Knowsley needs a candidate with the experience, proven dedication and ability to bring people together to build a campaign rooted in the community – I would not take this seat for granted. I would not put Westminster before the area I am elected to represent.
If we have a Labour government, we can’t afford to mess around. Our MP needs a seat at the table to get the investment, funding and attention Knowsley needs.
I’ve got over 20 years of experience that will help me deliver both.
I may have taken a different route into politics than most but for 5 years I worked for the Mayor of London. I worked with Government, Trade Unions, Councils, Faith Leaders, Civil Society organisations, to deliver meaningful change.
These were tumultuous times - we inherited a broken transport system, homelessness was worse than ever, crime was rife, vast swathes of the city were in need of investment and regeneration. This was also a period of the Iraq War and the 7/7 bombings - where I was involved in our response as we had a responsibility to hold communities together. I am also proud of the transformational effect that the winning of the Olympic Games continues to have on the city.
Despite what we inherited, I worked to deliver living wage contracts and commitments for tens of thousands of workers; got bus fares capped and brought in free bus fares for kids, making it easier for people to get to work, school and use public services, and I also spearheaded work to memorialise Nelson Mandela in our capital.
I am deeply proud of my contribution to Labour’s transformative track record in London. However, it is greatly shameful that parts of the country, like our communities in Knowsley, do not receive the same attention, investment, and opportunities that London and the other big cities do.
I’ve seen first-hand the power of devolution, and that’s why I’m absolutely committed to transferring more powers from Westminster to Merseyside and Knowsley, by working with the borough council and Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham. The Tories talk the talk on levelling up, but it is only Labour who can walk the walk.
I have the experience of actually running a Labour administration in power. If and when the next Labour government is elected, all of my efforts will be channelled into making sure people here in Knowsley get our fair share.
Winning campaigns isn’t about talking a good game, or sitting behind a desk writing policy papers and reports, it's about getting your hands dirty and being on the front line. I’ve never been afraid of getting stuck in and being there when it’s time to stand up for our communities.
In 2019, I came up with and led the Unite the Union campaign to stop the election of far-right Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, to the European Parliament as a North West MEP. We mobilised activists, targeted Facebook ads to millions of people, and placed our message of “Keep them out - Get out and vote Labour” across the region with billboards and full page adverts in local papers. Yaxley-Lennon burnt a Unite flag and said “it was the union” as to the reason why he lost. As your MP I’ll always stand up to hate and those who seek to divide us.
As Political Director for Unite I campaigned for justice for people at work, from the fair tips campaign for restaurant workers, to protecting jobs at Bombardier, and for the Government to deliver investment in key infrastructure projects. That’s why you can trust me to continue to fight for justice, from ensuring we finally get the HIllsborough Law to always standing on the side of workers who face injustice from unscrupulous bosses who put profit before people.
It’s growing up round here that’s led to me being so passionate to bring change about for ordinary people. My up bringing taught me you get the best solutions from listening and engaging with communities, not telling them what their problems are without even speaking to them.
While working in the Leader’s Office I proposed a policy process that resulted in the New Deal for Working People. Nothing is more important than ensuring the scourge of in work poverty is tackled and never seen again in our country.
In my current role at the TUC, I’m working to turn Labour’s New Deal for Working People into a reality. I’m bringing people across the trade union movement together with Angela Rayner and her team so that Labour delivers the biggest improvement in workers’ rights for decades.
As a Unite official, I had first-hand experience of how Labour makes policy. As the Political Director I was responsible for the union’s delegation at the Labour Party conference and at the party’s National Policy Forum, and worked with successive Labour leaders’ offices to push for workers’ rights and commitments for investment in good jobs. I will put the lessons of this experience to work for the people of Knowsley and make sure their voices are heard loud and clear in Parliament.
I worked to ensure that Labour changed its policy in favour of public ownership of the railways and I am proud that this remains our policy going into the next general election. As your MP I would work with the next Labour Transport Secretary to deliver a more reliable train line and extended bus routes to our estates across Knowsley.
I delivered a programme supporting key worker heroes from across the emergency services to become Labour candidates in Local Government and ensure working people's voices are heard directly in every level of office.
I worked with NHS staff to pass motions in support of keeping our NHS, free and in public hands. You can always count on me to fight for our biggest national treasure.
As a working class woman who doesn’t have a trust fund or savings to fall back on, I also have similar life experiences as people across our constituency. I watch what I spend, worry about the bills, and make tough decisions when there is more month than money left before payday.
That real life experience is important, because people are sick of politics as usual, they want politicians who have lived like them, who understand what they are going through and who are focused on solutions.