today 🌲
(1/3)
And so “The Weight of the Woods” is yours now. I’ve lived with these songs for a long time, and have kept them close, like some kind of promise. I’m so so happy to set them free. I dream that they can bring you some hope.
https://t.co/XUucucFCWS
“The Weight of the Woods” will be yours so soon. Singing this song for the last couple of weeks has been the most beautiful thing. The support from you guys coming up to this release has honestly been quite moving. Feel like we’re all on the same page. Thank you so much ♥️