Jim McMahon OBE MP
Biography
Jim McMahon OBE was appointed Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Growth on 22 July 2026.
He previously served as Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution between 6 July 2024 and 6 September 2025.
Jim has been the Member of Parliament for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton since December 2015, having previously represented the predecessor constituency of Oldham West and Royton.
Before entering Parliament, Jim served as a local councillor from 2003 to 2017, including as Leader of Oldham Council. He was also a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, where he was involved in developing the first mayoral devolution deal outside London, taking responsibility for transport and skills policy. During this period, he also served as Leader of the Labour Group and Vice Chair of the Local Government Association.
Since entering Parliament, Jim has held a number of frontbench roles in opposition, including Shadow Minister for Local Government, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, and Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He also led the development of the Labour Party’s devolution policy ahead of entering government.
Jim has served as Chair of the Co-operative Party since 2021 and is a co-founder of the Co-operative Councils’ Innovation Network.
Jim currently serves on the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth)
The Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth is responsible for:
- Local government finance, including local taxation, business rates and local government pensions
- Local government policy, including standards, stewardship, local audit and governance
- Local government reorganisation
- English devolution, including integrated settlements, Combined Authorities and pan-regional bodies
- Local and regional growth and investment
- Growth funds, including Pride in Place and Community Right to Buy Fund
- Community ownership and co-operative development
- High streets and town centres
- Town and parish councils
- Planning casework