LABOUR party chiefs have pledged to avoid Worcester becoming a ‘commuter city’ as they laid out their vision for Worcester ahead of the elections.
A packed room in the Guildhall heard speeches from Coun Adrian Gregson, deputy leader of the Council and Coun Lynn Denham, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Worcester.
Both decried the austerity policies of the government and the slashing of funding to Worcester City Council, which now receives no money from central government to provide services for local people.
Among the priorities in the manifesto are to create a healthy environment for all and produce a city-wide plan to protect it, support local businesses and people to avoid Worcester becoming a ‘commuter city’ and to deal with the lack of affordable and social housing and crack down on rogue landlords.
Should Labour win power at the Guildhall on May 2, the party has also vowed to invest in left-behind communities in the poorer areas of our city and fight any more cuts to local services.
Andrew Gwynne MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government was unable to attend due to Brexit business but endorsed the party’s vision for a decent city for all via a video message.
“Labour councillors are on the front line of the battle against failed Tory austerity which has cut 60p out of every £1 the government used to spend on our council neighbourhood services,” he said.
Labour group leader Coun Adrian Gregson said: “The policies outlined in the document will improve the lives of all of Worcester’s residents, so it is vitally important that Worcester has a Labour council to deliver them.
“Without a Labour-led council, the future is bleak for local services, the local economy and our communities.”
