I would like to preface the following statement by expressing my unwavering loyalty to the Labour Party and my commitment to socialist principles. My frustration is not with individual colleagues within the local party but with the actions of the party on a regional and local level as a collective. Now that the dust has settled on my deselection as the candidate, I can clarify that this decision was made by the Regional Northwest Labour Party due to an anonymous complaint, not the Local Preston Labour Party, who supported my candidacy.
My frustration begins with my deselection. Despite attending community PACT meetings, engaging with residents concerned about Ashton Park, and campaigning to be Lea & Larches’ next councillor, I was not selected due to “lack of experience.” I was informed that while I interviewed well and would have been selected for a normal local election, I was deemed inexperienced for a by-election. This decision also undermined the Lea & Larches Branch Labour Party, who lost their ability to select a candidate twice in a month, reflecting a top-down approach that contradicts our values of grassroots democracy and community empowerment.
My team sought support from local representatives during my campaign. Local MP Mark Hendrick did not support me despite being present at the meeting where my candidacy was announced and being contacted by our team. Although we understood he might be busy, seeing him making a campaign video with Mark Routledge the same day he was announced as the candidate, before even I was informed that I was not selected, was disheartening. This felt personal, especially given Mr Hendrick’s emphasis on youth engagement and votes for 16-year-olds in his campaign, which reveals a disconnect between rhetoric and action that undermines the trust and solidarity we strive to build within the party.
Throughout this period, I faced pressure regarding the Ashton Park issue from both within and outside the party. I sympathised with the concerns and believed a review was necessary to ensure all voices were heard. However, as a Labour candidate, I was not allowed to oppose the local party policy. The result of the election on July 4th displays that the people of Lea & Larches do not forget quickly; they are astute and aware. The Labour Party must re-evaluate its stance, or we risk losing more seats in Preston and making the residents of Lea & Larches feel isolated within a Labour-run council. This situation also underscores the need for a more democratic and inclusive approach within our party, where local voices and concerns are genuinely valued and addressed.
After my replacement by Mark Routledge, it was disappointing to see the Chair of Lea & Larches Branch Labour Party excluded from the election campaign and the Secretary contacted but not consulted on how the campaign should be managed. The branch committee, elected by local members, has valuable knowledge of the ward and should be at the forefront of campaigns. Excluding them silences local Labour members, a recurring issue within our party that contradicts our principles of solidarity and collective action.
As Chair of the University of Central Lancashire Labour Society, I believe we need to bring new life into local politics with young candidates ready to dedicate their energy to local democracy. My deselection reveals a broader issue: the need for experience. If experience is always required, young people will never break through, and nothing will change. We must reassess how we value experience versus the ability to represent and act on the people's will. To truly embody our democratic socialist values, we must create space for young, passionate individuals to lead and innovate within our party and communities.
It was a privilege to be the Greyfriars local candidate in May, and I remain committed to serving our community. Representation and advocacy are my passions. For meaningful change, we need new faces in winnable seats. The national slogan of “Change” must be backed by action. Local government must listen to the people, who on July 4th, loudly demanded change. We must heed their call and respond with policies and candidates that reflect their needs and aspirations.
To everyone in Lea & Larches who voted Labour on July 4th, I am truly sorry. My experience as the Greyfriars candidate in May and your candidate briefly in Lea & Larches reaffirmed my dedication to serving our Preston communities. You allowed me into your community with open arms and I have appreciated the kind messages from start to finish. I couldn’t have asked for a better reception as a young candidate. I will push on; I will not be deterred.
To remain effective and true to our principles, the Labour Party must listen to its members and constituents, support young candidates, and align its actions with its promises of change, ensuring the voices of the people are heard and acted upon. It is time to start listening.
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