I am proud to stand up for the interests of my constituents in Parliament, successfully fighting to save the A&E and maternity units at Bedford Hospital, securing support for a new mental health beds facility in our town and calling for a fair funding formula so Bedfordshire Police can pay for the community officers we need.
We desperately need a Labour Government that will scrap business rates, tackle the cost-of-living crisis, and unleash Britain’s economic
potential.
But the next Labour Government needs a Labour Council here in Bedford Borough, working hand-in-hand to support residents. A Council led by any other Party will limit progress and fail to meet local residents’ needs.
We need a Labour Council working with a Labour Government to freeze Council Tax, a Labour Council that will renew Bedford Borough ensuring that we unlock our local economy and shape the town centres of the future with entertainment services and activities for
families at its core.
Resources to fix our roads, keep our streets clean and put pride in Bedford Borough must be allocated based on need. A Labour Council will listen to communities to understand what residents want their towns, suburbs and villages to look like and to push for appropriate local services.
Labour has a track record of delivering on health. It was Labour that saved our hospital service, it was a Labour Portfolio Holder for Public Health that saved Putnoe Walk in Centre, and it was Labour Councillors that have secured support for a Kempston Health Centre.
But we can and must do more. Together, a Labour Council and I will work with the next Labour Government to cut GP waiting times, reduce NHS waiting lists and ensure that we protect and improve local health services.
The national polling is clear, here in Bedford Borough – it’s likely to be a straight choice between Labour and the Conservatives. There’s a real risk that voting for anyone other than Labour will split the progressive vote and let the Tories win.
Help me to help you. Vote for a Labour Council so the next Labour Government can directly support you. Vote Labour on Thursday, 4 May for both your Councillors and Mayor.
This is a monthly guest column provided by Mohammad Yasin,
Labour MP for Bedford & Kempston.
It is published unedited and does not
reflect the views of the Bedford Independent.
