Andy Littlewood speaks about his motivation to stand as a candidate in the general election

Andy Littlewood

Andy Littlewood, who is standing as a candidate for the Greater Manchester Homeless Voice in the forthcoming general election, speaks to Rochdale Online about the motivation behind his decision to stand.

Mr Littlewood lives and works in Rochdale and has been chairman of the Tenants and Residents group in Lower Falinge since 2014.

He said: “I’ve stood as an independent at the last few local elections because I’ve seen how Rochdale is ignored by central and local government.

“A prime example of this is Theresa May and David Cameron saying we’re all in this together. With the councillors’ inflation in pay rise - which I’m not saying they don’t deserve - at this time is undeserved, we’re worse off this year than last.

“Areas in Rochdale, specifically Lower Falinge, where I moved to in 2010, have been totally ignored.

"Since I’ve been involved, there’s been small improvements. Things change and no vote, for any candidate, is ever taken for granted.

“Rochdale has the highest number of homeless people in Greater Manchester, outside the city itself. It’s horrendous, nothing is done; burying your head in the sand just makes a problem worse and worse until it explodes.

“I live and work here in Rochdale. We need a new form of politics, the old hasn’t worked here. It’s the same people making old promises and nothing is done. They like to tell people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear.

“In 2012, Labour Councillor Colin Lambert said Lower Falinge and other areas have been ignored for 30 years. That’s a long time and I’d love to know how they sleep at night. I’ve seen the damage there. All social housing areas are the same, it’s horrendous. We’re in the 21st century and some people still haven’t homes. People deserve a decent home and quality of life and we don’t have it in Rochdale.”

“If I’m hopefully elected, I have five key aspects I’m campaigning for:

• Abolish the bedroom tax.
• Abolish the local housing allowance and go back to benefits for private tenants.
• Change the business rates calculations so small businesses are given a fair chance and bring money into Rochdale’s economy.
• Make social housing fit for living and a decent quality of life.
• Ensure the new redevelopment in the town centre doesn’t affect other establishments like the Exchange and the Wheatsheaf. There’s been no thought as to how they would cope with this in the centre; the last thing needed is more places boarded up. 

“I’m here for Rochdale, to promote the positivity, not the negativity.”