Kate Osborne MP: Vote Labour and choose progress and hope over hate
Vote Labour – well, it is Polling Day, and I am your Labour Member of Parliament!
Today, residents across South Tyneside and Gateshead head to the polls to cast their votes in this year’s all-out Local Government elections.
I am not up for election as your Member of Parliament but these local elections matter for our streets, schools, care services, town centres and green spaces. They also reflect a wider question about the future direction of our country, whether we continue to rebuild after years of austerity, or whether we risk going backwards.
For decades under Conservative governments, councils like South Tyneside and Gateshead have been forced to operate under severe financial pressure.
Endless Tory-driven cuts have left local authorities trying to deliver vital services with reduced resources and increasing demand. This was a political choice from governments that do not care about our communities – and it left Labour Councils like ours struggling to deliver.
Despite this, our Labour-led councils have continued to work tirelessly for residents. Even in the most difficult circumstances, they protected services as much as they could – and now under our Labour Government we have started the heavy work of rebuilding, with our Pride in Place investment bringing millions into South Tyneside both in Jarrow and Hebburn and in South Shields in King Street and Biddick Hall.
During the campaign trail, I’ve been delighted to join new candidates including Stephen Rutherford in Hebburn North, Nick Lamb and Taz Ali in Fellgate and Hedworth, and Emma Corr in Monkton – and I joined my neighbouring MP Emma Lewell out with Syed Shorif Ahmed standing in West Park, Javad Hussain for Beacon and Bents and Liam Walker for Westoe – wherever you live, you should vote Labour so we can continue finally getting the investment the North East so desperately needs.
You should vote Labour so that we can continue investing in community safety through community and business responders, continue investing in education with new nurseries and breakfast clubs, apprenticeships and transport and so much more.
These announcements will have a lasting legacy on our area.
Of course, there are some that seek to denigrate this, that chose to whip up hatred instead of building our community - and I urge you to see beyond the lies and spin of the right and far right locally.
Reform, in particular, are desperate to scare you and convince you they are just like you and only doing this for the people.
Well, in case you've forgotten:
Farage and his many jobs has taken an extra £1million on top of his MP salary since being elected and breached the MPs' code 17 times by failing to declare nearly £400,000 and, of course, the £5million "gift".
Richard Tice, the Deputy Leader of Reform UK, didn't pay £100,000 in tax from his FOUR shell companies and when talking about Reform’s SEND policy said it has been “hijacked by parents who are abusing the system" saying kids don't need ear defenders and accusing parents of using home to school transport as "free taxi transport for their children".
And this week's ridiculousness:
Zia Yusuf firstly admitted Reform won't actually be able to tackle immigration and then threatened people with if you do not vote for us or we will build immigration detention centres in your area.
Yet more attempts to exploit the fears and hysteria that they whip up and drive a toxic wedge between our communities.
It is quite clear Reform do not have a clue, they are just seeking to weaponise hate and profit on people's fears.
From the NHS to SEND to Immigration Reform to workers’ rights, they have no idea and they do not care about fixing the system.
The recent wage increases have made a huge difference to workers, all enabled by Labour’s Employment Rights Act, Reform voted against it and have stated they would seek to repeal it.
These elections shape the places we live, and every vote helps determine the future direction of our communities.
Voting in local elections is about choosing who will make decisions on housing, education, social care, transport, regeneration and the environment in our area. Electors can vote for up to three candidates in their ward.
I will work with Councillors and our communities to keep delivering for our neighbourhoods and I know for our local Labour candidates, the focus remains on continuing to invest in communities, supporting families, and working in partnership with a Labour Government to deliver lasting change. With council elections taking place following boundary changes and all 54 councillors in South Tyneside being elected, this is a hugely significant moment for our local democracy.
So, as people head to the polls today – before work, after work, or between the demands of daily life – remember choose progress, choose hope over hate.
Vote Labour.