Manchester MP Tony Lloyd led Parliamentary tributes to Christie’s new centre with a Motion (see below) supported by both Labour and Conservative MPs from the area. The Christie hospital this week opened a new £35m state of the art treatment centre which will combine both clinical trials and treatment at one site improving the experience patients have at the hospital. It combines the largest chemotherapy centre in the UK with the largest clinical trial centre in the world.

Tony said, ‘This new treatment centre means Christie’s can help even more people in Greater Manchester who are suffering with cancer and Christie’s research will develop new treatments which will help people literally all around the world’.

Christie’s Chief Executive Caroline Shaw said, ‘Our patients are at the heart of everything we do. We believe this centre is the future of cancer care and will provide the best possible care for our patients. Thank you to everyone who has supported us.’

You can watch a video of the new treatment centre here.

The text of the Parliamentary motion reads:
That this House warmly welcomes today’s opening of the new Patient Treatment Centre at Christie’s Hospital; recognises the enormous affection and gratitude felt by people throughout the North West of England for the hospital’s compassionate work in healing the sick, nursing the dying and caring for their loved ones over the 100 years of its existence; is aware that the new treatment centre will house the largest chemotherapy facility in Britain, offering many different treatments for different cancers; is further aware that over 2,400 patients will be able to access the latest research treatments in the early clinical trials unit, the largest such unit in the world; believes that this research will give hope locally to those taking part and will bring about viable treatments for people globally; and is firmly convinced that this means Christie’s will be able to do even more to save lives in Greater Manchester and, through this research effort, around the world.

Tony Lloyd MP challenged Prime Minister David Cameron on cuts to Manchester’s police service during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 18 November. Tony said:

“Can the Prime Minister be very precise and tell the House whether he is honestly saying that if one in four police officers are taken out of Greater Manchester, as well as one in four of the police community support officers, that will have no impact on deterring and detecting crime? If he will say that, will he come to Manchester and explain it to people whose fear of crime is still a major issue?”

You can read the full debate here.

Tony is pictured here at a civic reception commemorating the 30th anniversary of the creation of the Nuclear Free Local Authorities and civic welcome to board members of the Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign Association which was held at Manchester Town Hall on November 4th. There was an address by Tomishisa Taue, Mayor of Nagasaki, and Takashi Yoshihara, a survivor of the Nagasaki A-bomb attack.

Tony Lloyd has raised his concerns about pensioners and others on low incomes struggling to afford price rises in winter fuel. Tony said during a House of Commons debate about the issue:

“Pensioners, including many of those on low incomes, spend a disproportionate amount of their income on fuel. The Chancellor made the point about the winter fuel allowance, which was very welcome, but will he make it clear to the gas and electricity suppliers that, when they raise fuel costs above anything justified by wholesale prices, as they always do, the Government will take action, hopefully by threatening them with fiscal measures, including taxing them?”

You can read the full debate here.

Following the tragic death of Semelia Campbell in Manchester in June, her family have travelled to London to deliver a letter highlighting the dangers of automatic gates to Number 10 Downing Street. Tony Lloyd joined Semelia’s mother Judith Gilroy, sister Tashielca Kellyman and cousin Anthony Walker to deliver the message. They are also urging people to sign their Gatesafe petition, which urges manufacturers to fit anti-crush mechanisms as standard.

You can sign the petition here.

Picture by Paul Jamieson Liverpool.

Tony Lloyd MP raised concerns about the proposed housing benefit reform in Parliament today. Tony said:

“The Secretary of State began by making great play about the fact that there had been what he described as “scaremongering”. However, many of my constituents are very scared about his Government’s proposals. If they have taken the trouble to listen to his speech today, I regret to say that he will have done nothing to allay their concerns. Of those in receipt of housing benefit in my city of Manchester-70,000-plus-10,000 will be affected by the proposals. Some will be affected significantly, as I hope to make clear in a moment. That is the reality. People are scared because they see either a significant loss of income or the reality that they will be forced to move home. That is what the proposals will do.”

You can read all of Tony Lloyd’s comments and the debate in full here.