News from Leeds Labour

Gerry Harper is Labour’s choice for Leeds by-election

Labour have announced that Gerry Harper will be its candidate for the Hyde Park and Woodhouse by-election on 18 February. The election has been triggered by the sad and untimely death of Cllr Kabeer Hussain, and Labour enters the race a close second to the Liberal Democrats.

Gerry Harper told Labour Matters:

“The news of Cllr Hussain’s death came as a great shock to us all. My sympathies go to his family and friends at this difficult time. It is an honour and a privilege to have been selected to stand for Labour in Hyde Park and Woodhouse.

“The Liberal Democrats, with their Conservative friends on the city council, have presided over a series of deep cuts which are having a devastating effect on communities such as Hyde Park, Little London and Woodhouse.

“Threats to the future of vital services for the elderly such as Caring Together and the possible closure of City of Leeds School are unacceptable and must be stopped.

“I intend to run a positive campaign, working with residents to ensure we can all live and work in a community we have pride in and fight to save vital services, schools and centres that are at the heart of a thriving community.

“The people of Hyde Park, Little London and Woodhouse have a clear choice in this election. Rewarding Liberal Democrat policies that saw bins not emptied for weeks, or a Labour councillor, on their side, focused on standing up for residents and fighting to save services so many residents rely on.”

Gerry Harper was previously a councillor for the area between 1994 and 2004. He now works for Leeds North East MP, Fabian Hamilton, supporting constituents to resolve a often serious and challenging problems.

If elected, Gerry will fight Lib Dem cuts in the area; campaign to end the car parking problems faced in the ward; work to bring an end to the Barbeques which are damaging Woodhouse Moor and support the people of Hyde Park in their bid to get community use at the old Royal Park Primary school.