May 2026 Newsletter
Hello and welcome to my May newsletter!
May has been a very busy month with lots of local visits in Stockport and important work in the House of Commons. I would like to take this opportunity to update you on what I have been up to across Stockport and in Westminster this month.
Firstly, I want to express my sincere gratitude to every Labour activist and candidate across Stockport Borough for the hard work, commitment and energy they brought to our recent local election campaign. Over the past few months, there have undoubtedly been some very challenging conversations on the doorstep, and it is important to recognise the dedication and service of all candidates, especially those councillors who have lost their seats after many years of tireless work in their communities.
Undoubtedly, this has been a difficult result for the Labour Party in Stockport and across the country. A number of dedicated Labour councillors in Stockport, people with long records of serving their communities and standing up for local residents, lost their seats.
The Labour Party must make an honest assessment of these results, and I hope that we can have an open debate within the party about the direction we take from here. It is my view that the Prime Minister must set out a timetable for an orderly transition of leadership. Listen to my interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme - https://shorturl.at/0vP1v
This month in Stockport, Councillor Rachel Wise and I visited the bridge near Harrison's Weir in Reddish Vale which is still out of action almost 18 months after it was severely damaged by flooding. We will continue to press Stockport Council on providing the funding needed to bring the bridge back into use for the community. The people of Reddish and Stockport deserve better public infrastructure.
It was also a pleasure to visit two fantastic colleges in our area, Pure College and Stockport College, and take questions from students on a range of issues.
I have been running a survey asking people in Stockport about road conditions and potholes in their area, asking which streets most urgently need attention. I visited some of the areas that have been most frequently raised by residents - https://shorturl.at/4zxYu
The Friends of Reddish South station and I met with the Rail North Partnership. Reddish has so much to offer and I will continue to work with the Friends group to restore proper passenger services at Reddish South station.
I met with the excellent team at Vernon Building Society in Reddish. We discussed the wide range of products they offer, alongside their rich 101-year heritage serving people across Stockport. It is encouraging that Vernon Building Society wants to continue and expand their local connections while staying true to their values.
I also had the pleasure of visiting Disability Stockport to learn more about the vital work they do supporting people across our town.
Premier Textiles is a specialist family-owned company with sites in Stockport, Bury and even the USA. The company has been honing their craft in Greater Manchester for over forty years, employing and investing in local people for generations. It was great to learn more about their work, rich history across the city region, as well as better understand the challenges faced by the industry.
I had another wonderful day at the Worker Bee Market.
Council tax remains essential to funding frontline services, but the system itself has been outdated since its introduction in 1993. It has not kept pace with how people live, work, or manage their finances. This Labour Government is changing that - Delivering a Fairer Council Tax System — Navendu Mishra MP
Great British Summer Savings means that families in Stockport can go into the summer holidays knowing those little joys with the kids are going to be cheaper. Labour is slashing VAT on summer activities - from cinemas to museums to soft play centres, plus kids’ meals in restaurants.
Alongside this, children aged 5 to 15 will be able to travel free on participating bus services throughout August, helping families across Stockport get out and about, visit loved ones, and enjoy everything our region has to offer.
In Parliament this month, the King’s Speech outlined the legislative agenda of the Labour Government and its programme for national renewal after years of austerity, underinvestment and pressure on public services. My views are here - Investment, Fairness and Renewal: My Contribution to the King’s Speech Debate — Navendu Mishra MP
I visited the Reading Agency’s Quick Reads drop-in at Parliament as part of the National Year of Reading. I am delighted to back this brilliant initiative because everyone should have access to the life-changing benefits of reading.
One of the most common arguments used to justify fox hunts continuing is the claim that rehoming foxhounds is impossible. I met with Protect the Wild in Westminster to learn more about the work being done to rehome former hunting dogs.
I also joined cross-party parliamentary colleagues and a number of animal rights organisations in calling on the Government to take swift action to ban the import and sale of fur - https://shorturl.at/am7FS
I wrote to the new Health Secretary to raise several issues relating to healthcare provision in Stockport, alongside wider concerns that have been brought to my attention by constituents and local NHS staff.
Building societies serve millions of members across the UK, and as their scale and importance continue to grow, it is vital that governance frameworks remain transparent and accountable, and that members’ voices remain at the heart of decision-making. I wrote to the Chancellor, as well as to Nationwide Chair Kevin Parry OBE, regarding a number of emerging governance issues within the building society sector.
There is no place in our society for abuse, racism or discrimination, towards any individual or elected representative. You can see just a few examples of the abusive comments and emails I receive frequently. In recent weeks, Greater Manchester Police have arrested an individual in connection with racist abuse directed at me.
The people of Stockport constituency elected me in 2019, and I was re-elected in 2024. I will not be intimidated by anyone and continue to do my best for my constituents. No one should be subjected to this kind of behaviour, and it is entirely unacceptable.
My constituency office is open to visitors from 10:00am to 3.30pm on weekdays (excluding public holidays). I hold regular constituency surgeries as well as drop-in sessions across our constituency. Please get in touch with me if you wish to discuss any issues.
You can contact me with the details below:
Email - navendu.mishra.mp@parliament.uk
Telephone - 0161 480 0833
Website - www.navendumishra.co.uk
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NavenduForStockport/
Kind regards,
Navendu Mishra MP