Campaign news

INTERVIEW: Kevin Hind

27th April 2010

Kevin Hind, Labour PPC for Bury St Edmunds answers our questions and needs your help!

What three policies would you like to see in the next Labour Party manifesto?

1. Public Services not Private Profit: An end to PFIs and PPPs; progressive renationalisation of utilities and public transport; replacement of profit-making financial institutions with not-for-profit companies such as mutuals, credit unions and co-operatives.
2. Workers’ rights: A re-balancing of employment law in favour of workers; a charter of workers’ rights enforceable by law; extension of trade union recognition; application of the adult national minimum wage for all workers.
3. Education for the many not the few: A fully comprehensive education system with schools providing academic and vocational subjects in equal value; abolition of SATs and league tables; ending charitable status for private education and bringing private schools into the state sector; abolition of university tuition fees and restoration of maintenance grants.

What issues will you be campaigning on in Parliament if elected?
A People’s Parliament: A written constitution; whichever voting system I am convinced gives effect to greater democratic legitimacy; complete abolition of the Royal Prerogative and curtailment of executive control over Parliament; an elected second chamber with scrutiny and amendment powers only; removal of the ‘MP Filter’ between constituents and the Parliamentary Ombudsman; a wider Freedom of Information Act.

A socialist Foreign Policy:Establishment of a minister for conflict resolution; nuclear disarmament and non-renewal of Trident; reducing arms sales and expansion of conflict prevention; becoming a more ‘critical friend’ of the US; promotion of a social Europe that advances workplace and welfare rights. 

What do you think has been Labour’s greatest achievement and its greatest mistake in Government?
Greatest Achievements: The National Health Service, the Open University and the National Minimum Wage. 
Greatest Mistake: Supporting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; not standing up effectively against global capitalism and neo-liberalism. 

What are the major local issues in Bury St Edmunds?
Closure of middle schools by Tory-led Suffolk County Council and the poor quality of local public transport. 

How can activists help you to win in Bury St Edmunds?
Canvassing, leafleting and generally getting the Labour vote to come out - there is a strong perception that a vote for Labour in the constituency is a wasted vote because Suffolk is such a Tory stronghold. However, Labour reduced the Tory majority to just 368 votes in 1997 when we also controlled the local council.