I am delighted that Salford has been confirmed as the 'leading bidder in principle' to host the new BBC Media City development. The proposed move would present a fantastic opportunity to create a modern Digital City for the UK and bring tremendous benefits across the North West.

I am very pleased indeed that the hard work by all the partners, the excellent bid and presentation, meetings with the culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell and Chair of the BBC Michael Grade, have all paid off.

Since the last meeting I have been busy in the Constituency and in London.

I was delighted to attend the grand finale of celebr8 (don’t discrimin8) at the B of the Bang, City of Manchester stadium - one resident from each of the 32 nations represented in the World Cup finals, came together to fly flags and celebrate diversity. I was delighted to be asked to take part in this celebration of diversity. It struck me as something simple and yet incredibly worthwhile and it was very interesting to meet such a diverse group of people and share their experiences of being part of the North West.

I was invited to officially open the POPS Centre (Partners of Prisoners & Families Support Group) at HMP YOI Forest Bank. I gave a short speech and then met with staff, families and other colleagues.

I hosted a very constructive meeting on the future of maternity and neonatal services at Hope Hospital. I invited to this meeting Barbara Keeley MP and Ian Stewart; the Chief Executive and Chair of Salford Royal NHS Trust, David Dalton and Cllr Margaret Morris; the Chief Executive and Chair of the Salford Primary Care Trust, Dr Mike Burrows and Dr Eileen Fairhurst and the Chief Executive and Chair of Central Manchester Hospitals NHS Trust Mike Deegan and Peter Mount.

I was pleased to attend the Civic Sunday Parade in Salford. The Mayor and Mayoress of Salford, Cllrs Bernard and Jane Murphy led the parade and service at St Thomas of Canterbury RC Church, Great Cheetham Street East in Broughton.

As Labour Party Chair I was pleased to attend the UCATT (Union of Construction, Allied Workers and Technicians) National Delegate Conference dinner where I gave the key note speech. The conference was held at the Grand Hotel in Torquay.

I was delighted to attend the Progress conference at the Mechanics Institute in Manchester. The event, two weeks after the local elections, provided an opportunity for over 100 Party members to come together and discuss the results and their implications. I am delighted that our very own Peter Wheeler also spoke at one of the fringe events; “What’s the future for Party reform?”

I was pleased to accept the invitation to attend the Compass conference – The Shape of Things to Come, held at Central Hall, Westminster. I took part in the Question Time fringe meeting with amongst others Greg Dyke former Director General of the BBC, Jon Trickett MP, Polly Toynbee, columnist for The Guardian, Fiona Millar and Shami Chakrabarti, of Liberty. A lively and interesting discussion ensued.

I also attended the Labour Party Ethnic Minority Forum held in Leicester. The event was launched by Mohammed Azam, Chair of the National Ethnic Minority Forum. I gave a speech on the work of the Labour Party regarding Labour ethnic minority MPs, councillors, members and members of the wider BME (British and Minority Ethnic groups). It was a very interesting and informative meeting.

As you know tonight’s meeting was rearranged from 15th June due to England playing Trinidad & Tobago in the World Cup and of course England won the World Cup in 1996 under a Labour Government so let’s hope they can repeat that performance!

I am sorry I can’t be with you tonight; I have been holding a Let’s Talk event with the Prime Minister in Bristol, discussing crime and civil liberties with Party members and people who have experience of crime and anti-social behaviour. To take part in the debate, go to http://www.labour.org.uk/blog/index.php?id=125. I’m also campaigning in the Blaenau Gwent by-election.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Best wishes

Hazel Blears MP