‘There’s a sense of urgency over the need for change’
LABOUR’S candidate for Earley and Woodley in the forthcoming general election says she feels ‘a sense of urgency’ over the need to have a change in government.
Yuan Yang, who was selected before Christmas, is canvassing across the constituency which includes parts of Shinfield and Whitley.
As part of this, late last month, she met with party supporters in Woodley to hear their views on issues affecting them.
“It was a great meeting, with about 30 or so people in the room,” she said.
“What I really felt was a sense of urgency that we need change, not just at local level, but at national level, and that’s why people were giving up their time, on a Sunday, to talk.
“Many people are feeling the cost-of-living crisis, rising mortgage rates and the cost of goods going up due to inflation.
“I think it really speaks to the general crisis we’re in that families where both parents are working and their kids are in school are finding it difficult to make ends meet. That really speaks of the level of crisis we have today.”
One of the reasons for the meeting was to encourage party members to get behind her campaign, and Ms Yang said she thought the group was committed to seeing her get elected.
“I definitely see people wanting to volunteer, give up their time, and go campaigning with us; that’s tremendously exciting,” she said.
“I spent my days speaking to voters or thinking about how to speak to more people, and to have so many people who are so connected in various groups introduce me to their groups is very exciting.”
In addition to Ms Yang, candidates announced for the Woodley and Earley seat include Pauline Jorgensen for the Conservatives, Tahir Maher for the Liberal Democrats, and Louise Keane for the Green party.