Let's keep exeter winning
Let's keep Exeter winning!
I'm Steve, and I've been part of the Exeter Labour team for 17 years, campaigning for our city, talking to residents and raising casework issues, and helping Labour to deliver for Exeter.
I’ve worked for our MP Ben Bradshaw, supporting Exeter residents and organisations with their issues, and I stood as the Labour candidate for East Devon in the 2015 general election.
As Exeter's Labour Parliamentary candidate, I want to carry on Ben's work, as he retires after over 25 years. As a gay man, I remember Ben’s election when I was 14 as a pivotal moment - knowing that someone like me had been accepted and elected overwhelmingly by voters. That’s one of the reasons I was so determined to work for Ben and the people of Exeter, and I’m proud that Ben is now a friend and mentor. He has been a formidable campaigner and MP, representing Exeter as a Labour Cabinet Minister, and we owe him a debt of thanks for his service to the city and the country.
I joined the Labour Party because for my first 14 years, I grew up under a Tory Government. From an early age, I was determined to change the fundamental unfairness I saw around me - my local comprehensive school was decaying and we shared textbooks between three in a class; the council house I grew up in was cold and too small for our large family, and was unsuitable for my disabled sister.
When Labour came to power, this all started to change, and my family gained new opportunities - we moved into a purpose-built new council house, and I was later the first in my family to go to university.
After another 14 years of Tory Government, we’re back to where we were in 1997 - and worse. The fabric of the services we all depend on is fraying, and the Tories just keep bending the rules to suit themselves. Too many people in Exeter can't get a dentist, our buses are unreliable, and hospital waiting lists are again very long. The Tories have failed our city.
I want to work to fight for an inclusive and fair Exeter - where everyone has the opportunity of a warm and secure home and no-one is forced into homelessness; where people can get a decent well-paid job, put food on the table, and access the best education for their kids. I believe in an NHS in Exeter and across the country that is well-funded, patient-focused, and at the forefront of diagnostics and treatment pathways, with the RD&E able to lead the transformation of health and care in the city and region.
Exeter is a great city, and it will succeed with a Labour government. With a Labour MP and a Labour Council, the city continues to grow in economic prosperity and civic pride. After 27 years with Ben as our MP, it’s a big moment for Exeter. However I believe with me as your next MP we can work together to secure prosperity for Exeter for years to come.
My pledges to you
- I will fight for Exeter in Parliament to get the investment and services we need as a growing city. ·
- I will always work to bring Exeter’s diverse communities together to discuss our challenges and opportunities, with a mission to to celebrate a city free of division. ·
- I’ll be a visible and accessible MP for Exeter, and will hold regular in-person and online advice surgeries.·
- I'll run regular open events in every ward for residents to come to ask questions and hear about my work for Exeter in Parliament ·
- I will continue to knock on your doors throughout the year to stay in touch and hear your priorities.
I'm very proud to be supported by Ben Bradshaw MP
Watch his video here!
My campaign priorities
These are my priorities for Exeter:
- Helping Exeter residents with the cost of living crisis
- Fixing Exeter's NHS, delivering more GP and dentist appointments
- Combating climate change, and securing new green jobs and businesses for Exeter
- More high-quality social and family homes, with the right infrastructure
- Fighting for the best start in life for Exeter's children
- Working for better and more affordable public transport across Exeter.
Helping Exeter residents with the cost of living crisis
The Tory mini-budget hit Exeter people hard. House prices, rents, and household bills have climbed ever higher.
Homelessness in Exeter has risen, and ever more people are forced to use Exeter Foodbank. I’ll work with local charities and organisations to ensure we do everything possible to help families, and I’ll support Labour’s plan to bring down energy bills.
Labour's plan for small businesses will help our high streets to thrive, and our plan for a new industrial strategy will deliver economic growth based on new well-paid jobs.
Fixing Exeter's NHS, delivering more GP and dentist appointments
People across Exeter tell me they can’t see a dentist or a GP when they need to.
I’ll fight for more investment in our local NHS, delivering more dentist and GP appointments, so that people can live healthy lives and don’t have to resort to A&E.
Combating climate change, and securing new green jobs and businesses for Exeter
I’ll work with business and other partners to ensure Exeter plays a full role in meeting the climate challenge, securing the jobs and opportunities that the green transition offers. I’ll also hold water companies and regulators to account, making sure our waterways and seas aren’t used to systematically dump sewage.
More high-quality social and family homes, with the right infrastructure
The housing crisis means many Exeter residents are on a waiting list for a council house, can’t buy their first home, or struggle to afford the rent. I’ll work to make sure more and better housing is built in the right place, and will fight for the right infrastructure to lessen the impact on existing communities.
Fighting for the best start in life for Exeter's children
As a school governor in Exeter, I know that schools have borne the brunt of cuts to funding and to Sure Start; I’ll fight to make sure our children have the best education, and I’ll work with government and local partners to solve our SEND crisis in Devon.
Working for better and more affordable public transport across Exeter.
I use public transport and I cycle everywhere. Anyone who uses the bus and train network in Exeter knows we don’t have the service we need.
I will work with government to make sure Exeter has more control over our bus network. I will lobby for more funding to make sure Exeter gets the reliable, regular, and green public transport we deserve, and more funding for our roads, to make Exeter a less congested and better connected city.
“I fully endorse him to be Exeter’s next Labour MP”
I’ve known Steve for about fifteen years as a hard-working campaigner in Exeter, and a committed trade unionist. He’s been loyal to Exeter Labour, campaigning in many elections all over the city, and I fully endorse him to be Exeter’s next Labour MP.
“Steve wants to ensure Exeter remains an open, diverse, and inclusive city!”
I met Steve recently, and I know he wants to ensure Exeter remains an open, diverse, and inclusive city for everyone who lives here. He’ll be a great MP for Exeter, and I fully support him.
“Steve is passionate about working people”
I’ve known Steve for fifteen years in Exeter and I know he’s passionate about working people - he wants to make sure their voice is heard, and that government listens. He grew up in a council house, was the first in his family to go to university, and has worked since he was 15. He’s been loyal to Exeter since he first started working here in 2007, and I know he will make an excellent Labour MP for our proud city.
“Steve will keep Exeter Labour”
Steve knows the streets of Exeter better than many taxi drivers having spent years campaigning and helping to win elections here. He’ll be a brilliant candidate to maintain the trust of voters and keep Exeter Labour. Even more importantly he’d be a great MP who really cares about improving the lives of people in Exeter and across the country.
“Steve always makes time to talk to residents”
I’ve worked closely with Steve for ten years, and I know he’s a dedicated and enthusiastic Labour campaigner, and he always makes times to talk to residents. He’ll be a great Labour MP for Exeter and a brilliant successor for Ben.
“Steve is an advocate for education and young people”
I first met Steve in Exeter when I came in 2008 to talk to Exeter’s headteachers about how we could help to improve Exeter’s schools. I knew then that Steve is a passionate supporter of education, and an advocate for Exeter’s young people. Steve is also a strong pro-European and campaigned alongside me against Brexit. He’ll be a great Labour MP for Exeter.
“He is just the sort of person we need in Parliament”
I’ve known Steve for 10 years as a tough campaigner who has a strong track record of working hard for residents. He’s a door knocker first and foremost, and never takes Labour votes for granted, and works effectively to invigorate members to get involved. He is just the sort of person we need in Parliament to help us form the next Labour Government
“Steve is a committed democratic socialist and internationalist”
Steve is a committed democratic socialist, internationalist, and pro-European, who believes we are at our best when we work closely with our allies and partners to meet global challenges. He has a record of standing up for the communities he represents and for the Labour Party, and will be an excellent successor to Ben as MP for Exeter.
“He would make a great MP for Exeter”
I’ve worked with Steve on active travel schemes in his ward, and I know he’s committed to traffic reduction and liveable streets, while always standing up for residents and their ability to get around. I know Steve wants to see a socially just green transition, that means no-one is left behind. He would make a great MP for Exeter.
“He’ll work hard to make sure we keep Exeter Labour”
Steve has many years of working with Ben on policy, including having helped Exeter Council solve issues with the government. He’s also a hands-on councillor, who is approachable, a good listener, and a thoughtful activist. He’ll work hard to make sure we keep Exeter Labour.
“I believe he will be an MP whose political astuteness comes from genuine humanity”
Steve is a socialist with insight, compassion, and the drive to make things that affect people’s day to day life better. He has experience, both personal and political, of difficult issues and how to work through them. I believe he will be an MP whose political astuteness comes from genuine humanity.
“He will be an excellent MP for Exeter”
I know that Steve is a hard-working and committed councillor, community activist, and Labour campaigner, and he will be an excellent MP for Exeter.
“Steve is the best choice for Exeter”
Being an excellent campaigner, and someone who will stand up for the issues that truly matter, Steve is the best choice for Exeter, not just locally but in Westminster too.
