I’m proud of progress but there’s more to do

I’M the first to admit I’ve not always been perfect as your MP. But I’ve worked hard and I’m proud of the progress we’re making.

We’re delivering ambitious regeneration plans for our town centre, successful companies are locating here and we’re building much-needed homes and improving public transport.

I’ve also campaigned hard to give people who’ve been ignored for too long a voice – most notably the girls and families of the Rochdale grooming scandal that were recently featured in the moving BBC drama Three Girls.

There’s still more to do, though. Working with business to drive down unemployment, supporting our schools and colleges to help young people get on in life and bringing maternity services back to Rochdale will be some of my priorities, if elected.

But the main reason I’m standing is because I don’t want Rochdale to go backwards.

Labour has no real opposition in Rochdale and they need holding to account.

When I challenged councillors on social services failing victims of grooming or their attempts to award the chief executive a £40,000 pay rise while laying off staff, they didn’t like it.

That’s why they want to replace me with Tony Lloyd, a quiet loyalist from Manchester who won’t challenge anyone in Rochdale Town Hall.

When he was Police and Crime Commissioner not one single GMP officer was ever disciplined over Rochdale grooming scandal failings. That’s the level of scrutiny Rochdale Labour will get if he’s the MP.

He won’t be a strong voice for Rochdale to get our fair share from the new Greater Manchester Mayor either. He’s likely to be more concerned about the neighbourhood in Manchester where he lives.

If we let Rochdale be run by a cosy cartel then we’ll only go backwards.

That’s why we need an independent voice who’s on your side and will tell it as it is.