Oldham MP’s Christmas stall for shopworkers and the British Red Cross

Jim McMahon held his annual Christmas market stall in Oldham town centre

Jim McMahon, Labour and Co-operative MP for Oldham West and Royton, held his annual Christmas market stall in Oldham town centre on Saturday.

The MP holds this stall every year where he and his staff hand out mince pies, cakes, sweets, hot chocolates and hot Vimto to all those enjoying and shopping in the town centre.

The stall is generally visited by around 1,000 people and this year was special as the brilliant Brass Monkeys were playing on the town centre stage.

The Labour and Co-op MP used the stall this year to raise awareness to some key issues such as the campaign he is heading up for the Co-operative Party on a new law that would see assault on shopworkers being actioned as a standalone offence, protecting shopworkers who are going about their roles serving the public.

In addition, the MP announced on his Facebook page that the stall had managed to raise over £130 for the British Red Cross, who provide urgent support and aid for humanitarian crisis across the world, notably in Ukraine and Gaza presently.

Mr McMahon said: "Every year we try to bring some Christmas joy to the town centre and to see if we can brighten someone’s day going about their business in the town centre.

"This year was special for a number of reasons, not least that we were adjoined by the brilliant Brass Monkeys, but that we are raising awareness for the Co-op Party’s campaign on ending violence against shopworkers, which is particularly prevalent at Christmas time.

"We were also raising money for the British Red Cross, who do so much and are doing so much to support those in emergencies across the world."

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