Members and supporters in Mid Worcestershire hit the streets during the Labour Party’s National Campaign weekend
Evesham Labour Party’s gazebo returned on Saturday morning in the High Street as part of the party’s national campaign weekend. On Sunday it moved on to the Westlands Estate in Droitwich to support campaigning at the other end of the Mid Worcestershire constituency.
In Evesham, leaflets highlighting the disastrous impact of Liz Truss’ rapidly aborted financial policies on ordinary people’s lives were distributed to passers- by. The leaflets also featured Labour’s contrasting ideas, such as their Green Prosperity Plan. Those visiting the gazebo were asked by Labour members and supporters about the local and national issues of most concern to them.
Chair of Evesham Labour, Mike Harland, welcomed the chance to talk to shoppers. He said, ‘The chaotic and damaging events of recent months, under a succession of Conservative Prime Ministers, have made many people wary of all politicians and parties. We urgently need a General Election so that people can be presented with a genuine and better alternative to this Tory incompetence that is costing people dearly.’
Matthew Rea, who helped to organise the event, agreed. ‘People spoke to us of their frustration at the decline of public services and their struggle with rising costs when pay and benefits lag behind prices. We need a government that prioritises fairness, with taxes on exorbitant profits, proper rewards for essential workers and full protection for those most vulnerable to the spiralling cost of living.’
Local residents will have been surprised to see the arrival of a big, red Labour Party gazebo in the centre of the Westlands estate on Sunday morning. The same sight had greeted shoppers in Evesham High Street the day before – all part of the Labour Party’s National Campaign Weekend. Local Labour Party members and supporters distributed leaflets highlighting the disastrous impact of Liz Truss’s brief time as Prime Minister on the lives of ordinary people and highlighting the contrasting Green Prosperity Plan put forward by the Labour Party.
Passers-by were asked about the situation they were facing and invited to talk to Val Humphries and Dr Anthony Kelly, who will both be standing for Labour in next year’s District Council elections in that part of Droitwich.
Alex Knudsen, Chair of Mid Worcestershire Labour Party, who took part, said ‘It was good to be joined by members new and old as we took Labour’s message to Droitwich residents, highlighting an alternative vision to the ongoing chaos made in Downing Street and costing people dearly.’
Val Humphries, who is Chair of Droitwich Labour Party as well as a candidate, agreed. She added ‘It was great to talk to voters and hear about their issues and concerns. Some really positive conversations too, only cut short by the rain!’
Dr Kelly said, ‘The last thing people here need is another dose of austerity, with cuts and more damage to our struggling public services. We believe there are better ways of managing the economy than that and Labour has outlined them.’
Plans are under way to bring the Labour gazebo to different parts of Mid Worcestershire over the coming months, with an invitation to people to come and share their ideas and concerns with local Labour supporters – so keep a look out.