With Members of Parliament (MPs) back in the House of Commons following the Easter break, we take a look at what contribution Oldham’s MPs make to Parliament.

Analysis of figures from the House of Commons Library shows some of the work that our Labour MPs do behind the scenes.

Much of the day-to-day business of being an MP takes place in committees, which examine issues in detail, from government policy and proposed new laws, to wider topics like the economy.

Who are our MPs?

Debbie Abrahams

Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, she was elected to her seat on January 13, 2011. She serves as a backbench MP.

Jim McMahon

Labour and Co-operative MP for Oldham West and Royton, he was elected to his seat on December 3, 2015. He is the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and serves as the chair of the Co-operative Party.

Angela Rayner

Labour MP for the Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, which includes Failsworth in its boundaries, she was elected to her seat on May 7, 2015. She serves as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

Committees

As of March 7 this year, Debbie Abrahams was sitting on three committees.

These were the Draft Online Safety Bill (Joint Committee), Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [HL] and Work and Pensions Committee.

It is the custom that opposition frontbench spokespeople don’t become members of select committees that scrutinise the work of the Government.

Angela Rayner, who serves as Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition, and Jim McMahon, who serves as Shadow Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, were not sitting on any committees, as of March 7 this year.

The average sitting MP was a part of two committees, while around a quarter were not part of any.

Meanwhile, two Labour MPs were members of 11 each.

All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs)

Members can also be active in informal, cross-party All-Party Parliamentary Groups, for those who share a common interest in a particular policy area, region, or country.

Ms Rayner, 42, did not have a role in any APPGs either, while Mr McMahon, 41, had a role in four and Ms Abrahams, 61, had a role in 20.

Private Members’ Bills

The vast majority of bills that the House passes into law come from the ruling party, but MPs – typically those not in Government – can also introduce legislation through Private Members' bills.

Very few of them become law but it can create publicity around an issue, or affect future legislation indirectly.

None of Oldham’s MPs presented any of these bills between the state opening of Parliament on December 16 2019 and March 7.

The same was true for the majority of their parliamentary colleagues.

Early Day Motions

Over this period, Angela Rayner has signed three Early Day Motions, which are another way an MP can draw attention to a particular issue, though they rarely result in any action being taken.

The three Ms Rayner signed are: an EDM on the Clean Air Zone, one marking the death of Lord Robert Sheldon, a former Ashton MP, and one recognising the contribution of the parliamentary staff Unite trade union chair.

In the same time, Jim McMahon has signed one – opposing assaults on shopworkers – and Debbie Abrahams has signed 109.

Petitions

MPs can also bring forward petitions, calling for Government action, on behalf of their constituents – but Oldham’s MPs have not presented any.

Urgent Questions

Finally, members can apply for certain types of debates or Urgent Questions to initiate discussions on a topic in the Commons or Westminster Hall.

Angela Rayner has been granted four of these applications during this parliament – including four Urgent Questions.

Jim McMahon has been granted three of these applications during this Parliament – including three Urgent Questions.

Debbie Abrahams has been granted five of these applications during this Parliament.

The Institute for Public Policy Research said the essence of democracy is MPs linking citizens to policymaking.

But Dr Parth Patel, a research fellow at the think tank, said their research shows that most citizens no longer believe they have the most sway over policy decisions made by their representatives, and that trust in MPs is nosediving.

He added: “We need an active and empowered parliament, with MPs on all sides of the house able to speak their minds and act in the interests of their constituents.

“When participating in debates, MPs must remember to put citizens at the heart of everything they do and say in their name.”