I FEEL SICK FOR THE NHS

This week’s NHS figures confirmed that A&E waiting times have risen to their worst-ever level.

Over 20% of people using A&E had to wait more than four hours to be seen in December.

And more than 2,000 patients had to wait at least 12 hours for a hospital bed.

These facts are shocking – but sadly they are not surprising.

They are the result of Tory Government policies that have locked the NHS in crisis and left it on life support.

You deserve better. People I speak to in towns and cities across Britain are angry about it. I’m angry about it.

Labour created the NHS. It’s the biggest leveller in our society and one of our party’s biggest achievements. And Labour saved it in 1997 after 18 years of Tory misrule.

True to form, since 2010 the Tories have made empty funding promises while presiding over its decline and now they’re preparing to sell it off to Donald Trump.

If I am elected leader of the Labour Party, I won’t let them get away with it.

I get sick of arts and culture being seen as elitist. From community theatre to the biggest and best gigs (ahem, Britney Spears), culture brings huge benefits. Many councils use it to attract people to visit or live locally. I saw this in Bury, where I presented the Greater Manchester Town of Culture award. Just as John Smith (pictured) made it Labour policy that museums should be free to all, I’ve worked to bring arts funding to places that don’t normally get it.

My passion for towns has become a meme on social media in the last few weeks but I founded the Centre for Towns with a serious purpose – to give power back to people who have been shut out of our national story. I will travel across Britain during the Labour leadership election to try to change this, and I’m coming to a town near you.