Island Labour launched its General Election campaign at a packed meeting at Newport’s Riverside Centre on Monday.
The assembled crowd included seasoned activists, new members and supporters who had come along to hear candidate Richard Quigley open the campaign, and to learn how they can play a role.
Mr Quigley was introduced by 2017 candidate and Party Chair, Julian Critchley, and rousing speeches were also heard from former Portsmouth North Labour MP Sarah McCarthy-Fry, and Ryde Labour activist Colleen Brannon.
Mr Quigley spoke of his pride at being selected to represent the Labour party on the Isle of Wight and of his lengthy experience in Island business and community groups. He made a commitment to a clean campaign, with no personal attacks on any candidate, insisting that the Labour Party would have nothing to do with the aggression and hostility which has become all too common in political discourse.
Mr Quigley insisted that the campaign would be about much more than simply Brexit. The key issues for Islanders in the election would be Labour’s plans to restore public services after a decade of Tory cuts. He cited St Mary’s hospital, the island’s schools and council services for the elderly and vulnerable as key battlegrounds where Labour would campaign.
Richard said:
“The 2017 General Election result demonstrated that only Labour can seriously challenge the Tories on the Island, as we finished thousands of votes clear of the minor parties.
“With that achievement came a great responsibility. We’re not here to feel pleased about coming second. We have a duty to Islanders to do everything in our power to send a Labour MP to Westminster, to ensure that the next Labour government delivers the investment our Island needs.
Article continues below this advertisement “Tonight was just the start of our campaign. Building on what we achieved in 2017, this will be our biggest ever campaign. Tonight showed the enthusiasm and commitment of my fellow islanders to bring about real change for our Island. Together, we intend to turn the Wight red.”
How exciting, we so desparately need a change of government after 9 years of needless Tory cuts and austerity. Labour’s candidate Richard Quigley, as a businessman himself, stressed that a government, just like a business, has to invest in order to prosper. Every day we hear new stories about struggling NHS, struggling workers, food banks, the effects of all the cuts. We need a government that works for us all, not just those of you with savings in tax havens, or healthcare companies. This election is a real chance for change. Sorry to rattle on, but its so important, for the environment, education, every area you might be interested in.
How pathetic, you correctly state the issues, ” struggling NHS, struggling workers, food banks, the effects of all the cuts”, YET fail to see it is mass, low end, third world immigration which has caused this and rising crime.
These beings have huge families for the most part, costing maternity wards a fortune, many are from single parents, all kept, many have drug additions and other issues, costing even more.
All arrive with nothing, so have to have a home provided at great cost. Most work minimum hours 20, so as to be able to claim tax credits. So, because of low wages and few hours, they PAY IN NOTHING or little, YET claim hundreds in child tax credits, working tax credits, child allowance, they then claim heavily subsidised or free rent, and council tax, because they are on a low wage.
The oft huge amount of offspring and the Parent, (s), in rare cases, then all claim free NHS treatment, an eventual pension, and the offspring all get costly education for free.
ADD the total of cost, to the sketch ‘input’ of doing low paid jobs, and the cost of suppling a house, and IF you were honest, you would see, WHY these people are forcing cut backs, food banks, upon British workers via stealth taxes and or cut backs.
Yet as Labour encourage in these beings, hoping they will then vote, your party are hugely to blame for the destruction of our once lovely nation, and TIME, unlike every other crisis that the UK has endured, will make it all WORSE never better.
YOU will not get in on the Island NOR in the UK, people have had enough of the damage your party ALWAYS does.
You should hang your head in shame.
the lack of understanding is breathtaking – the labour party do the same thing everytime – promise the earth, however,they only care about power and control, yet they are woefully inadequate at both.
just look at the labour politicians – not one of them is a genuine world statesman/woman – they are all rank amateurs that are out of their depth- they haven’t a clue.
Whereas the Tories have been a model of competence this last 9 years.
why should i work hard, only to end up with next to nothing at the end of the month, because of all these short sighted, hand wringing, lefty do gooders, who think that higher taxes are the answer to everything – they are turkeys voting for xmas.
If I get to the end of the month and see next to nothing left, after paying taxes, NI and other living costs, then I will simply quit work and let the state pick up the tab, just like many, many others all ready do.
Every time a tax goes up and my pay doesn’t go up in line with it and I find myself worse off, then I reduce charitable giving to ensure I am not worse off and can maintain my standard of living.