This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2012/jul/31/manchester-greater-manchester
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Respect candidate's vision for Manchester | Respect candidate's vision for Manchester |
| (17 days later) | |
| Stroll through Manchester city centre and you feel you are in a prosperous thriving city. Your eyes take you upward towards Beetham Tower, the 'glass blade' with its Hilton Hotel and penthouses. The imposing architecture of the surrounding streets, built on Victorian industrial prosperity, and the lively cultural and social life of the regenerated post-industrial city centre speak to the casual observer of stability and new prosperity. | Stroll through Manchester city centre and you feel you are in a prosperous thriving city. Your eyes take you upward towards Beetham Tower, the 'glass blade' with its Hilton Hotel and penthouses. The imposing architecture of the surrounding streets, built on Victorian industrial prosperity, and the lively cultural and social life of the regenerated post-industrial city centre speak to the casual observer of stability and new prosperity. |
| But a look beyond that surface gloss shows a different reality – just a stone's throw away from the bright lights of the city centre - not boom, but almost bust. A second city, of deprivation, child poverty and unemployment. Manchester is ranked fourth most deprived local authority in England, second most deprived in terms of income and third in terms of employment. Bradford ward and Miles Platting and Newton Heath ward – both in Manchester Central constituency - rank as first and second most deprived wards in Manchester. | But a look beyond that surface gloss shows a different reality – just a stone's throw away from the bright lights of the city centre - not boom, but almost bust. A second city, of deprivation, child poverty and unemployment. Manchester is ranked fourth most deprived local authority in England, second most deprived in terms of income and third in terms of employment. Bradford ward and Miles Platting and Newton Heath ward – both in Manchester Central constituency - rank as first and second most deprived wards in Manchester. |
| Statistically, so many indicators are worse in Manchester Central than the regional averages, whether it be unemployment, households in fuel poverty or working age benefit claimants. And there is no doubt that the current government's austerity policies are making a bad situation worse as local facilities and services are axed and more lose their jobs. | Statistically, so many indicators are worse in Manchester Central than the regional averages, whether it be unemployment, households in fuel poverty or working age benefit claimants. And there is no doubt that the current government's austerity policies are making a bad situation worse as local facilities and services are axed and more lose their jobs. |
| But the problems of Manchester Central pre-date the current government. Labour, which has run Manchester for a long time, has not addressed the deep problems of the constituency. Labour has stopped being Labour but it still takes the votes for granted. | But the problems of Manchester Central pre-date the current government. Labour, which has run Manchester for a long time, has not addressed the deep problems of the constituency. Labour has stopped being Labour but it still takes the votes for granted. |
| And the people have a judgement on that. Manchester Central is a 'safe' Labour seat with 52% of the vote in 2010, but the turn-out was the lowest in the country at 44.5%. | And the people have a judgement on that. Manchester Central is a 'safe' Labour seat with 52% of the vote in 2010, but the turn-out was the lowest in the country at 44.5%. |
| It's primarily a working class constituency, so residents won't turn to the Tories, but they vote with their feet by turning away from the electoral process altogether. | It's primarily a working class constituency, so residents won't turn to the Tories, but they vote with their feet by turning away from the electoral process altogether. |
| Labour has failed Manchester Central, and in refusing, nationally, to embrace an economic policy based on investment, growth and a rejection of Tory cuts, it will never be able to reverse the trend and restore confidence in what is supposed to be the party of working people. There is no doubt that Labour's past achievements have been remarkable: building the welfare state that enabled the fulfilment of aspirations irrespective of birth; and the redistributive economy that enabled an unprecedented level of health and happiness. But such achievements are in the past. Now Labour participates in knocking down its own great work. | Labour has failed Manchester Central, and in refusing, nationally, to embrace an economic policy based on investment, growth and a rejection of Tory cuts, it will never be able to reverse the trend and restore confidence in what is supposed to be the party of working people. There is no doubt that Labour's past achievements have been remarkable: building the welfare state that enabled the fulfilment of aspirations irrespective of birth; and the redistributive economy that enabled an unprecedented level of health and happiness. But such achievements are in the past. Now Labour participates in knocking down its own great work. |
| It is difficult to call it a day with Labour. My own grandfather worked in the coke ovens in Horden colliery in county Durham and was Labour through and through; my uncle was constituency agent for Easington. But when Labour stops being for labour, then the voting has to change. | It is difficult to call it a day with Labour. My own grandfather worked in the coke ovens in Horden colliery in county Durham and was Labour through and through; my uncle was constituency agent for Easington. But when Labour stops being for labour, then the voting has to change. |
| Hence my candidacy for Respect in Manchester Central. The Tories have never had anything to offer and Labour no longer offers an alternative. As we are faced with the destruction of everything that made life decent for ordinary people, we have to fight for an alternative. | Hence my candidacy for Respect in Manchester Central. The Tories have never had anything to offer and Labour no longer offers an alternative. As we are faced with the destruction of everything that made life decent for ordinary people, we have to fight for an alternative. |
| The economic and social policies exist to create jobs, restore free education, to build new homes. What does not exist, in the three main parties, is the political will to implement those policies. | The economic and social policies exist to create jobs, restore free education, to build new homes. What does not exist, in the three main parties, is the political will to implement those policies. |
| It is for the people to decide – as they did in the 'safe' Labour seat of Bradford West - that this time they can make a difference and vote for real change. | It is for the people to decide – as they did in the 'safe' Labour seat of Bradford West - that this time they can make a difference and vote for real change. |
| Kate Hudson is Respect Party candidate for the Manchester Central by-election on 15 November. | Kate Hudson is Respect Party candidate for the Manchester Central by-election on 15 November. |
| Read Loz Kaye of the Pirate Party, who is standing in the by-election, here. | Read Loz Kaye of the Pirate Party, who is standing in the by-election, here. |
| Read Peter Clifford of the Communist League here. | Read Peter Clifford of the Communist League here. |
| The Northerner would be very pleased to receive posts from other candidates. Email us at northerner@guardian.co.uk | The Northerner would be very pleased to receive posts from other candidates. Email us at northerner@guardian.co.uk |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |