Normally, the person chosen by the Labour Party to stand as Salford and Eccles MP in the General Election would really be none of the Salford Star's business. However given that this has always been a safe Labour seat, members of the Party are effectively selecting the next MP, so we thought we'd help them out with their selection by asking candidates to guarantee five things.
The nominated candidates*, from an all-women selection list are…
Sue Pugh: Current councillor for Claremont
Rebecca Long-Bailey: Solicitor and Salford Mayor Ian Stewart's choice
Sophie Taylor: Current councillor for Old Trafford
Sara Hyde: Works for Moving On project in London
Sarah Brookes: Works for Manchester Airports Group**
GUARANTEE 1: If selected and elected would you guarantee to live in the constituency?
Sue Pugh: I already live in Salford and Eccles constituency and represent people in Claremont Ward on the Council. I can guarantee that I will remain living here.
Rebecca Long-Bailey: Yes, I think it is important that MP's are part of the communities they seek to represent.
Sophie Taylor: If selected and elected I would consider moving to the constituency. To say I would guarantee it would be disingenuous. My current home in Trafford is just over the ship canal and literally a 10 minute drive from the constituency. I do not believe that living outside the constituency would be a barrier to me serving the people of Salford and Eccles to the best of my ability and being an excellent representative both locally and in Parliament. I would be accessible to and visible to my constituents at all times.
Sara Hyde: Yes, of course.
Sarah Brookes: That's easy. I already live in the constituency and I have no plans to move.
GUARANTEE 2: If selected and elected would you guarantee to be transparent and provide interviews when asked by the local press, including the Salford Star?
Rebecca Long-Bailey: I believe it is the responsibility of an elected Member of Parliament to comment to the local press and to use the media to inform constituents of the biggest issues affecting them in Westminster. Accountability is the cornerstone of democracy and I intend to use every means to uphold the right of constituents to hold their Member of Parliament to account. It is important that a constituent knows that as an MP you are their voice in Westminster, not Westminster's voice to them.
Sophie Taylor: Yes, absolutely
Sara Hyde: Yes. As an elected representative it is important to consider how you can be both transparent and accountable to those who elected you. I will publish my expenses, write a monthly newsletter outlining my activities and how I have progressed on my election pledges. I could also offer a regular column on local and national issues, if that were of interest.
Sarah Brookes: Any elected representative has a duty to be transparent, including MPs. I have been transparent and provided interviews to other media and would be happy to talk to the Salford Star too, as long as they get my email address right in future!
Sue Pugh: I am an honest and transparent person who believes that an MP is answerable to the electorate. I believe in a free press and that residents are kept informed. I guarantee to be interviewed by all the local press including the Salford Star.
GUARANTEE 3: If selected and elected would you guarantee to publicly oppose or stand up to the elected City Mayor on behalf of constituents if need be?
Sophie Taylor: All elected representatives including Members of Parliament and elected mayors are accountable to the people they are elected to serve and should be open to scrutiny. I would not be reticent in standing up for what I believe is in the best interests of my constituents and voice opposition if needed. I would however, strive to develop an honest and effective professional working relationship with the City Mayor and to work collaboratively to ensure fairness and secure the best possible outcomes for the people of Salford and Eccles.
Sara Hyde: Publicly opposing the elected mayor would not be my first move but rather a last resort in any hypothetical conflict. I would be forthright in robustly representing the needs of my constituents with the present or future mayors, knowing from experience that much can be achieved through dialogue. I greatly respect Ian Stewart and his democratic mandate, we both have politics grounded in the trade union movement and I can't envision any matters that couldn't be resolved in a professional and amicable fashion. We would have different remits, and although there may be disagreements along the way, fundamentally we both want to see Salford thrive, served by a Labour administration.
Sarah Brookes: It's an MP's job to stand up on behalf of their constituents and I would have no problem standing up to anyone in the interests of Salford and Eccles, including the City Mayor. My preference would be to have good working relationship with the City Mayor, without the need for public disagreement. But I would have no hesitation in standing up for Salford and Eccles if the need arose.
Sue Pugh: Standing-up for my constituents is paramount. If need be, I will stand-up for the people in Salford and Eccles against ANYONE.
Rebecca Long-Bailey: I would stand up to anyone if it is in the interests of my constituents and the City of Salford. We need to recognise some of the great work done by Salford City Council while also recognising its failings and limitations. Sadly, as a direct result of the Tory led coalition's harsh austerity measures, limitations are not just specific to Salford but are found across local government in Britain today. I want to work in partnership with Councillors, the City Mayor, trade unions, faith organisations, charitable groups and the wider community to work through areas of concern and hopefully find resolutions for many of the complex issues affecting the constituents of Salford and Eccles.
GUARANTEE 4: If selected and elected would you guarantee to give 1% of your salary to local charities or good causes?
Sara Hyde: Yes, I would expect to give more than that. Giving money is just one expression of engagement with charities and local good causes. I would want to champion the excellent work done by many grassroots organisations here, like the Reclaim Salford Girls project or Salford Women's Centre.
Sarah Brookes: I already contribute to good causes, particularly the British Heart Foundation. My father was very poorly with heart disease when he died last year, so I'm passionate about improving the lives of other sufferers and funding improvements in research and development. I'd have no problem committing at least 1% of my salary to good causes.
Sue Pugh: I already do and will continue to do so. I currently make monthly donations to The North West Air Ambulance Service and St Ann's Hospice.
Rebecca Long-Bailey: Of course but in practice I would seek to give more than that to favoured charitable/good causes, the Labour Party and Trade Union movement as well as publicly championing and assisting their fundraising endeavours.
Sophie Taylor: I am already committed to regular giving with a number of local and national charities and good causes. As well as financial support, charitable organisations benefit from the public support of Members of Parliament to raise their profile and awareness of their campaigns locally, nationally and globally.
GUARANTEE 5: If selected and elected would you guarantee to oppose fracking in Salford***?
Sarah Brookes: Yes. Like many Salfordians, I am concerned about fracking at Barton Moss. The shale gas companies have done nowhere near enough to engage with the community about their activities, or to respond to legitimate environmental and safety concerns. I'm particularly concerned that the current Infrastructure Bill going through Parliament will effectively give companies 'freedom to frack' at sites like Barton Moss. This is completely unacceptable and something I'd want to take action against as your representative in Westminster.
Sue Pugh: It is unlikely that Fracking will ever be proposed within the Salford and Eccles constituency, but I firmly believe that Fracking on Barton Moss would be wrong. Barton Moss is a site close to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that should be preserved for future generations, is too close to homes and the effects on the local environment could be very damaging.
Rebecca Long-Bailey: I am sceptical about Fracking and I am also worried about the energy polices coming from central government. I would work with concerned constituents to oppose further fracking should central government decide to grant licenses to frack against the clear wishes of this constituency.
Licence to frack is granted by central government and I fear they are rushing through this policy without taking the time to fully assess the potential environmental impact it may have. We have also yet to see any clear scientific evidence to confirm that the practice is indeed safe. My trade union, Unite, is also concerned about the small and unsustainable numbers of jobs created by the surface Gas extraction industry.
It is quite clear that we need a sustainable and environmentally sound energy policy in Britain that creates skilled jobs for the long-term. We must also address the issue of high energy prices for the consumer. It is not right in 21st century Britain that pensioners have to choose between heating and eating!
I want an energy policy that puts Salford and Eccles constituents needs before the profits of energy companies and as an MP I will fight for a clear strategy that stops energy market exploitation in its tracks. I would also actively champion the development of a new national green energy strategy which would not only create jobs and growth but would also put the health and well being of our people first.
Sophie Taylor: We need to consider a range of options to provide us with energy sources however I am concerned that too much is unknown about fracking and there is insufficient evidence regarding its safety and environmental impact. I would oppose any application to use fracking in Salford and Eccles where I believed the process to be unsafe or damaging to the quality of life of local people.
Sara Hyde: Yes, the technique remains untested in the long term and the danger signs from earthquakes, the mass use of water and the arrogant government plans for infringing private property all mean fracking should be ruled out at present.
All responses were unedited. For more information on candidates see…
Sue Pugh: see Sue Pugh For Salford and Eccles Facebook site – click here
Rebecca Long-Bailey: Rebecca Long Bailey for Salford and Eccles Facebook site – click here
Sophie Taylor: doesn't appear to have a site
Sara Hyde: sarahyde.co.uk
Sarah Brookes: www.sarah4salfordandeccles.org.uk
Voting will be on 2nd August at the Salford Suite in the Civic Centre, or by post if eligible
* These were candidates who picked up nominations. Two other candidates who responded to the Salford Star survey didn't get nominated but below we print their responses…Did Labour Party members nominate the right candidates?
GUARANTEE 1: If selected and elected would you guarantee to live in the constituency?
Angela Pober: Yes, I would guarantee that I will be living in the constituency.
Jacqueline Robinson: Yes I would have guaranteed to live in the constituency. I was down in Salford last week looking at a flat I want to return to the North West (my son lives in Whitefield) I grew up just off Waterloo Rd so my loyalties are local.
GUARANTEE 2: If selected and elected would you guarantee to be transparent and provide interviews when asked by the local press, including the Salford Star?
Jacqueline Robinson: As an activist - Housing (stock transfer) and Social Services - I believe that main problems arise from Ivory Tower politics - all out to get elected then sit back and reap in the money - basically makes me want to puke. If I had been elected I would answer to electorate and press alike, where I would give answers. I would like them represented accurately - transparency works both ways.
Angela Pober: I value my current relationship with the press in my ward and Borough, and I would envisage that no less a relationship will be forged for the local blog writers and press including the Salford Star. If you visit my website you will get a flavour for my views on openness in public life and that includes transparency that does not breach duties. Interviews? Try and stop me.
GUARANTEE 3: If selected and elected would you guarantee to publicly oppose or stand up to the elected City Mayor on behalf of constituents if need be?
Angela Pober: I cannot guarantee this until I understand the Salford Star's position regarding the phrasing of this question. Happy to talk, please call me if you wish to do so.
Jacqueline Robinson: As I do now, I would stand up to anyone if required and on behalf of constituents, including the PM at whatever forum that had to be. Obviously, personal viewpoints must be secondary behind presenting those of people you represent - isn't that the purpose of standing in the first place? Although at the moment I can be totally myself lol.
GUARANTEE 4: If selected and elected would you guarantee to give 1% of your salary to local charities or good causes?
Jacqueline Robinson: Yes I would/do support charities donating more to causes such as the ex Pendlebury hospital appeals (my younger son was an out patient). I tend to give what I can rather than %ages - I have no idea what 1% would be. I would favour inequality causes more, and local activity type things e.g. after school type things. I would chase authorities about what I consider duty causes - day centres but would support activity days etc. Although I do have extra expenses due to disability, I disagree with the expenses culture in which an MP can claim a decent annual wage worth of expenses in a single month - now that's sponging.
Angela Pober: No. The reason for my answer if that this would limit and in fact reduce the money equivalent of the work I currently do in, and for, the community. In addition to fund raising for breast cancer charities, I donate my time as treasurer of the local (to me) HomeStart charity and do pro bono work with not-for-profit groups, this amounts to more than a flat rate 1% if my time was costed, and I would therefore be reducing my 'donation' if it were money rather than time dependent.
GUARANTEE 5: If selected and elected would you guarantee to oppose fracking in Salford?
Angela Pober: Yes. I base this on not being convinced by the pro-lobby statements that it does no harm. I caveat my answer with my desire to get access to the documents and scrutinise the claims of evidence to the contrary from around the world. I would want to understand the impact of the gases being released into the atmosphere (there are legal cases fighting on this position in the USA), the stability of the ground structure and the legal challenges are being invoked world-wide that would give me an indication as to how much of the whole picture has been made clear or muddied for the lay person.
Jacqueline Robinson: Fracking is detrimental to eco environment and built environment. Investment should be placed into better more sustainable forms of producing energy Salford Uni can probably educate on these as this is where I gained more insight into environmental, sustainable ways of life as part of my Leisure Course. Fracking is a high risk, low yield option to obtaining energy especially in Salford that has a network of tunnels from Agecroft underneath it. Sink holes could become common place - it is a ludicrous suggestion in my opinion.
** Salford Star apology time: We did, indeed, send Sarah Brookes the survey but we sent it to the wrong email address (.co.uk instead of .org.uk). We totally apologise to Sarah for insinuating that she didn't want to fill it in and wish her good luck.
*** It should be noted that any fracking proposals at the moment are not for the Salford and Eccles constituency. Barton Moss is actually in Barbara Keeley's constituency of Worsley and Eccles South. We asked candidates for their views on fracking in Salford, which would include the whole of Salford or both constituencies.
See also related Salford Star articles: Salford Council's Politically Restricted Head of Press Spins for Labour Party Candidate - click here and Salford Council Spin Doctor Resigns After Salford Star Story - click here
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