Mrs Elsie Blundell
MP for Heywood and Middleton North · Labour · United Kingdom
“Members have said, with much of the so-called enforcement action being toothless and ineffective. What consideration has been given to delivering a bold and transformative waste strategy that protects people in Heywood from living in such conditions—specifically one that factors in poorly performing sites that handle recycling waste?”
“It is a pleasure to speak under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and Fleetwood (Lorraine Beavers) for securing the debate.”
“Heywood Against Landfill has now designed an online odour complaint reporting log, which sends each instance directly to the Environment Agency. That is great, but the group would rather not spend its valuable time doing that.”
“That lasted about 18 months, demonstrating the scale of what local people had been forced to deal with. In my view, it would be legitimate to say—as we heard from my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and Fleetwood—that working-class communities such as mine are disproportionately bearing the brunt of these impacts.”
“I absolutely agree, and I would like to see more of that, not least in my constituency. The Environment Agency countenanced the site’s reopening, and it was adamant that it had the means to monitor the air quality and odour levels, yet less than a year down the line, we are back where we started, and my constituents, like many represented…”
“I take this opportunity to commend them for their enduring activism. The site also hosts a recycling centre, which I understand is also contributing significantly to the current issues.”
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“The integrity of our democracy and the tone of our discourse through to our continued belief in facts, evidence and science are all on the line in the war being waged unrelentingly in these digital spaces, where online actors are determined to amplify falsehoods to erode a sense of public trust that has taken generations to foster. The meteoric rise of AI has made the challenge all the more pressing. People’s behaviour is being tracked on apps, and algorithms responding to them are driving misleading and sensationalist content into the most impressionable, vulnerable and isolated minds—so many of them are young people who are growing up unable to tell fact from fiction. We know that adults are also susceptible to such trends.”
“Perhaps to a greater extent than in any other area of policy, we must recognise that the frontiers of online media are constantly expanding, technology is evolving, and our daily life is increasingly determined by what takes place on phones, laptops and tablets. Though the Act was immensely welcome—it goes some way towards dealing with this complex set of challenges—we cannot wait another 20 years before we come to substantively revisit this topic. To underscore why constant adaptation to these threats is necessary, I would like to touch on three themes. First, there is the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation.”
“I thank the hon. Member for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire (Ian Sollom) for securing this crucial debate. Since my election, constituents in Heywood and Middleton North have repeatedly raised issues about online harms, especially as they see those who control the platforms seeking to shirk accountability at every turn. That is why we cannot discount the significance of the Online Safety Act. That critical piece of legislation—the first of its kind in putting a range of new duties on social media companies and search engines to mitigate the harms that those online can pose to our constituents—was a welcome step taken by the previous Government and implemented by this Labour Government.”
“Many women across the country living with endometriosis are forced to withstand immense challenges in the workplace, often culminating in them having to curtail their ambitions or leave employment entirely. That is because some workplaces are not putting in place proper protections to support working women, who frankly deserve better. What steps are therefore being taken, in consultation with the Department for Business and Trade, to ensure that our workplaces do not lose out on the immeasurable contribution that these brave women can make?”
“It is estimated that 40,000 children in Gaza have lost either one or both of their parents in the appalling war of recent years, leaving many as orphans without the love and protection that they need in one of the most dangerous places on the planet. As crisis engulfs the region once again and vital aid is still being blocked, what assurances can the Minister give that the UK will play a leading role in supporting those children in the long term, after all the horrors they have had to endure?”
“I thank the Chancellor for her statement, and for the decisions she has taken to ensure the stability of our public finances so that we can improve our public services. As she will know, the number of individuals in the probation system is at an all-time high, with violent reoffending perpetuating the cycle of crime and leaving the public at risk. What steps will the Treasury take to drive down the number of staffing vacancies in the Probation Service, so that those in the service can work relentlessly to reduce reoffending and ensure the safety of the communities we represent?”
“10. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that local authorities in financial difficulty can deliver effective speech and language therapy for children with SEND.”
“As the Minister knows, the SEND system is not working for children, families or local councils, and it has not been for some time. Despite the record of the Conservatives, we cannot allow children in need of speech and language therapy to lose out. Will the Minister assure me that when it comes to speech and language therapy, the new “experts at hand” service will be utilised effectively, so that each local authority will be able to provide all children with the support they need?”
“Q6. In my borough, the social housing waiting list exceeds 7,000 live applications. Council housing offers my constituents the safety and security they deserve. What further steps can the Government take to speed up the delivery of the social and affordable homes programme, and build the high-quality social housing that my constituents deserve?”
“Some of the explosions are too loud, and we need to remember that behind every door could well be a person or animal being tormented. Finally, by enforcing laws that are already in place, we must prohibit the bulk buying and stockpiling of fireworks. There is no need for it, and it must be urgently curtailed. As I said, fireworks can bring people together, but there are many who should not have to continue to endure the status quo. It would be remiss of us, as parliamentarians, to stand here again next year and indulge in the same debate without having achieved anything in the interim. I hope that the Minister can touch on some of these points in her closing remarks. I thank my Heywood and Middleton North constituents for their candour in relaying their views on this issue.”
“Countless constituents have written to each of us to let us know of the damage that fireworks do to their family members, and I truly believe that we have to find a way to continue our enjoyment while remaining aware of people who hold such strong and genuine opposing views. That requires both common sense and compassion. We need to consider how we can further limit the use of fireworks outside of holidays, so that people do not need to endure weeks of potential anguish. We must also strengthen local enforcement in the run-up to events and crack down on retailers that sell fireworks to anyone under the age of 18. We all know that that continues to happen, and it needs to stop. We must look more closely at the actions of countries that have legislated for a reduction in firework noise from 120 dB to 90 dB.”
“It is clear that some individuals have lost sight of what these events are all about; they instead use fireworks to intimidate and threaten, putting themselves and those around them at serious risk. That is without considering the impact that weeks upon weeks of explosions have on our family pets, local wildlife and biodiversity. One constituent, Pete Knowles, from the Stoney Hill community wildlife area, said that in summer, barely a week goes by without disturbance to wildlife, pets and people in our area. He made clear the acute risk to hibernating wildlife, the local bat population, and nocturnal species such as badgers, foxes and wood mice.”
“Whether they are veterans working to overcome what they have had to endure while serving, those who work shifts or irregular hours, or families with young children, people have legitimate reasons for being concerned—not only about the level of noise involved, but about the frequent spillover into the days and weeks prior to or after the events themselves. Bonfire night is no longer just a night; as we all know, displays—organised or otherwise—take place throughout the winter months, much to the consternation of many in our communities. We must also consider the fact that a small but dangerous minority misuse fireworks in antisocial behaviour that strikes fear into the heart of many vulnerable residents and adds further pressure to our emergency services, which are already under considerable strain.”
“It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to raise of the views of my constituents, more than 650 of whom signed the first of the two petitions being considered today. Many of those constituents made their views known to me, this weekend and previously, after I made it clear that I would be speaking in this debate. Whether on 5 November, new year’s eve or Eid, fireworks are part of our story and have become interwoven in this country’s rich history. So many people enjoy these colourful displays, but some are filled with anxiety each time November comes around.”
“I welcome today’s announcement, which will unleash the potential of our northern regions and open the door to opportunities that have historically been denied to my constituents and so many across the north. Does my right hon. Friend agree with me that bold and ambitious schemes such as Northern Powerhouse Rail will silence the north’s detractors—not that many are in their places today—from the Tories, who left our rail network in the north of England on the brink of collapse, and Reform, who do nothing but talk down the promise of our proud and pioneering region?”
“With many local authorities spending less than 1% of their household support fund on furniture, many domestic abuse survivors are being placed in social housing without access to essential furniture or white goods. What assurances can the Minister give this winter to residents in Heywood and Middleton North who, although grateful for the fresh start that social housing can offer, are living—often with children—in properties that feel bare, cold and not like home?”
“In recent weeks, I have heard from several social care workers in my constituency who have each outlined to me the profound uncertainty that they face regarding their employer-sponsored visas, despite the critical role that these workers play in supporting the most vulnerable in our communities. What consideration has been given to the idea that these employer-sponsored visas could be replaced with sector-wide schemes to prevent continued poor practice from some employers?”
“I welcome the additional investment the Minister has announced, and what it will mean for my constituents in terms of local government funding. Firefighters, such as those based at Heywood fire station in my constituency, are attending a massively increased number of flooding and water-rescue incidents, which are up 40% over the last 10 years. Has any consideration been given to introducing a statutory duty on local fire and rescue services, along with commensurate funding to ensure that firefighters are properly resourced and equipped to respond to flooding and water rescues?”
“I commend the efforts of posties across the country, especially at this time of year, but residents in Middleton in my constituency have been without a reliable postal service for well over a year. That has meant that crucial medical documentation and urgent financial correspondence have been reaching the people of Middleton too late, if at all. What steps are the Government taking to bring about serious improvements in Royal Mail’s service provision in north Greater Manchester, given that Royal Mail alone is proving unable to deliver the change that people in Middleton deserve?”
“Since the implementation of the peace deal negotiated in the middle east in recent months, we have seen a concerning acceleration of illegal settlements in the west bank in flagrant violation of various United Nations resolutions on the subject. What steps are being taken by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to make clear the UK’s opposition to those settlements, and will the Leader of the House consider a debate in Government time on the region’s future—a topic that is undoubtedly of interest to many across the House?”
“To get this right, GBR must be aligned with the priorities of local people and those whom they elect to ensure that, once again, rail is a driver of opportunity rather than a cap on ambition.”
“Those plans, such as the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040, have a statutory basis, and provide a long-term view of what it will take for rail to play a transformative and integrated role in our communities. I look forward to watching the Bill progress, and to further consideration being given to how GBR will work with our elected mayors and local transport authorities. The Bill encapsulates the ambition of this Labour Government to undo a legacy of neglect that has left our rail network fractured and public trust eroded. Only the Labour party is serious about tackling the deep-rooted challenges facing track and train, and now the onus is on us to ensure that Great British Railways succeeds where successive Governments and arm’s length bodies have failed.”
“We should ensure that GBR co-develops key functions, such as financial planning, in tandem with our mayoral authorities. I believe that by forging partnerships between GBR and our mayors on funding, we will see greater value for money in the long term, a return on investments, and a sustained increase in passengers’ confidence in the rail network. That could be done by agreeing statutory limits on mid-period funding reductions, and working to align enhancement pipelines, planning horizons and industry funding cycles. Thirdly, I believe that the Bill must ensure that GBR has a duty to align its decision making with the priorities of local transport plans.”
“First, we should consider the benefits of requiring GBR to go further than “consulting” our authorities. If we are truly to give local people and their transport authorities a key role in shaping their own rail networks, we must recognise the merits of establishing a clear statutory role for mayors in commissioning rail services too, and ensuring that those leading GBR are plugged into the needs of our regions. That means utilising the talents and knowledge of those who make up our local transport authorities. I express my sincere thanks to Laura Shoaf for her work across shadow Great British Railways in that regard, and I hope that her role is a sign that GBR will continue to draw on these exceptional regional leaders. Secondly, we must address questions about funding certainty for our mayoral authorities and local transport authorities.”
“It is on the final point—the role of mayoral strategic authorities—that I will focus my remarks. The Bill is the obvious next step in advancing the devolution agenda led by this Government and elected mayors. I am proud of our accomplishments in this space in Greater Manchester, which has already brought buses back under local control and built the UK’s largest ever light rail network. The next step is for us to bring local rail services into the Bee network, where they belong. It is therefore crucial that the Bill is fully utilised and that we explicitly formalise ties between strategic authorities, national Government and GBR. I believe that there are three areas in which we can and must give our strategic authorities more certainty through this landmark piece of legislation.”
“The Railways Bill will be vital to delivering on this Government’s promise to revive our country’s railways and redefine what passengers should expect from their rail services. It is beyond doubt that the privatisation of the rail network has completely failed, and it is now the task of this Labour Government to rebuild the confidence that has been lost. That is why I wholly welcome the coming establishment of Great British Railways, which will deliver coherence where there has been chaos and a sense of strategic direction where there has been lethargy. The best place for our country’s rail network is in the hands of the public. Alongside a strengthened passenger watchdog, a new access regime and an enhanced role for our devolved authorities, I believe GBR will show passengers that things no longer have to be the way they have been.”
“Q10. This week, I have been speaking to warehouse workers at Tetrosyl in my constituency, who have been given an appalling ultimatum in the run-up to Christmas: they must either sign a new contract with reduced pay and breaks or lose their jobs. Can the Prime Minister advise me on what action can be taken against rogue employers such as Tetrosyl who take action against workers and seek to exploit them and undermine their rights?”
“I am proud that, through the Bee Network in Greater Manchester, we have been able to keep bus and tram fares as low as possible, and it is important that rail is not left behind. I am delighted that, as Greater Manchester moves to integrate rail lines into the Bee Network, these prices will now be frozen, too. If we stick to the plan and ensure that devolution is delivered, I envisage a point in the future when my constituents can get into Manchester city centre on safe and reliable public transport and go on to make their journeys to other cities across the north. That is why I am determined to see the promise of this investment delivered upon and swift progress made to connect the north, after the Tories cancelled the northern leg of High Speed 2.”
“As a result, it was announced that the tram will now be coming to Heywood, with spades in the ground by 2028 and a commitment from the mayor that he will revisit the business case for extending the Metrolink to Middleton. This is the difference that a Labour Government make with a Labour-led city region. This Budget went even further. I was delighted to hear last week that, thanks to the discipline and responsiveness of this Chancellor, the northern growth corridor and the trans-Pennine route upgrade will receive the investment they need. That welcome commitment came alongside the decision to freeze rail fares for the first time in 30 years, making progress in ensuring that anyone, no matter where they come from, can get from A to B.”
“I would like to focus my remarks on how this Budget will deliver enhanced transport connectivity and further devolution, allowing towns like those I represent to grow their way out of the cuts they have been subjected to for over a decade. Transport connectivity is the difference between our towns and those within them either getting ahead or being left behind. My constituents have long been overlooked when it comes to transport planning and spending, and I was delighted that at the spending review earlier this year, the Greater Manchester city region received over £2.5 billion to plug the gaps there in local connectivity.”
“I absolutely agree. It is thanks to this Chancellor’s determination to be disciplined that we are able to deliver this investment in Greater Manchester and my constituency. The people of Greater Manchester are really resilient. Many people try to talk us down, but our city region and our economy are vibrant and dynamic. Looking at this Budget, it is clear to me that this Government recognise our potential and are keen to connect Greater Manchester internally and bind it more closely with those other great cities of Leeds and Liverpool.”
“I absolutely agree. This Chancellor recognises that connectivity and ambition are two sides of the same coin. She knows that we do not cut our way to a stronger, more stable economy or a more equal society—we invest our way there. I wholeheartedly welcome the Budget and its intention to build a better connected and fairer country. It will bring about the change that my constituents deserve, and I look forward to working with colleagues on delivering it.”
“I am delighted to see sport for women and girls growing in prominence and recognition across the country. To ensure that we meet the ambition of women and girls in these spaces, we need the facilities and infrastructure to support them, hone their talent, and pave the way for the next generation. What steps are being taken by this Government to provide women and girls with access to high-quality sports facilities, including in my area of Greater Manchester?”
“The Employment Rights Bill is a landmark piece of legislation that will safeguard the hard-won protections of workers up and down the country. Prior to its implementation, however, some companies are racing to undercut workers’ rights. I am appalled on behalf of workers at Tetrosyl in my constituency, which is engaging in shameful fire-and-rehire practices. What more can we in this House do to give voice to workers who are now facing deep financial uncertainty before Christmas?”
“For as long as the status quo persists and scores of vehicles are operating out of area, far from the authority that licensed them in the first instance, there will remain a deficit in terms of accountability when incidents take place. Let me add a caveat by saying, unequivocally, that the vast majority of drivers are law-abiding people. They are integral to our economy and to our society as a whole, and I have been delighted to engage with a great number of them since being elected to this place. However, situations arise in which enforcement becomes necessary, and at present licensing authorities such as my own are unable to take action because of the proliferation of out-of-area operation.”
“In the first five months of last year alone, the council granted more than 8,500 new taxi licences, which is 30 times more than any other licensing authority in the midlands. This has a real and tangible impact across the whole country. Indeed, in Greater Manchester nearly half of all private hire vehicles are now licensed by local authorities outside its 10 councils, and the city region’s “out of area” figure of more than 12,000 has risen sharply from just under 7,000 in 2023. In my own borough of Rochdale, about 40% of private hire vehicles and taxis are licensed out of area. This is not just an issue of public perception; it is also about safety and enforcement.”
“Many Members will have heard from constituents who have raised legitimate concerns that the taxis or private hire vehicles that they see operating in their local areas are actually licensed hundreds of miles away. That is because since 2015 operators have been permitted to contract bookings to another vehicle that could be licensed in a different area. It has coincided with the meteoric rise of national operators such as Uber and Bolt, which are permitted to be licensed in multiple areas. The stark absence of any regulation has led to certain local authorities becoming, as the GMB union has put it, “a licence factory…creaking at the seams”. No example underscores that more vividly than the activities of City of Wolverhampton Council.”
“I rise to speak to new clause 83, which stands in my name. I thank colleagues for their support for the new clause. I also sincerely thank the Minister and her team for their consistent engagement with me on this landmark piece of legislation—a Bill that will be game-changing for my constituents. Before I speak to my new clause, which would forge a fairer, safer and better regulated private hire vehicle sector, I want to express my full support for the steps that the Government are taking by introducing national minimum standards. We need to rebuild confidence in a system that so many view as broken. This is about giving local leaders power to decide which drivers operate in their areas, and, most crucially, it is about the safety and wellbeing of passengers and drivers. Let me deal first with the problem we face.”
“The private hire and taxi sector is critical to our economy and for filling gaps in the local transport network, but for too long the safety of passengers and the ability of licensing authorities to do their job have been undermined for the sake of a model that is unfit for purpose. We must bring an end to out-of-area licensing and offer the sector the change for which it has been calling out for decades. The Bill is about granting power to local people to make their own decisions that will change their communities for the better. This is one such a decision—one that we can no longer afford to avoid.”
“Considered together, new clause 83 and the Government amendments would encourage drivers to license locally and would ensure that if things go wrong, both drivers and passengers have the confidence that enforcement measures will be swift, considered and legitimate in the eyes of local authorities and local people. If reinforced by implementing national minimum standards, these two changes could revitalise the sector, and give both drivers and passengers the confidence and certainty they deserve. I believe that there are no Members present today, no corner of society and, indeed, no drivers out there in the sector who believe the system as it stands is working well. It is oversaturated, with a lack of local accountability and an erosion of the ties between drivers and the communities they serve.”
“We are not even in a position where an operator has to have a licence everywhere it operates; it does not.” He went on to say: “I know the limitations of my operational enforcement resource…chasing vehicles all over the country is not something we could deal or cope with.” I know from conversations with Rochdale borough council’s licensing department that those sentiments are shared there, too. Standards are one thing, but without proper means of enforcement, they will not have the maximum impact on public safety. I will now move to the substance of my new clause 83. Under the new clause, strategic authorities would have the power to require that journeys that start and end there are fulfilled by locally licensed operators. It would give local leaders power and the choice to adopt that as a solution.”
“I truly support and welcome the Government’s commitment to national minimum standards, but I believe that they must be complemented by a restriction on out-of-area operations so that they can be enforced locally where necessary. At a recent meeting of the Transport Committee, which is currently holding an inquiry on the private hire vehicle sector, we heard from a licensing officer from Blackpool council. When I asked whether his authority was able to keep track of the drivers operating within it, he stated: “We are now at a stage where provisions on where an operator can operate vehicles do not seem to matter.”
“Women and girls living with endometriosis are waiting on average nine years for a full diagnosis. That is almost a decade of pain, uncertainty and endurance before they receive the targeted support that they need. Would the Leader of the House agree that the soon-to-be-renewed women’s health strategy must get a grip of these appalling wait times and ensure that all women affected are heard and finally prioritised?”
“10. What steps his Department is taking through the criminal justice system to help to support victims of technology-assisted child sexual abuse.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. We all know of the increasing and sinister use of technology in the appalling sexual abuse of children and young people. To address that, will the Minister consider extending the unduly lenient sentence scheme to include all TACSA offences and commit to a ban on the technologies that generate deepfake and sexually abusive images of children?”
“This investment, which should be allocated to Middleton, coupled with the community right to buy and compulsory purchase powers, will allow communities to seize untapped assets and turn around shops, pubs and buildings in disrepair. We are empowering local councils to block unwanted shops, from vape shops to dodgy barbers. This Government understand the challenge before us—the shattered trust we need to rebuild. Rather than capitulate to the declinist narratives that suit the Opposition parties all too well, we are cracking on and delivering change, and coming at this from all sides. Through tangible and lasting investment from national Government to the cutting of local red tape, and through the talent, grit and innovation of the people and businesses I represent, I know that the best days of our high streets lie ahead.”
“We recognise the strengths and assets that underpin our diverse communities, and I am proud to stand alongside this Labour Government, who are finally providing the means for local people to take back their high streets. I am delighted that my borough is a beneficiary of pride in place impact funding and I thank Ministers for their engagement with me in recent weeks. I was proud to host a community meeting at Burnside community centre in Middleton, where I heard decisive calls from local people on the changes they want to see for their local amenities and their high streets. Unlike the previous Government, which deliberately moved money away from areas of most acute need, this Labour Government are working in tandem with local councils and local people to revive the assets that our towns are built on.”
“They know that the challenges facing our high streets will not be overcome overnight, and that for us to rebuild that image of a bustling local centre—an image that invokes a sense of real pride—there must first come investment not just of capital, but of responsibility and confidence. This is where we need to meet people halfway. Too many people look at their high streets and see a landscape they no longer recognise. Where we once saw the trading of local produce, in recent years we have seen the proliferation of illicit goods that not only perpetuate antisocial behaviour on our streets, but run down public health and corrode our towns from the inside. My constituents refuse to buy into the defeatism that Opposition parties feed off.”
“Fourteen years of hollow funding commitments, with antisocial behaviour out of control and the scars of neglect visible across our high streets, but the Conservatives instead choose to come here to talk down the Employment Rights Bill, which is a critical piece of legislation that will protect the very workers who have a stake in our high streets. If they are satisfied with workers remaining in deeply insecure employment—like those at Tetrosyl in Greater Manchester, who are facing the prospect of fire and rehire as we speak—they should just come out and say so. The people of Heywood and Middleton North are resilient. They are grafters and they care deeply about their local community.”
“It is unusual that I find myself agreeing with the shadow Business Secretary, the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Andrew Griffith), but it is high time that we discuss our local high streets in this place. I would gently say, however, that doing so requires us to look back at the record of the Conservatives during their time in government, and frankly, when it comes to our high streets, it is a record they should be ashamed of. Coming to the House feigning indignation and refusing to accept any responsibility for the damage they have done will really get under the skin of my constituents.”