REDDITCH’S Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) has officially launched his general election campaign with an event in Astwood Bank.
Chris Bloore’s launch took place a day after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asked King Charles III for permission to dissolve Parliament and announced the UK would be heading to the polls on July 4.
In a speech to local Labour activitsts, Mr Bloore outlined his first steps for the borough.
These included plans to crack down on anti-social behaviour, with more neighbourhood police, proposals to cut NHS waiting times with more appointments in Redditch – including with GPs and dentists – and getting more teachers in key subjects in local schools.
He added Labour’s campaign to win Redditch ‘would centre on the party’s plan to deliver a decade of national renewal following 14 years of decline under the Conservatives’.
Mr Bloore claimed, In this area, full-time workers had £4,320 worse off since 2010, there were fewer local Police Officers, and there were 81,952 people currently on NHS waiting lists.
“After 14 years of uncertainty and stagnation Redditch has the chance to turn the page on the Conservative chaos and build a better future with a changed Labour Party.
“I’m fighting for a more affordable and brighter future for the people I grew up with in this community.
“I want to bring back critical services to the Alex, to bring down waiting lists, to end the cost of living crisis, to regain control of our borders and restore the visible policing presence my grandad used to provide when he was a police officer. It’s time for change.”
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, said: “This is a chance to change Redditch with Labour.
“Over the course of the last four years, we have changed the Labour Party and returned it once more to the service of working people.
“All we ask now, humbly, is to do exactly the same for our country and return Britain to the service of working people.
“A vote for Labour is a vote for economic and political stability, an end to Conservative chaos, and a long-term plan to rebuild Britain.”
