Andy Stamp, Councillor for Gillingham North and Medway Labour Spokesperson for Communities and Regeneration has been selected as the parliamentary candidate for Gillingham and Rainham.

Andy said, ‘It’s a real privilege to have been selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Gillingham and Rainham. This is the place where I was born, grew up, and where I still live.

‘I’m proud of my home town; Gillingham and Rainham is a great place to live, but residents deserve so much better than they’re getting now.

‘Having represented my community for over a decade on Medway Council, I understand the challenges people are facing on a daily basis.

‘Labour will rebuild public services after a decade of Tory cuts which have left schools crumbling, serious and violent crime drastically increased, and hospitals and GP surgeries at breaking point. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Labour’s innovative policies will put people at the heart of government, with a Green Industrial Revolution will protect the environment, improve transport links, provide hundreds of thousands of decent jobs and secure homes, and create a fairer society.’

Teresa Murray, Councillor for Rochester East and Deputy Leader of Medway Labour Group has been selected as the parliamentary candidate for Rochester and Strood.

Teresa said, ‘I am really pleased to have been selected to fight for Rochester and Strood. This is an opportunity to vote for real change in Rochester and Strood; to vote for an MP who actually stands up for residents in Parliament, and who understands the real issues that impact people here.

‘From the lack of cash machines in Rochester High Street, to the chaotic road works in Strood, to our oversubscribed and underfunded GP surgeries where residents are waiting over a month to get an appointment, I am ready to fight your corner.

‘It’s time to accept that austerity is a failed Conservative project that has left hard working people struggling to make ends meet; the only way our communities can prosper and thrive is through investment in our public services, and through policies that leave no resident behind.’

Vince Maple, Councillor for Chatham Central and Leader of Medway Labour Group has been selected as parliamentary candidate for Chatham and Aylesford.

Vince said, ‘I’m absolutely honoured to have been selected to stand for Chatham and Aylesford, the place I proudly call home.

‘After a decade of austerity, with a government which brought in tax cuts for millionaires and the bedroom tax, it’s clear that we need a government that will truly stand up against vested interests and stand up for the many, not the few.

‘This is a once in a generation chance to vote for a fairer Britain. Labour will clamp down on tax avoidance and tax havens, ensuring everyone pays their fair share.

‘We’re living through a housing crisis across the country, for which Labour has a clear strategy for tacking. Whether it’s ensuring decent home standards as we did under the previous Labour government, tackling the scourge of unscrupulous private sector landlords, or building genuinely affordable homes. Alongside that, we must ensure that the infrastructure needed for new homes is built in a timely manner, not the piecemeal approach we’ve seen under the Conservative government.

‘We beat Boris when, as Mayor of London, showing complete disregard for our environment and local residents he attempted to build an Estuary airport in the River Medway. We can beat Boris again by voting Labour on 12^th December and putting Jeremy Corbyn into Number 10.’

Read Labour’s manifesto here: https://labour.org.uk/issues/