Caroline Flint MP on trail in Gillingham

Caroline Flint MP on the stump with Gillingham North Labour team

Caroline Flint MP, the Shadow Local Government and Communities Minister visited Gillingham yesterday to join our campaign and listen to the community.

The Fresh Ideas event was attended by a number of senior local representatives including those from charities, youth organisations and faith groups. All expressed grave concerns at the cuts being inflicted by the Conservative Government.

A key issue raised were the cuts on young people and the future impact of worklessness that will impact future generations.

The Tories have cut the Education Maintenance Allowance, cut the Future Jobs Fund, risen tuition fees to £9,000 and have cut local Connexion and youth services. All of these are having real impacts on the ground from All Hallows, Hoo to Rainham and Watling.

Labour is standing a candidate under 30 in every target ward in Medway reflecting a generation of change for Medway Council. The future for our towns against a tired and out-of-touch Conservative front bench.

Before the event Caroline Flint went out on the stump with the Gillingham North action team who are running a positive campaign of local change for May.

The team have attracted a number of campaigners from Progress and more high profile visits are due. It promises to be a very exciting local campaign.

Caroline met with a number of residents close to the train station, including a number of former Liberal Democrats, who feel let down locally by an ineffective group which has done little locally.

They are looking for a change in May. For Councillors that will fight with others across Medway against the savage and over aggressive cuts.