Change is coming | Burnley MP Oliver Ryan column

Hello all!

I hope you're all having a brilliant start to the summer holidays. We seem to have found that rare bit of British weather where it's warm enough to enjoy but not so hot that we're all melting – long may it continue… or am I speaking to soon??

Parliament is now in recess, which means MPs get the chance to spend more time where the job really matters: back home in the constituency. And I wanted to hit the ground running.

Over the space of just four days, I held three open public drop-ins. A huge thank you to all three venues for welcoming us and helping everything run so smoothly.

The turnout was incredible. More than 100 people came along, and we picked up over 80 new cases that we're now getting to work on. Whether it's housing, benefits, immigration, local services or something else entirely, every case matters because every case is someone's life.

I've always said I want to be the most accessible MP Burnley, Padiham, and Brierfield has ever seen. That's why I take my surgeries out into the community instead of expecting everyone to come to me. If you need help, I want to make sure I'm there and ready.

And speaking of helping families, the cost of living is still one of the biggest issues people raise with me. Summer should be a time to make memories, but after years of rising prices, many families are still feeling the squeeze.

But change is coming, and it starts with free bus travel this summer for children aged 5 to 15. Earlier this year I heard first-hand how much rising bus fares were affecting families across Burnley, Padiham and Brierfield, so I know here, it will make a genuine difference.

I'm also glad the conversation around bus fares is continuing, with Andy Burnham committing to bringing the £3 fare cap back down to £2. It might sound like a small change, but for families and people who rely on buses every day, those savings really add up.

Getting the bus is a way of life for so many people across Burnley, Padiham, and Brierfield. I've heard time and time again how the rise to £3 for the cap directly impacted families who need their money to go further than ever. This change is being done with them in mind.

That's why I'm pleased we've also seen measures to ease some of that pressure, from lower household energy bills to reducing VAT on attractions and children's meals to help make family days out a little more affordable.

It's also been a busy few weeks visiting local businesses and organisations. From the soft opening of Bonnie's Glamour Bakes (the brownies are incredible) to spending time at Coldwell Activity Centre with Jonathan Hinder MP, I've been out and about across the constituency.

That said, let’s be honest every comment section on Facebook has user65984 calling me "Mr Photo Opportunity". It always makes me smile because what those photos don't show is the hour or two spent sitting down with business owners, listening to what's working, what isn't, and where Government can help.

Those conversations cover everything from rising costs and tariffs to recruitment, planning and consultations. Our local businesses create jobs, support families and keep our town centres alive, so making sure their voices are heard is a huge part of my job.

As always, if there's anything I can help with, please get in touch at [email protected] or pop into one of our drop-in sessions between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Thursday, at my office on Grimshaw Street.