Ashley Dalton has been selected to stand for the Labour Party in Rochford & Southend East in the general election on 8 June.

Ashley is a local government officer from Southchurch and has lived in Southend for 25 years and is a governor at Shoeburyness High School.

Speaking shortly after the selection Ashley said,

“I am delighted to have the chance to stand for Labour in the place that I call home.

“This Tory government has overseen the biggest cuts to our public services in a generation and they think we will return a Tory MP over and over regardless of the levels of funding they cut from our schools, how much cuts to police budgets put our safety at risk or if they downgrade our A&E. Voting Labour on June the 8th will show that the people of Rochford & Southend East will not be taken for granted.

“Rochford and Southend East residents need an MP that will put them first. I will work tirelessly to earn the support of voters this June because this general election will be a choice between a Labour Party that will stand up for the people of Rochford and Southend East or a Conservative Party that only looks after the privileged few. I love this place; let’s secure its future.”

Active in the local community Ashley is also a volunteer for Macmillan Cancer Support, raising awareness by sharing her experience of having been treated for breast cancer in 2014.

She said: “I know how important the NHS is to us all. During my cancer treatment, I saw firsthand how vital Southend’s A&E department is to this community. It literally saved my life. I reject the proposed downgrade of Southend’s A&E department and only a Labour government can reverse the Tories’ chronic underfunding of health services.”

A local school governor of 12 years and a parent, Ms Dalton sees high quality education for all and services for young people as priorities.

“There is nothing ‘fair’ about the Tories’ funding formula for schools. Under this Tory government every school in Southend loses money. Without high-quality education our children cannot reach their full potential and when that happens we all lose out” she said.

Cllr Ian Gilbert, Leader of the Labour Group on Southend Council added:

“I welcome the appointment of Ashley Dalton as Labour’s Candidate for Rochford and Southend East for June’s general election.

“As someone who lives in the constituency, I know that if elected on the 8th June, she will put this area first and will be a committed and local MP – that’s what Rochford and Southend East deserves.

“Over the coming weeks I will be joining Ashley on the campaign trail and am looking forward to supporting her as Labour’s candidate.”