Yahoo News Normal people in proper Plymouth area fire challenge to new MP
“Change for the better” was the overall view on the streets of St Budeaux today as Moor View turned red overnight with Labour's Fred Thomas beating the Tories at the polls. But the proud Plymouth area hasn't thrown up the party banners just yet as one man anticipates “tax rises to come” under the nation’s new Labour leader, Keir Starmer.
But many were happy to have a fresh MP representing them, as well as a new government. The cost of living, “rip off” energy prices, “incompetent mistakes” such as Covid parties and the Tories' “attitude to homeless people” were just some of the issues that made up voters' minds it seems.
“Labour are more community driven,” said 49-year-old Rob, but he spoke of “Brexit encouraging more aggression” and dividing communities. He hopes that attitudes may change now under the new political party, adding that “the Tories have no idea about the average person”.
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First-time voter, 19-year-old Conor McLaughlin, from the Moor View area, wants to see the NHS “funded properly” going forward. He hopes things will now “get better” under new leadership.
He said: “I think it’s good, I don’t really like Johnny Mercer that much - especially after what happened the other day with the protests up at Derriford.” Conor was making reference to a small group of people with Justice 4 Veterans banners protesting against Mr Mercer.
“I want to see the education system being funded properly and the NHS getting back on its feet,” Conor said.
“I want to be able to get an appointments, a dentist - I feel like dentists have been going more private now and that needs to be sorted. Just all in all, everything needs to be funded better really so hopefully, we’ll see what happens.”
Sudhir Patel, 63, of St Budeaux News, said: “So many things happened in the Gordon Brown (previous Labour) government.” And although he’s hoping and anticipating positive change, he’s “cautiously optimistic”.
“We will see what happens now with the change of government and power,” Sudhir said.
“Now the public needs change, everyone seems really fed up with the Conservatives. In recent years the big businesses have become too big and too rich.
“It’s become impossible for working class people to get on the property ladder in the last 14 years. People seem to have struggled finding permanent jobs and then banks won’t lend the money. On top of that everything has started to cost too much for everyday people recently.
Trudy, 53, is someone with disabilities living in the Moor View constituency area. She wants to see the Disability Act 'tightened up'.
She said: “I’m so happy Johnny Mercer is gone, but the new government has a lot of work to do. A more stable economy would benefit everyone. I'd like to see more support for the local economy too. The new MP needs to crack on and make Plymouth thrive.”
“We need change, certainly for us as in people with disabilities. I feel like we sometimes get the blame for it all, but we were born this way and don’t get as many opportunities. We need more rights.”
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