Candidate statement – Friday 8th Nov 2019

It is the greatest honour to be selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for my hometown in the most important election of a generation. Over the coming days and weeks, I look forward to building a community driven, people centred campaign that stands up for the people of Newbury and West Berkshire.

I was born and raised in Thatcham. From playing football at Dunston Park to attending Kennet School – my roots are here. After graduating from the University of Bath with first-class honours, I decided to teach at Park House School in Newbury. I also sit on the Youth Advisory Board for an Olympic legacy charity, Spirit of 2012, to fund community-based projects around the country.

I am standing to be the Member of Parliament for Newbury because I believe the hard-working people of this community deserve better. As a teacher, I see inspirational young people with enormous potential. I also work in an outstanding department and school where teachers and support staff go above and beyond to provide the best education for young people. However, deep cuts to school funding made during a decade of Conservative governments, supported by the Liberal Democrats in coalition, have caused a lack of resources, textbooks, teaching assistants and special needs provision.

Through austerity, the wings of this generation are being clipped by locking people out of employment opportunities, an inability to get onto the housing ladder, an underfunded education system, a mental heath crisis for young people, the accumulation of debt for working people, and cuts to a strained NHS – all let down by an economy rigged in favour of billionaires and tax avoidance for the few, while hard working people are getting wage cuts.

Here in West Berkshire, the council have slashed the budget by over £2,000,000 (97%) for essential youth services and the Social Mobility Commission (2017) state that West Berkshire is amongst the worst for offering good education, employment opportunities and affordable housing, preventing social mobility.

Now is the time for real change, but only if we seek it here and now – together.

I am asking the people of Newbury to come with me to build an unprecedented grassroots campaign that truly empowers people.

I am standing in this election for a properly funded national education service that provides a curriculum that prepares young people for an uncertain future, and supports them to create a world in which the many thrive, not the very few. We should celebrate their taking control of the climate emergency and stand shoulder to shoulder with those whose future depends on a radical new green deal.

I am standing in this election to protect our national health service from privatisation, keeping our healthcare at the service of the people, not profit.

I am standing in this election to support renewable energy and a jobs revolution in the environmental sector.

I am standing in this election to save Newbury Football Club from the hands of the property developer.

I am standing in this election to ensure the hard-working people of Newbury get paid a living wage, fostering the growth of local businesses through a community wealth economic model.

I believe that together we can win this election and transform Newbury by putting people at the heart of the community and community at the heart of the people.

#Wilder4Newbury

#RealChange

Promoted By Mark Beach on behalf of James Wilder both at 81 Craven Road, Newbury, RG14 5NL

To get in touch to arrange to meet James please contact Mark at m.a.beach.2019@gmail.com