TUSC the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition has announced that it's standing two anti-austerity candidates in the General Election in May. Trade union activist, Steven North, will go up against standing MP Barbara Keeley in Worsley and Eccles South, while community campaigner, Noreen Bailey, will fight the Salford and Eccles seat, which is being vacated by the retiring MP Hazel Blears.
Noreen has led the fight against cuts to transport for disabled adults in Salford and has never been formally involved in politics before...
"I've always supported the Labour Party but I'm fed up, and sick and tired of seeing people in Salford put down, we're not being listened to, the disabled are getting a bad deal, there's nothing there for the elderly it's just going worse and worse" she says "I think it's time that one of us had the guts to stand up and just say `Right this is what we want and this is what we're going to fight for'.
Explaining why she chose TUSC, Noreen adds: "I have no faith in any other party at this time, and this is the one which I've looked to, that has helped us through the campaign over the transport that's been stopped for the disabled. To me they're genuine, I've listened to what they've been saying, I've read up about them and I've got a lot of faith in them. Hopefully I'll be able to help with what they're doing to bring it to the public."
Noreen will be fighting for the most high profile seat in the city, against a new Labour Party candidate Rebecca Long-Bailey replacing Hazel Blears - and against Bez and the Reality Party. Is she ready for the forthcoming media storm? "I am" she insists "I'm just a normal mum and someone has to fight for our kids. There's nobody else that can do it for us..."
Meanwhile, over in Worsley and Eccles South, Steven North will fighting standing Labour MP Barbara Keeley...
"I've lived in the constituency all my life and I don't feel that any of the other parties that have stood there do anything to represent the people who live in that area" he explains "For the last four years with this Tory Government I've not seen any evidence of any sort of fightback, any sort of resistance, any support for any campaigns locally from our MP Barbara Keeley. Now we're being told by the Labour Party that if they get elected back into Government they're going to continue with austerity, they're going to continue to make cuts, they're going to continue to hold down the pay of workers and that can't continue."
Steven says the top priorities for the election will be anti-cuts, anti-fracking and support for those fighting back against austerity...
"Firstly I'll be campaigning against any cuts in services, particularly for vulnerable people; the second thing will be genuine opposition to fracking, not just words like we've heard from Barbara Keeley but an actual commitment; and the third thing is constant support for any workers in struggle, starting with the NHS workers this Thursday" he says "I'll be on their picket lines and will continue to support them whether I'm elected or not.
"It's about time someone stood up and said `We want to do things differently'" he adds "I've fought against cuts for a long time, I've fought for services that people need, and it's about time I put my money where my mouth is, so I'm honoured to be able to stand in Worsley and Eccles South."
TUSC also announced yesterday that it will be standing fifteen candidates in the local elections, out of the twenty seats available.
For the General Election the following candidates have been confirmed for Salford ...
SALFORD AND ECCLES CONSTITUENCY:
Labour Party Rebecca Long Bailey
TUSC Noreen Bailey
Reality Party Bez
WORSLEY AND ECCLES SOUTH CONSTITUENCY
Labour Party Barbara Keeley
TUSC Steven North
Reality Party Jackie Anderson
Conservative Party - Iain Lindley
BLACKLEY AND BROUGHTON CONSTITUENCY
Labour Party Graham Stringer
Photos by Steven Speed
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