I’m standing for election for the NEC this year having sat the previous two years.

In my time, democracy alliance colleagues and I have ensured the wrongs of the levy were corrected by refunding this to members who requested it, seeing thousands of applications as a result. 

Our work was more than simply promising to right wrongs however. I have supported the call across all factions to agree a proposal to build a sustainable fighting fund. Whilst consensus has not yet been found, I believe this is the right way forward, as we cannot afford time in putting a motion to conference forward and have it fail to reach a two third majority. The result of this would be disastrous in needing to wait three years to return such a motion to conference. Therefore the need for unity has never been greater. 

This Government has made a number of commitments, but none have gone far enough. Labour have failed to deliver on its promise of the largest wave of insourcing in a generation, going further by outsourcing pay and pensions to Capita, with a historic and ongoing record of abject failure. 

On jobs, we have seen losses across multiple Departments and on pay, whilst we have been given commitments to review a broken system, we have yet to see any tangible results. With the rise of the far right, the increased cost of living and war on Iran likely to impact this, we need to be in an influential position to out pressure on this Government so that our members are not left behind.

It is clear that going forwards, strong, decisive and collective action is likely needed. To deliver this, we need a sustainable fighting fund to deliver for members. We need colleagues on the NEC to hold the Government to their commitments and we need a united front in pressing these. 

To achieve this, I am asking for your vote, and the votes for democracy alliance candidates to pursue this Government with strength and determination, to protect jobs, pay, pensions and services.