My hopes and fears for 2015

2015 will be a defining year for the sort of society we want to create. Since I was selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate just over a year ago, I have met and listened to thousands of people across the borough.

The main thing that has struck me is that for far too many the so called recovery has passed them by. As a volunteer at The Hounslow Community Foodbox, I have heard at first hand the stories people who are in work but simply do not earn enough to feed their families.

In response, the Conservative led coalition has systematically eroded the safety net of benefits and allowed key costs such as energy, childcare and fares rise inexorably. Caps on Housing Benefit and the iniquitous Bedroom Tax have caused genuine hardship and displaced many families. Can it be right that the people who do many of the lowest paid jobs on which we depend are being forced to move further and further away from where they work, facing ever increasing travel costs?

I have listened to peoples concerns about the NHS. ‘Crisis’ is not a word to use lightly. But when I hear of people waiting hours for ambulances, local A&E departments struggling to cope with ever increasing demand and lack of access to GP appointments, there is no doubt a crisis is what we face. A crisis which promises only to get worse with the traditionally most pressurised months of January and February still to come, and further A&E closures on the horizon. I have enormous respect for the brilliant service that the hard-pressed staff in the NHS still deliver, but the Coalition must be held to account for their mismanagement.

My New Year’s message is that it does not have to be like this. In May there will be the choice between a party that plans to further cut public spending to levels last seen in the 30’s before the NHS was born; and one that is committed to build a strong economic foundation and balance the books.

After the election the Airports Commission will give its verdict on where further runway capacity in the South East should go. The added noise and air pollution that would blight so many more people’s lives means further expansion at Heathrow is not sustainable. That is why I will continue to campaign to ensure that Heathrow is not chosen. It is, and should remain, Britain’s premier airport but as our slogan says; Better not Bigger.

I am starting 2015 confident of the great spirit of people here in the Brentford & Isleworth constituency. Our community is made stronger not weaker by its diversity. I think that people here believe, as I do, in fairness. That is why I will continue to listen to, and to work with local people, and after May 7th hope to represent you in parliament, as part of a Labour Government, working for the many, not the few.