RESIDENTS living off Green Sward Lane in Matchborough found themselves answering the door to the deputy leader of the Labour Party, Tom Watson MP, on Saturday.
Mr Watson, who is from Worcestershire, was in Redditch as the Party geared up for the local elections next Thursday and to endorse its running of the council in the face of massive cuts in grants from central government.
“I’m here to support Councillor John Fisher who is the candidate here in Matchborough,” said the MP for West Bromwich East.
These are very important elections and John has been working hard for the last four years.
“Redditch is a litmus test constituency and the local Labour Party under the leadership of Coun Bill Hartnett has run the council extremely well by protecting services in the face what has now been three major cuts in local government finance.
“We all knew we had to reduce the deficit but George Osborne, the Chancellor has now gone too far and something has to give, you can’t keep on going with public services continually being slashed.”
Coun Fisher said: “We’ve been working hard here in Matchborough for the past four years, on one level helping people with personal issues while also reaching agreement to redevelop Matchborough and Winyates centres and the town centre.
“For the last three years I have also been in charge of council finances in which we have faced unprecedented cuts from central government.
“We have made millions of pounds in savings yet still managed to maintain and protect services.
“We’ve got value for money for every single penny we’ve spent.”
The local elections are on Thursday, May 5. Also standing in Matchborough are Louise Deveney, (Green Party), Simon Oliver, (Liberal Democrat Party) Jim Swansborough, (Ukip), Alexandra Williams (Conservative Party).
