Parliament needs a free voice - to block the Tories and keep Labour honest

 

Caroline's piece below was published in this Saturday's The Argus, in response to a column from David Cameron in Friday's edition of the paper

THE Prime Minister’s right about one thing - Brighton is brilliant.

He’s right too that we’ve enjoyed great wins these last five years. Tourism’s up, business is too, and air pollution down. The city’s built the first new council houses in a generation, attracted £95 million in external public funds for city improvements, led on the introduction of the Living Wage and battle against the Bedroom Tax. 

Such success belongs to Brighton - achieved in spite of, not thanks to, Cameron’s Coalition.

But ours is a tale of two cities. Business is booming – so is food bank use and inequality.   Little wonder. The Government’s cuts have been the sharpest in modern history. 

Cameron suggesting our vote is simply between he and Ed Miliband is a transparent and desperate ploy. 

It’s also belied by the evidence: we won’t have a majority Government. That means we’re voting for the kind of future we want - and the kind of Parliament we need to achieve it. 

A sea of Tory-lite Labour whipped to toe the political party line won’t ring in any real change. 

Parliament needs some freer voices for that – to block the Tories and keep Labour honest.

As an unwhipped MP my voice has been strong. I’ve been free to lead the fight for a truly public NHS and railway as well as PSHE in all our schools. And the overwhelming public, political and NGO backing I’ve had has seen parties held to account and pushed to be bolder and more progressive.

We need that voice in Parliament to press Labour to be the party we need it to be.

 

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