Simon Opher

A brilliant day in Gorton & Denton today, and a lovely welcome, both on the doorstep and from our Labour colleagues. I was especially impressed by the chap who turned up with a box of samosas in his boot to help keep us going!

Angeliki Stogia will be an excellent MP.

Our headteachers are experts not just in supporting children, but in navigating the system every day. Hearing directly from them helps raise challenges that might otherwise go unnoticed and I’m always grateful for that insight. (2/2)

Great to catch up with primary school headteachers from across the District.

We spoke about issues across education including SEND, free school meals and breakfast clubs, and getting more solar panels on their school roofs. (1/2)

I'm really looking forward to the official start of the Winter Olympics this evening (but I have kept an eye on the curling, which has been going on for a couple of days - and Txema in the snowboarding!).

Good luck!
#TeamGB #MilanoCortina2026

Local government reorganisation in Gloucestershire This consultation seeks views on the local government reorganisation proposals we have received from councils in Gloucestershire.​

It's important to make your voice heard. I took part in a panel event in Stroud last year on this issue and it was great to hear so many different perspectives on how these changes could effect our community. (3/3)

Link to consultation👇

www.gov.uk/government/c...

The consultation will ask for views on all three proposals:
-One single county-wide unitary council
-Two unitary councils (east/west split)
-Two unitary councils (Greater Gloucester and Gloucestershire Unitary)
(2/3)

The government has just opened its consultation on proposals for local government reorganisation in Gloucestershire. This will run for seven weeks, closing on 26 March 2026. (1/3)

But (as always) there is more to do. We must work towards a named NHS dentist for every patient and continue driving improvements in access to NHS dental care right across the country. (3/3)

We’ve made progress, through the roll-out of supervised toothbrushing, increasing the number of urgent dental appointments, and beginning a long-overdue overhaul of the NHS dental contract. (2/3)

As Chair of the Health APPG, I was delighted to host Minister Stephen Kinnock and the Chief Dental Officer, Jason Wong.

It was a really constructive Q&A session, in partnership with the APPG for Dentistry & Oral Health, on the current state and future of NHS dentistry. (1/3)

I’m glad the Government have now agreed to an independent body to oversee the release of the correspondence. This is something I have been lobbying for heavily today - but we can, and must, be better than this. (4/4)

We were elected to deliver a Labour manifesto that was all about improving people's lives. We promised to put trust back into politics after years of Tory sleaze - not perpetuate it. The publication of the correspondence around the appointment of Mandelson should obviously be as open as possible.

Instead the government is rightly being held to account for re-introducing someone to high public office who should never have been there. (2/4)

Once again the poor decision making of those around the Prime Minister is dominating the news agenda. Not the great work we have done on tackling the cost of living crisis, the NHS, education, addressing climate change, re-nationalising the railway network and all the rest. (1/4)

The plan:
💰Invests £2.3 billion in 9.5 million more tests & scans
🧑‍⚕️Sends cancer specialists to rural & coastal areas
🤖Delivers 500,000 robotic surgeries
👫Helps 3 in 4 patients survive 5 years after diagnosis

National Cancer Plan for England Details the government’s plan to transform cancer care and outcomes in England by 2035.

On #WorldCancerDay, I welcome the launch of our National Cancer Plan. As a GP, I've seen too many patients suffer from this cruel illness and this plan represents a crucial opportunity to transform cancer treatment. (1/2)

We’re serious about tackling inequality, the Tories and Reform would rather line the pockets of billionaires , leaving children to go to bed cold, hungry, and without the essentials they deserve.

This evening I voted in favour of the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill. Removing the cap will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, with 1,320 benefitting in Stroud.

This measure will see the largest reduction in child poverty by any Government in a single Parliament. (1/2)

Really happy to see that the Rose & Crown, for the first time in its 300- year history, is now owned by the community! Massive congratulations to Matt, Mike and all the hard-working volunteers who made this happen.🍻

From this year, the council will offer grants of up to £2,000 to support arts and culture projects across the district. These grants are open to not-for-profits supporting artists, students, arts, culture and community organisations, and charities working in line with the strategy’s themes.

🧵 4/4
...and affects communities across the islands.

It seems to me that the UK needs to be at the forefront of both weaning ourselves off this product, and increasing the fight against the negative environmental impacts of it's production.

🧵 3/4
...Despite trying to mitigate the impact of production, the government there (and in the countries which import such a huge volume of the stuff), the industry continues to drive deforestation, biodiversity loss, hastens climate change, increases air pollution, degrades soil and water quality

🧵 2/4 ...production and use of palm oil.

Palm oil is ubiquitous in a vast range of western supermarket products (food, cosmetics, toiletries and so on), yet the way that it is produced has a massive environmental impact. Indonesia, for example, produces some 60% of the world's supply of palm oil.

As a doctor I am all too aware of the health risks of excess consumption of palm oil (especially via ultra-processed food), but I have become increasingly concerned about the way that global companies are ignoring their commitments to stopping deforestation, especially in relation to the.. 🧵1/4

£90,000 funding secured for Stroud employment social prescribers to help get people back to work.

I've been working hard to secure this funding as work is good for us and our wellbeing. We need to help people get back into work instead of leaving them isolated, stuck on long-term sick.

@chrishinchliff.bsky.social

Yesterday we held the inaugural meeting of the new APPG for Council and Social Housing. This idea came from Stroud councillors — I took it forward, worked with Shelter, and the group launched. Great turnout, and I’m pleased Chris Hinchcliff is Chair.

I’ll continue working with colleagues on the APPG for State Pension Inequality for Women to figure out next steps and to support the women affected. (2/2)

Last week, I wrote to the Secretary of State urging the government to reconsider its position and properly compensate WASPI women. I’m disappointed by today’s announcement that they have not changed course — despite over 100 MPs encouraging them to do so. (1/2)

Football Foundation We're the Football Foundation - the Premier League, The FA and Government's charity that helps communities across England improve their local football facilities.We invest in improvements that make…

£85 million in funding for 2026/27 is now open. Local clubs can apply through the Football Foundation:
👉 footballfoundation.org.uk