Climate Change and Environment

Having previously served as Lancashire Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Recycling and Renewables, I have been instrumental in developing strong environmental policy solutions to the climate and ecological emergencies. Lancashire has large coastal and low-lying communities that are particularly vulnerable to the devastating effects of climate change. We’ve already seen how damaging floods have been in our area. I am committed to moving to a low-carbon, bio-diverse, world in a way that benefits everyone. Lancashire can be part of the UK being a world-leader in low-carbon technology and tackling climate change will be a core part of a Labour policies.

Building Back Fairer

I am a keen supporter of independent, ethical businesses and I am a firm believer that properly paid, decent work is a key part of a good life. Our businesses contribute a huge amount to our communities and economy and have my full support. I want to make sure that local small and medium enterprises have a level playing field with mega-corporations who currently get away with not paying UK tax on UK earnings.

Education

I regularly work with schools in my community and have seen the loss of specialist teaching and pastoral support as a result of the cuts. Schools in Lancashire have lost funding per pupil. This has had a huge impact on schools’ ability to give kids the rounded education they need and has particularly affected specialist teaching support and pastoral care.

With two children in primary school, I know first hand the worth of a decent education. Labour values all different types of education, and through our local skills offer will ensure people are able to upskill and retrain throughout their lifetime.

Housing

I believe that everyone deserves to have a decent, warm, house that feels like home. Too many people are living in draughty, damp, expensive houses and young people in rural areas are forced out of their villages due to lack of affordable housing. Developers are building homes that most people can’t afford and councils do not have the powers to ensure that the sort of homes we need locally are built. I want to see an overhaul of planning laws to ensure that housing is energy-efficient and meets the needs of local people.

I have regularly helped council constituents who have struggled with poor conditions and evictions.

Public Transport

Regular buses and reliable trains should be a basic expectation in the UK but over the past 12 years the infrastructure of our public transport system has crumbled. Big projects like HS2, which was essential for increasing capacity on the West Coast Mainline, have been cancelled and our train services are in chaos due to companies not emplying enough staff. Places where Labour are in power locally, like the Mayor in Manchester, are seeing great improvements in bus services, but most local authorities don’t have the powers they need to make this happen.

Public Safety

People have a right to feel safe in their homes and neighbourhoods. This means preventing crime ever happening by investing in the causes of crime such as early years support, good education, reducing poverty and drug and alcohol misuse prevention and treatment. It also means restoring a police service that works with communities and can respond to crime. Lancashire lost 750 police officers as a result of Conservative cuts implemented in 2010 and are nowhere near recovering those numbers, despite Government promises.