Labour MPs across the country are taking the fight to Reform UK by focusing on ‘bread and butter’ issues facing their constituents – from more dog poo bins to rail projects
Labour MPs across the country are taking the fight to Reform UK by focusing on “bread and butter” issues facing their constituents.
From the re-opening of an international train station in Kent to putting up extra dog poo bins in their town, Labour MP Helena Dollimore told The Mirror voters want to see “visible” changes in their communities.
She said Nigel Farage’s party doesn’t have any “solutions” and it’s up to Labour to show how it is actually delivering.
“We hear a lot of talk from Reform but they never have any real solutions to the problems that we face,” the MP for Hastings and Rye said. “They constantly change their mind. They don’t have the answers to the problems that my constituents face.”
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Instead she said the change people want to see in their lives is “everything from more things for young people to do, more sports facilities, to filling potholes, to really practical solutions, like we need an extra dog poo bin in this street”.
The MP is also working with the Good Growth Foundation (GGF) to make an argument for the re-opening of Ashford international train station, which halted services to the continent in 2020. The think tank says the project could deliver up to £2.7billion in economic growth for the South East over the next five years.
Ms Dollimore said it is an “absolute scandal” that it’s been closed for the last five years, criticising half a decade of missed opportunities, from better business relationships with the EU to the benefits on local tourism.
In the summer, a horrifying poll showed Reform UK would win 271 seats if an election were held – with Labour getting just 178 seats. The Mirror spoke to several MPs, including Ms Dollimore, who are at risk of losing their seats to Mr Farage’s right-wing outfit.
Andrew Pakes, Labour MP for Peterborough, criticised Reform for its lack of local solutions. “Reform has no local plan to improve life in Peterborough,” he said.
“They are relying entirely on stirring up division and anger, pushing myths, whether that’s promoting false ideologies around vaccines and creating havoc in our NHS, to cancelling some of the big infrastructure projects like when they talk about cancelling rail in the north.
“One of the big challenges for us is holding the mirror up to Reform, so that people can see the false ideas they’re putting forward, but also the lack of answers to everyday problems about the NHS, dentists, doctors, improving jobs and building affordable housing.”
Mr Pakes said he’s focused on rejuvenating the city’s ghost high streets, which have seen a boom in vape shops and gambling centres. “There are too many visible signs that our high streets are in distress and people want to see change,” he said.
He is also campaigning on boosting apprenticeships and job opportunities, with Peterborough seeing high rates of youth unemployment and insecure work. Mr Pakes also highlighted plans for a new indoor swimming pool in the city, as well as the recent opening of an NHS community diagnostic centre.
Kate Osborne, Labour MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, said the presence of Reform UK in her area is growing both locally and online. She said: “Locally, it is an issue. There is a ramping up of hostilities with an increase in attacks online from some usual suspects as well as a Reform presence in the streets, handing out leaflets or door-knocking.”
The MP added: “But in terms of actual on-the-ground issues I have not seen a rise in constituents contacting me about any of the issues Reform are pushing, including around immigration or rape gangs.
“I get maybe one or two emails from constituents on this whereas on virtually every other subject I get hundreds. So I am concentrating on doing my best on those bread and butter issues for constituents, such as housing, access to GP and dentist appointments, the NHS and tackling anti-social behaviour.”
Tackling local issues has also been a priority for Keir Starmer through plans such as putting a named neighbourhood police officer in every community and a £1.6billion investment to tackle potholes.
Praful Nargund, GGF’s director, said Reform is benefiting from voters’ sense that the “government can’t get anything done – the impatience for change”.
“For us, increasingly, we are looking at more local and regional projects… where the government could do something quite quickly that would make a tangible impact on people’s lives,” he said.
“You can see with the big national changes around delivery, it’s very much in line with the way the government is going. And it’s not surprising that Labour MPs, in particular, are quite keen on that kind of work, because they understand the politics, the political implications of getting things done and the changes in people’s lives.”
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