About Oliver
Oliver Ryan is the Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Burnley, representing Burnley, Padiham, Brierfield and the surrounding communities.
His focus is on improving opportunity, strengthening local services and making sure communities across the constituency have a strong voice in Westminster and across government.
Before Parliament
Oliver was born in Manchester on 22 April 1995, the eldest of four children, and grew up near Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne.
He studied Modern History with Politics at the University of Manchester and later completed a Graduate Diploma in Law.
Oliver joined the Labour Party as a teenager and was first elected to Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council for Audenshaw in 2014, at the age of 19.
Over nine years as a councillor, he gained experience dealing with some of the biggest challenges facing local communities. He held cabinet responsibility for children's social care before later taking responsibility for regeneration and finance.
That experience of local government — from supporting vulnerable children and families to dealing with regeneration, budgets and public services — shaped the approach he has brought to Parliament.
MP for Burnley
Oliver was elected as Member of Parliament for Burnley at the General Election on 4 July 2024.
The constituency includes the Borough of Burnley together with the Pendle wards of Brierfield East & Clover Hill and Brierfield West & Reedley.
Since entering Parliament, Oliver has sought to combine constituency campaigning with a strong voice inside government.
In May 2026 he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department of Health and Social Care. In July 2026 he became Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations.
Parliamentary Private Secretary
Department of Health and Social Care
Appointed May 2026
Parliamentary Private Secretary
To the Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations
Appointed July 2026
Working for Burnley
Oliver has described one of his central aims as breaking the “generational cycle of worklessness” that affects some communities across the constituency.
His priorities include:
Jobs and opportunity
Helping more young people into work, training and apprenticeships, and making sure local people can benefit from new investment and economic growth.
Better NHS services
Pushing for shorter waiting lists and better access to healthcare across East Lancashire, including services provided by East Lancashire Hospitals.
Safer neighbourhoods
Supporting stronger neighbourhood policing and action against antisocial behaviour, high-street crime and businesses that undermine local communities.
Regeneration and housing
Bringing brownfield and derelict sites back into use, supporting new homes in the right places and helping town centres and neighbourhoods attract investment.
Fair funding
Making the case for places such as Burnley to receive a fairer share of government funding and public investment, reflecting the challenges local communities face.
A strong voice for the constituency
Standing up for Burnley, Padiham, Brierfield and the surrounding villages in Parliament and making sure local concerns are heard across government.
Need Oliver's help?
If you live in the Burnley constituency and need help with an issue, you can check your postcode and contact Oliver's office through this website.
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