JONATHAN ASHWORTH: ‘Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting have to be key gamers in Labour’s future’
‘Andy and Wes are two hugely talented politicians with big ideas on the changes we need to bring about to create a fairer, more equal society’, former shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth writes
Jonathan Ashworth praised both Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Keir Starmer finally got to celebrate Arsenal winning the premier league after twenty two years. And Labour ministers got to celebrate better economic performance than the doomsters were predicting and NHS waiting lists dropping to their lowest for three years.
Rachel Reeves announced new measures to help families with children through the summer with a VAT cut on attractions during the school holidays.
The Labour government has also already increased the national minimum wage by £1,500 a year, opened 1,250 free breakfast clubs for hungry school kids and rightly scrapped the heinous Tory two child rule that plunged so many children into deep poverty.
These are real tangible examples of Labour getting on and delivering changes readers want. And thanks to these actions thousands of children across every community are being lifted out of poverty.
READ MORE: Andy Burnham vows to ‘change Labour’ in by-election pitch – and blasts ‘tired’ politicsREAD MORE: Wes Streeting pledges to bring back Sure Start as he eyes Labour leadership
But with opinion polls showing Labour losing about 21 per cent of its vote to the Greens and Lib Dems and about 14 per cent to the Tories and Reform, its clear Labour has to get on and do so much more to deliver the well paid jobs people need to live on. Ministers must end the rip offs and profiteering that too often make life so unaffordable.
Labour’s team in Parliament will be hugely strengthened by the return of Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham should he win the parliamentary battle in Makerfield. When I was shadow Welfare chief I was looking carefully at his ‘Working Well’ service that helped people move off benefits and into work across Manchester.
Meanwhile former health secretary, Wes Streeting is right to set out ideas on how the country should help young people who are too often dealt a rough deal whether that’s on the eye watering levels of student debt, the lack of decent well paid jobs on offer and the impossibilities of getting on the housing ladder.
Andy and Wes are two hugely talented politicians with big ideas on the changes we need to bring about to create a fairer, more equal society. I’m running for Labour’s ruling body – the national executive committee – a body that has to be full square behind Labour’s top team helping put in place the campaign to for Labour win the next general election.
No matter what machinations might happen amongst Labour bigwigs in the coming weeks, it’s obvious to me both Andy and Wes must be key star players in Labour’s future.
‘Get your blood pressure checked’
It’s Stroke Awareness Month. I recently suffered a stroke on New Year’s Day out of the blue – I’m 47, never smoked and have run marathons for charity. I’m getting better, though I’ve lost some vision in my left eye.
Building Lego and playing the piano helped me regain movement in my hand. Memorising Shakespeare has kept my spirits up. I couldn’t have gotten through it all if it wasn’t for the love, support and care of my family.
Labour MP, Uma Kumaran told the Commons this week someone gets hit by a stroke every five minutes. My stroke was caused by high blood pressure. I’m urging everyone to get blood pressure checked. You can get checked at your local chemist. Stroke is a leading cause of death, more blood pressure testing would save countless lives.
‘Tougher sanctions needed on Israel’
I wanted Labour to call for a ceasefire in Gaza much earlier than the leadership did. Today while the world focuses on other countries and conflicts we mustn’t forget the treatment of Palestinians.
In recent days we’ve heard dreadful comments from Israeli ministers humiliatingly taunting flotilla activists who were so disgustingly mistreated while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid. Our government must be clear in their condemnation and it’s time for tougher sanctions.
‘Struggling for a Jude Bellingham sticker’
My first World Cup memory was Mexico 86. I was mesmerised by Maradona but it was my Panini sticker album that really obsessed me. 40 years later I’ve got another Panini album but I’m struggling to get hold of a Jude Bellingham. If you have a spare and want to do a swap get in touch!
