Labour's Tony Lloyd promising to help change Rochdale for the better if elected Rochdale’s next MP

Tony Lloyd

Tony Lloyd, the Labour candidate in the forthcoming general election, is promising to help change Rochdale for the better if elected.

Mr Lloyd has outlied his key priorities.

Young people

We must invest in the best possible education for all our children. I will fight Tory plans that will mean huge budget cuts for every local school which will mean hundreds of teachers being sacked. I will be a champion of local businesses to ensure we create more better paid jobs for our young people.

Poverty

We must tackle the obscenity of poverty and deprivation that has increased under the Tories and blights our town. I will fight unfair Tory cutbacks to vital Rochdale services that support young people and the elderly. Labour’s new living wage of £10 an hour will end the scourge of poverty pay.

Housing

Homelessness is a scandal and we see it every day on Rochdale’s streets. Young people cannot afford mortgages and are unable to get on the housing ladder. Waiting lists for homes to rent are rising. I will fight for more affordable homes and houses to rent to tackle Rochdale’s housing crisis.

Health Services

Our NHS is in crisis as budgets are cut and demand is rising. I will fight to end the obscenity of sick children forced to sleep on chairs in A and E departments and campaign for investment in quality health services for every Rochdale resident.

Transport

The arrival of the tram and new bus interchange have been a great boost for Rochdale, but we need to increase passenger capacity on local train services and improve the frequency and reliability of bus services.

Mr Lloyd said: “I am extremely proud and honoured to be the Labour Party’s candidate in the general election.

“Throughout my time as Greater Manchester’s Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner, I have got to know many Rochdale people well. I have lots of friends in the town. I have worked with hundreds of people, community groups, businesses and local councillors over many years.

“We all have one thing in common. To change Rochdale for the better. To improve local services, attract new businesses and jobs and to build stronger communities.

“I have already been out meeting residents and they have told me what they want. They want a serious MP who puts the town and people first. They want an MP who has the ability and experience to get things done. They want an MP who will push the town forward not pull it down.

“In Rochdale this election is a clear fight between Labour and Conservatives. No other candidate can win here.

“We have a clear choice. Five more years of unfair and deeply damaging austerity and Tory cuts to our NHS, our schools and local public services.

“Or we can elect a real Labour MP who has a proven track record of working hard for residents, fighting for better hospitals and schools and to build a better society where everyone can get on in life and share our nation’s prosperity.

“I will be the strong voice Rochdale needs.”

The chairwoman of Rochdale Labour Party, Eleanor Tierney said: “The local party is united and working hard to make sure Rochdale has a hard working, respected and influential MP after 8 June. We already have hundreds of our members out on the streets campaigning for a Labour victory.

“Tony will speak up for Rochdale and his voice will be heard throughout Westminster.

“He has years of experience working hard and winning battles for local people. He’s a former Government minister and a well-respected and experienced MP."

Referring to the way in which the town has featured badly in the national news during the tenure of disgraced former MP Simon Danczuk, Ms Tierney added: "Rochdale needs to move on from all the lurid and bad headlines. We are a great town with a great future but we keep getting dragged down.

"Tony Lloyd is a no-nonsense politician who will be a breath of fresh air. He will spend all his time battling for local people not battering Rochdale’s reputation.”