New left party stands first candidates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Left Unity, the new party of the left founded after an appeal by film director Ken Loach, has announced its first-ever election candidates. The dozen candidates are standing in May’s local elections in five local areas, including:

• 7 candidates in Wigan
• 2 in Norwich
• 1 each in Barnet (north London), Exeter and Bolton

All the candidates are committed to representing working people, saving the welfare state and offering an economic alternative to austerity.

Bianca Todd, Left Unity principal speaker, said:

“These are early days for Left Unity – the party was only founded six months ago. These dozen candidates are a great start and we intend to campaign for them very seriously.

“The Wigan candidates are a real challenge to Labour in one of its heartlands, where it has taken voters for granted for too long.”

Stephen Hall, one of Left Unity’s seven candidates in Wigan, said:

“We’re hoping to tap into the growing body of people who think that all the main party politicians are more or less the same, and rather than having the best interests of the majority at heart, just look out for themselves.

“Labour voters especially have become disillusioned with the party’s move to the right under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and its recent distancing of itself from the unions, and lack of clear policies and direction under Ed Milliband.

“If elected, Left Unity councillors will help to lead the fight against the government’s austerity policies, not do the Tories’ dirty work.”

Candidates are available for interview. For more information and photos contact press@leftunity.org

Notes to editors

1. Left Unity is the new party of the left in Britain. Founded in November 2013, it already has over 1,900 members and 50 branches across the country.

2. The party is not standing in the European Parliament elections, but is supporting Green candidate Peter Cranie in the north west, who is best placed to beat the BNP’s Nick Griffin there.

3. Information about Left Unity’s local election candidates:

Wigan

Adele Andrews (Pemberton ward) is a shop worker, Wigan Diggers’ festival committee member, and a campaigner against the cuts, Atos and the privatisation of the NHS. She has also been involved in fighting fracking and zero hours contracts, and made the national newspapers protesting against David Cameron’s visit to Wigan last year.

Stuart Bolton (Aspull, New Springs & Whelley ward) is a retired Bakers’ Union member and former Hovis worker who, amongst other things, is involved in the fight against low pay and zero hours contracts via BFAWU and the Fast Food Rights campaign. He is a Wigan Trades Council member and is opposed to cuts and privatisation of the NHS and other public services.

Hazel Duffy (Wigan West ward) is a lab technician, a Unison member, Beech Hill Bookcycle volunteer, and a fast food rights and NHS campaigner. She has also been involved in the Wigan Diggers’ Festival committee for three years, was a picket during the Hovis strike, and is anti-fracking activist.

Stephen Hall (Atherleigh ward) is a graphic designer and printer, who as well as being a long-standing community activist, green socialist, NHS, local school and environmental campaigner, is also chair of Leigh Unite the Union branch and President of Greater Manchester Association of Trades Union Councils.

Ian Heyes (Hindley ward) is a local joiner, who has been active in the campaign against cuts and privatisation of the NHS, and in opposing the spread of fracking. He is secretary of Leigh Unite the Union branch, a member of Wigan Trades Council, Wigan Diggers’ Festival Committee and a lifelong socialist and trade union activist.

Janet Phillips (Ince ward) is a Hovis canteen worker and Bakers’ Union member, opposed to zero hours contracts and cuts in public services. She is a strong opponent of racism and fascism, and thinks our councillors should be fighting the cuts, not implementing them.

Craig Wilson (Atherton ward) is an Atherton community centre volunteer, ‘Barton Moss protector’ and anti-fracking activist who is against the guided busway development from Leigh, Atherton & Tyldesley to Manchester and would like to see proper railway services instead.

Norwich

Karen Michael (Sewell ward) was a member of the Labour Party until she went to a council meeting and listened to Labour Party councillors insult people who were having problems paying their bedroom tax, and found that the local Labour parliamentary candidate is in favour of NHS privatisation. She now thinks the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems really have the same views and it’s time for a new face in politics.

Julian Bell (Crome ward) says he wants to “press the reset button” as the mainstream political parties have all blurred into one, and stand for an alternative based on tackling inequality and massive wealth accumulation in the financial system.

Barnet

Philip Clayton (Oakleigh ward) is a chef and a single parent. He stood in the last general election in protest at his local Tory MP Theresa ‘Two Villas’ Villiers trousering nearly £50,000 of public money to buy a flat in Pimlico when her house is 8 miles from Westminster – while himself being trapped in a private flat costing £250 a week.