Canvassing in Whiteshill with Iain McNicol

Today I have been canvassing in Whiteshill with Labour General Secretary Iain McNicol. 

We were also joined by Labour Stroud District Councillors David Drew and Roger Sanders, and County Councillor Lesley Williams. 

Canvassing in Ruscombe

I have been out in Ruscombe this evening canvassing for the upcoming District Elections. 

I was joined by Stroud District Councillors David Drew and Roger Sanders. 

Meeting with Maria Eagle MP and Roberta Blackman-Woods MP

This week I have attended 2 meetings at Stroud Labour constituency Offices in Landsdown.

The guest at these meetings were Maria Eagle MP (Shadow Environment Minister) and Roberta Blackman-Woods MP (Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government). 

Maria Eagle MP met with myself and other individuals representing groups involved with the Anti Badger Cull Campaign. She wanted to hear about our experiences on the ground during the Badger Cull Pilot last year.  She also spoke to Dr Chris Cheeseman about his research and vast knowledge of Bovine TB and Badgers. 

I also met Roberta Blackman-Woods on Thursday to talk about her role as Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government, she listened to Labour Councillors concerns about the Governments planning policy and the threat of losing green fields to housing development. 

We also discussed Neighbourhood Plans and their role within local communities and Parish Councils. This was of particular interest to myself as a Parish Councillor, as Whiteshill and Ruscombe are in the process of doing a neighbourhood plan at the moment, Roberta assured me and others at the meeting that the Labour Party fully support Neighbourhood Plans and see them becoming a vital tool for local Councils and communities in the future. 

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/11142984.Shadow_environment_secretary_Maria_Eagle_calls_for_stop_to_badger_cull_during_visit_to_Stroud/

Labour Continue To Campaign For Living Wage

As part of the TUC’s Fair Pay Fortnight, former MP and parliamentary candidate David Drew calls on local businesses to follow Stroud District Council’s lead and pay workers the Living Wage. Cllr Drew, who served as Stroud’s MP from 1997 until 2010, was commenting on the findings of the TUC on the proportion of workers paid below the Living Wage, “I was shocked to discover that nearly a fifth of all workers in Stroud are paid below the Living Wage.” The Living Wage is currently set at £7.65 an hour outside London, including Stroud. Cllr Drew continued, “The situation is even worse if you are a part time worker, where over half of all workers receive less than the Living Wage. We are constantly being told by our incumbent MP and Government that the recovery is here, but tell that to people on these poverty wages, as well of those out of jobs like at Listers in Dursley.” 

Cllr Drew went onto to attack his successor as MP, Neil Carmichael, “Last year, Mr. Carmichael refused to rule out voting against a cut in the national minimum wage (Stroud News and Journal, April 2013). I said then and I say now that that position is absolutely disgraceful – I was proud to vote for the National Minimum Wage when in Parliament. Instead, I call on the Government to increase the level of the national minimum age to that of the Living Wage.”

Vanessa Price, Labour’s candidate in Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe, said “It’s vitally important that we continue to press for a Living Wage across Stroud and the whole country. It’s often women who lose out and are paid substantially less compared to their male counterparts. I’m proud to be working with Labour county councillors who are continuing to push for a Living Wage for Gloucestershire County Council school workers paid below the level, 94% of whom are women.”

Cllr Geoff Wheeler (Lab/Coop, Dursley), Leader of Stroud District Council, said “Last year, we made to conscious decision to give council workers a pay rise to the Living Wage level because all the evidence points to the fact that it leads to less sick days, higher worker happiness and efficiency, as well as putting more money in our employee’s pockets that they can spend in and around the Stroud district. I would encourage all local businesses to follow our lead and start paying the Living Wage; at Stroud District Council are really feeling the positive benefits.”