Meeting local traders with Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer in Welling
Commitments & priorities
My commitments to you
I have lived in this area my whole life. I know the challenges our area and our community faces. I will be a strong local voice in Parliament, championing local issues and fighting on your behalf.
As your MP, I would work tirelessly all year round to make sure that I can effectively represent you. I will host regular drop-in surgeries to support constituents with their issues.
I know I won’t please everyone all of the time. But as your local representative, I will always do what I think best represents the views of our area and make it clear why I have come to a particular position.
Priorities
Housing for all
I believe that housing is a universal human right. As a local councillor, I see first hand how badly we need to improve the standard of housing and provide more affordable housing.
I will work with housing associations in the constituency to improve decent home standards and find ways to maximise the provision of affordable housing on new development sites.
The growth of street homelessness in the constituency is a disgrace and I would support an incoming Labour Government to assist those impacted and to reduce those living on our streets.
Building the transport links we need
Since the Government decided to directly run the Southeastern railway franchise, we have seen a reduction in the number of trains and the destinations they serve. I would work tirelessly for a publicly owned service that delivers for residents by increasing the number of Crayford loop to Abbey Wood services and increase the number of trains from Barnehurst, Bexleyheath and Slade Green stations. As the parent of a wheelchair user, I know the access issues that too many residents face and would work to ensure access improvements to our stations.
I know what it takes to campaign for bus improvements given my record as Cabinet Member for Transport. I will work with the Mayor to improve services and options to Abbey Wood Station, to health services and to ensure better and new public transport links across the borough.
An NHS fit for the future
I know how vital the NHS is to families across the constituency. One of our children has cerebral palsy, my wife has epilepsy and the amazing support given to her with her chemotherapy during the pandemic will never be forgotten by our family. However, with record waiting lists, too many of us are seeing our NHS creaking.
As your MP, I would vigorously campaign to deliver a new modern Neighbourhood Health Centre at Erith Hospital delivering patient services not just at conventional times but with services in the evening and at weekends.
I would support a Labour Government to cut waiting times by giving the NHS the staff and technology it needs, improve mental health provision and cancer survival rates.
As the parent of a child who requires full time care support, I know how crucial it is that we improve social care for all in our community and I will continue to work tirelessly to improve this.
Building a safer community
Over the last 14 years, the Conservatives have cut police numbers across the country and the last Conservative Mayor of London closed two of the three police stations in our borough. I would work with the Mayor of London to increase the number of police and PCSOs on our streets supporting Labour’s national mission to make Britain’s streets safe.
I was a shopworker for 11 years and know how important it is to reduce abuse, threats and violence against shopworkers alongside workers in hospitality, public services and other services. I will support measures to make our high streets and communities safer to support them.
The Labour Party has set out a range of crucial measures to reduce violence against women and girls, preventing youth crime and to rebuild our criminal justice system which I would support in Parliament.
A community where every child can thrive
The last Labour Government transformed opportunities for children. I will always fight to ensure that all children receive the education and support they deserve.
I will support a Labour Government to create a modern childcare system that is high quality and affordable with breakfast clubs in every primary school to give children the best start, and to recruit more teachers paid for by ending tax breaks for private schools.
A child’s background should not be a barrier to opportunity, and I will support Labour’s Early Years Plan and measures to reduce child poverty.
I know first hand the issues faced by families of children with special educational needs and disabilities and will continue to work with parent representative groups in our community to support families and ensure they receive the support they deserve.
Strengthening support in the workplace
I know the value of work which was instilled in me by my parents and grandparents. For far too many families in today’s Britain, the cost of living crisis has meant that despite working hard, the weekly wage doesn’t cover the bills.
I worked for Marks and Spencer for eleven years. While I worked at a number of stores, my working life started here at their Bexleyheath store. Today I am self-employed and understand the challenges of working for yourself.
I would fully support a Labour’s plans to make work pay. Within Parliament and the constituency, I would support measures including closing the gender pay gap, ending low pay, growing apprenticeship opportunities, tackling job insecurity, the growth of in-work poverty and implementing an employment rights bill.
I am a strong supporter of breaking down barriers for disabled people and would work to implement the social model of disability.