New Burnley MP hopes 'nerdy' instincts will give town boost

The 29-year-old became Lancashire's youngest MP when he won back Burnley for Labour with a majority of 3,420 on July 4, after Antony Higginbotham's once-in-a-century Tory victory in 2019.

Mr Ryan will now be able to indulge in his love of hill walking on the steep slopes around his new constituency, as well as pursuing his political goals in the no less challenging environment of the House of Commons.

As MPs returned to Parliament after a short summer break he spoke to Local Democracy Reporter Bill Jacobs about his background, his interests and what he hopes to achieve in his new job and for his constituents.

Mr Ryan grew up near Oldham with two brothers and a sister and has lived in Cliviger for a number of years.

He said his grandparents were central to his upbringing; as a trade union official and a nurse, they believed in the change working-class people can make when they do things together.

A child of a mother with a long-term health condition, Oliver was attracted to politics after seeing the changes the last Labour Government delivered.

This included rebuilding his secondary school, rebuilding the town centre, putting cash into the pockets of working people like his parents, and delivering the shortest NHS waiting times in history on everything from cancer treatment to emergency care.

Burnley MP Oliver Ryan outside his town centre office, with landlord Jane (Image: Oliver Ryan/X)

Before his election to Parliament, Mr Ryan worked in public and private sector roles after completing his undergraduate degree in History and Politics at The University of Manchester and his postgraduate studies at The University of Law.

On his hobbies and life away from work, he said: " I am a huge dog person and have my own Labrador.

"I am a keen walker of our local hills and around our reservoirs, an avid cycler and reader.

"I am a self-confessed 'nerd' who enjoys thriller novels, sci-fi audiobooks, country music and brass bands.

"Locally, I support Burnley FC and can often be found in the town centre or even occasionally at my local pub."

Oliver Ryan greets people on a visit to Pendleside Hospice (Image: Oliver Ryan/X)

On his agenda for the next five years representing Burnley, he said: "Key issues for me are growth for Burnley, Padiham and Brierfield, attracting jobs and investment, ending generational poverty, tackling youth unemployment and improving our essential public services and in particular our NHS and policing.

"Locally, I want to improve our buses and public services for young people and pensioners in particular, end the scourge of small off-road and unregistered petrol bikes blighting our estates, and improve the area’s housing stock.

"The current devolution deal on the table for Lancashire is uninspiring, unpopular and unambitious for the greatest county in Britain.

"I admit the last Labour Government didn’t get everything right, but they completely rebuilt Burnley College, brought UCLan to our town and created good public services which could be relied upon, especially at the council and the NHS.

Chorley MP and Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle welcomed Oliver Ryan to the Commons

"I came into politics to get us back to that level of ambition for our area and all our people after 14 years of the Conservatives in government.

“However people voted, I will do my utmost to represent everyone on every street in every community.

"What matters to me matters to you. I’m not so arrogant as to assume I’ll get everything right - I won’t. I'll always be straight with people.

"I’ll fight for better services, more investment in Burnley, Padiham and Brierfield; a better style of politics; a focus on getting things done; and doe peace around the world.

"In five years I will ask voters to judge me on my record. I won’t let them down.”