Southend Labour Party

Working hard for you

Why I'm Labour

The Labour Party has a proud history of fighting for fairness against the odds. 

Want to know what inspires people to join and support the Labour Party? Some local members and supporters give their own reasons here below: 

Kevin Bonavia (Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Rochford and Southend East):

"I joined the Labour Party because I believe that we are all happier and better off if we we live in a more fair and equal society.

"We all benefit from excellent education and health services for all, not just for the few who can afford to pay more. It was a Labour Government that founded the NHS over 60 years ago, free to all at the point of delivery. And it has been Labour Governments ever since that have been extending the scope and quality of our schools and universities, with every school in the country being rebuilt or refurbished in a current construction programme until 2015.

"But to be Labour also means that, although we can be proud of past achievements, we can never be satisfied while there are still people who need a help up in life - and that is what drives us to do more."

Ian Gilbert (Labour Councillor for Victoria Ward)

"I joined the Labour Party in 1997. I can still remember the message from the Conservative government during the recession in the early nineties. It was 'you're on your own'. When Labour came to power, we had a situation where one in five children were growing up in a household where no one was working. Our failure to train enough police, teachers, doctors and nurses throughout the eighties and early nineties had left our public services in chaos.

Now I'm a councillor, I can see the difference Labour in government is making. Neighbourhood police teams are working to make people safer in their locality. This isn't just my opinion, it's what real people tell me when I visit residents' groups in Victoria. Sure Start children's centres, such as the Summercourt Centre in my ward, are making sure that kids have the best start in life. Southend hospital is treating more people, more quickly, than ever before. Large amounts of money are on their way to refurbish schools in the area. Pensioners enjoy free bus passes. At long last, money is being made available for us to reach the decent homes standard in our social housing. The amazing new college building is giving more opportunities to our young people than ever before.

It's not enough. The ward I represent has enormous social problems that we see on a daily basis. But we can do more, and will do more. We will never leave people on their own."

Rob Brown (Young Labour Member)

I am Labour because I know that only the Labour Party can guarantee: a fair and increasing minimum wage, an ever improving NHS free at the point of delivery and an effective way out of the economic turmoil. It is apparent that national policies of neighbourhood policing, free swimming and Sure Start children centres have proven popular and successful within the constituency. Locally there are many social issues to deal with and it is only by applying the principles of fairness and equality that these can ever be dealt with effectively. It is these principles that the Labour party is committed to and that is why I am Labour.

 Find out about some of Labour's past achievements here.