A message from GMB General Secretary Tim Roache regarding the upcoming General Election
It will not have escaped anyone’s attention that a General Election has been announced.
We will be at the polls in just 7 weeks with a very clear choice ahead. Things are fast moving at this stage and we are speaking to the Labour Party about the support they need and working to identify what are the key seats we need to target.
In the coming weeks, we will be working with regions on our communications to members and support for our MPs, which will need to include different approaches for devolved nations. We will also make sure regions have legal guidance around election rules and the Gagging Act – spending limits will be tight in such a short campaign.
There is a lot of focus on campaign expenditure due to legal proceedings potentially being brought against a number of MPs about the last election.
We cannot ignore news reports that this election could lead to a large Tory majority – it’s the reason Theresa May has called it – but we have to do everything we can to prevent that happening. The polls are totally unreliable, as we’ve seen through Brexit and again in the USA.
They say a week is a long time in politics – well we’ve got 7 weeks to make a difference.
Let me be clear. Labour is not perfect, far from it, but it is the only party that will create a million good quality jobs, give our members employment rights from day one, end the abuse of casual employment and build desperately needed affordable homes for all, young and old. They are the only party that will preserve our great NHS and tackle the issue of lack of funding in Social care.
I will be out campaigning with Labour and where you have free time, I hope you will too.
Inequality across the UK is getting wider under the Tories and for the first time ever, our kids will be worse off than we were. The only way to change that is to vote Labour. It’s a big challenge but I know we have the best team and are up to it.
See you on the campaign trail!
Best wishes,
Tim Roache
GMB General Secretary
Posted: 21st April 2017