Standing Down

Last week I had to take a difficult decision to stand down as our parliamentary candidate in the Yeovil constituency.

Many of you who know me will be aware of the accident I had last year where I did some damage to my back. 

Following a visit to Hospital last week I have had to make a decision about my health, which with the recovery time following an operation early next year would take me out if the campaign for two months, slap bang in the middle of the election period.

This would not be fair to the activists in the party, and the constituents of Yeovil and South Somerset.

I want to thank the party members who have worked with me in the campaign so far, and wish them the best of luck seeking a replacement.

Martin

Open Letter from Labour PPCs

This week I joined over 100 Labour Parliamentary Candidates in signing a letter in Support of Ed Miliband.

It was published on Labour List a national blog. The text is below

http://labourlist.org/2014/11/labour-ppcs-write-letter-criticising-campaign-of-briefing-to-destabilise-ed-and-his-leadership/

Our country simply cannot afford another five years of an abysmal Conservative-led government. That’s why, as candidates, we’re out on the doorstep week in, week out in the towns, cities and countryside that we seek to represent, making the case for a better future under Labour.

We always knew this election would be difficult, but we also know that just four years after suffering our worst defeat since 1918, Ed Miliband has led our party to within striking distance of government.

At a time when the public are increasingly sceptical about politics and politicians, we’re proud to be led by a man that we know to be honest, sincere and decent. He will be a courageous, radical and reforming Prime Minister.

Ed is the only leader who understands the scale of the challenge that our deeply anxious and unequal country faces, and the only leader who has developed a radical yet credible agenda to meet it. He was the first to identify the dangers our economic malaise posed not just to the poorest but also to vast swathes of middle-income Britain. He was the first to call for a new culture of responsibility, including for those at the top. He was the first to highlight both the moral evil and the economic stupidity of Britain’s endemic levels of low pay and the importance of fair wages and dignity in work. He was the first to take a stand against Rupert Murdoch and his media empire. And he is the only leader that can save our NHS from the privatisation and fragmentation unleashed on it by the Coalition Government.

He has shown time and again, on press regulation, on bankers’ bonuses, on gas and electricity prices, on the minimum wage and on payday lending, that it is the Labour Party that is setting the agenda not the government.

We have watched in disappointment over recent days as an anonymous few have attempted to orchestrate a campaign of briefing to destabilise Ed and his leadership. It is a distraction from the real issues, damaging for our party and it has to stop. Now is the time to stand our ground and to work even harder for the Labour victory that our communities so desperately need. As candidates we will not be distracted from getting out there and doing all we can to work for a Labour government.

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More updates from me soon.

Martin

Martin's Blog an update

Where you been?

So as several you have commented I have not been active on the blog for a couple of months. 

I have had several months away from the blog following the death of my mum. 

I was overwhelmed by the cards and messages of support from my friends in the Labour and Trade Union movement, and just wanted to say thanks once again.

I have had a few activities in my diary over the past weeks, including a very interesting breakfast debate with Yeovil Chamber of Trade, our NHS campaign day, and I also had the honour of laying the Party wreath at the Rememberance Sunday Event in Yeovil Town Centre last Sunday. 

So hopefully back to normal from now on.

Martin