Ben Hartley
benhartleyaom.bsky.social
Ben Hartley
@benhartleyaom.bsky.social
Labour & Co-operative Councillor for Ashton on Mersey, Trafford | Unison | Community | Co-op Party | Lawyer | Runner | Cyclist | Lover of the Lakes | Border Terrier owner
Great turnout this morning from @traffordlabour.bsky.social to go speaking to residents in Broadheath on behalf of Councillor Amy Whyte, Broadheath Ward, Cllr Denise Western and Connor Rand MP
July 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
On Wed I spoke at meeting of @traffordcouncil.bsky.social about how our grammar schools need to do more for Trafford children and disadvantaged children [1/2]

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...
'Isn’t it time that Trafford schools were for Trafford children?'
Grammar schools in south of borougjh under fire
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
July 18, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Resolve Poverty's Money Advice Referral Tool (MART) is now available as an online, interactive financial support finder for seven Greater Manchester boroughs.

Answer just three questions before being shown tailored information on local support options 👇

mart.resolvepoverty.org
June 29, 2025 at 8:20 PM
I’m so lucky to have such lovely daughters who know me so well. #FathersDay2025
June 15, 2025 at 9:44 PM
#GCSE #EnglishLanguage exam today with class bias my 16yo was able to see, with a piece about peregrines nesting on the roof of the Tate Modern. How wonderfully middle class! Ridiculous but also disgraceful tbh. I hope curriculum review tackles nonsense like this @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social
June 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Out with the #AshtonuponMersey @labouruk.bsky.social team yesterday speaking to residents in the Southern Rd area. Thank you to everyone who spoke to us.
May 25, 2025 at 9:56 PM
We need to urgently rethink our testing & exam culture. My 16yo has been through a lot health-wise. She’s doing 8 GCSEs and has 24 exams. We tell her that her results won’t define her. Her school tell her the opposite. Let’s treat the causes rather than the symptoms @youngmindscollab.bsky.social
May 18, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Lovely to call into Arches Charity Fair on Viaduct Rd in Broadheath. Food/drinks by amazing Lisa at EZ Bar and Cafe and fundraising for local charities Stockdales (several homes in Ashton) and The Christie (close to mine and many people’s hearts). Also saw Mike Welton perform with his band!
May 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Beautiful this morning in #Altrincham
May 16, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I know residents were disappointed about closure of Altrincham Minor Injuries Unit. Today I went to Urgent Treatment Centre at Trafford General and service was excellent. Staff were quick and professional and was in and out in less than half an hour. Barely had time to sit down. #NHS #BrokenFinger
May 3, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Quite clear on #BBCLauraK that Farage is no friend of local government. No understanding of the funding pressures. Vital local services clearly not safe in hands of Reform councillors
April 13, 2025 at 9:07 AM
As a member of @communityunion.bsky.social delighted to see Jonathan Reynolds
take through legislation yesterday to protect future of UK steel making. Right thing to do to protect jobs, vital industry and the national interest. #SaveOurSteel
April 13, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Trafford Tories’ alternative budget for @traffordcouncil.bsky.social not robust enough to even be considered! They closed Sure Start centres, care homes, libraries and were going to cut school crossing patrols when they were last in charge. Wonder if they’ll say what cuts they were proposing?
February 22, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Great to join @labour4europe.bsky.social AGM last night to hear @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social
with impassioned speech on how & why we need a closer relationship with EU. Surely key to Labour
mission for growth and has to be better than Brexit mess of red tape which is holding back UK business…
February 14, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Great to be out in #AshtonUponMersey this morning. We spoke to nearly 100 residents and picked up some casework. Connor Rand MP and @traffordlabour.bsky.social councillors working for you all year round
February 8, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Politically as well economically the right thing to do early in this parliament. It shouldn’t be left to @stellacreasy.bsky.social Labour Movement for Europe and a few others to be making this obvious case. Will have a direct impact on the growth mission.
From the podcast: how I would nix the Tories if I were Keir Starmer, by George Osborne
February 7, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Great to attend the opening of the #LittleFacesBigFeelings exhibition at Sale Waterside. All women photographers. Shows the feelings of children during Covid lockdowns. Photography can provide authentic story telling in our post-truth world.

On now till 13 April
January 25, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Very sorry to hear that the Age UK shop on Green Lane is closing after 35 years in Ashton Village. The shop has regular customers and local volunteers and is a real community asset that will be sorely missed by many. Best wishes for the future to Kerry and all her volunteers
December 21, 2024 at 9:57 PM