It’s been a whirlwind few days. At the start of the week I was at college doing a plastering course, and now I’m the Green Party’s candidate in the most high profile by-election we’ve ever properly contested.
I’m not your average politician. I didn’t go to university to study politics. I’m a plumber in Manchester – and through that job I spend my days in kitchens, bathrooms and front rooms. And from what I see, people are struggling.
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We are not a poor country, we’re not a poor city – but government after government has treated us poorly. I see that in the cold homes, the repairs that people save up for months to do and the struggle that so many of us have with our mental health.
That’s why my number one priority will always be taking action to cut the cost of living – cheaper bills through public ownership, rent controls, free bus travel for young people. Insulating homes properly.
While Reform refuse to make the richest in our society pay their fair share, and flirt with privatising the NHS, I’ll be a champion for slashing inequality, re-wiring our economy to work for all of us and giving people the physical and mental healthcare they need.
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Of course not everyone in Britain is struggling. In fact, the 50 richest families hold more wealth than 50% of the population. That kind of wealth is unimaginable to the people of Gorton and Denton, and despite widespread calls for a proper wealth tax, it’s a wealth that this government seems happy to watch accumulate.
As a plumber, my job is to assess a problem properly, take advice and find the right long term solution. That’s exactly how I’ll approach politics – and it’s a stark contrast to the other parties.
Labour is riven with U-turns, stitch-ups and lies. They do over their own mayor – and they’ll do over the rest of us too.
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Reform is a party that drools over a dangerous US president, that is backed by big finance. In Matt Goodwin they’ve picked an extreme candidate, who has made his disdain for Muslims widely known, and who sees this place as just as a rung on the radical right career ladder.
In me, voters have the chance for something completely different. I’ll be an MP for all of Gorton and Denton, and i’ll be focused on tangible things to make our lives better. Where there’s a blockage, I’ll fix it – and where something needs repairing I’ll get my hands dirty.
In the coming weeks we’re going to see a lot of focus on our part of the world. Reform are backed by far-right thugs like Tommy Robinson, Labour are desperately trying to convince people that they’re still relevant. But this is Manchester, and we do things differently here.
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I’ll be going door to door – with hundreds of fellow Mancunians – being very clear that there’s only one party that can be trusted on the cost of living, on taxing the very wealthiest and on bringing real justice to the Palestinians after years of British support for a genocidal Israeli regime.
I’m so proud to be from this amazing city – and I cannot wait to get going.
Hannah Spencer in the Green Party candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
