I didn't grow up wanting to be a politician. I'm a plumber.
And two weeks ago, during all this, I also qualified as a plasterer.
Because even in chaos, even under pressure, I get things done.
I am no different to every single person here in this constituency. I work hard. That is what we do.
Except things have changed a lot over the last few decades. Because working hard used to get you something.
It got you a house, a nice life, holidays. It got you somewhere.
But now? Working hard? What does that get you?
Because talk to anyone here and they will tell you, the people who work hard but can't put food on the table, can't get their kids school uniforms, can't put their heating on, can't live off the pension they worked hard to save for, can't even begin to dream about ever having a holiday, ever.
Because life has changed.
Instead of working for a nice life, we're working to line the pockets of billionaires.
We are being bled dry.
And I don't think it's extreme or radical to think working hard should get you a nice life.
And I think that if you're not able to work that you should still have a nice life.
I think that absolutely everybody should get a nice life.
And clearly, I'm not the only person who thinks that.
Because I've made clear my position and my commitment to working class communities, the community that I am from.
People in their thousands told me on the doorsteps and at the ballot box, that what we are sick of is being let down and looked down on, that we are sick of our hard work making other people rich.
I lived in this constituency at one of the most difficult and challenging periods of my life.
I saw how strong the community was at holding things together.
But I saw how much harder life is when the things around you are broken, the litter, the fly-tipping, the dirty air.
And when I moved, it became even clearer. And this is why I am fighting for the community that I lived in and that I still work in.
Because I absolutely refuse to accept that we should ever have to move and leave our our communities for good schools, a thriving high street, and clean air. And I will not accept a society where having more money gets you a longer life expectancy.
And so when it came to fighting for people here, to stand in this election, well, how could I not fight? Because here, this is what we do.
We fight for each other in this very diverse constituency, where our struggles might not always be the same, but where we know how hard life can be and we stick together.
Whatever our beliefs, our backgrounds, our color, or our level of education, we stick up for each other.
And to those who voted for me, I know that earning your trust starts now.
One vote on one night is not something I will take for granted or assume will happen again.
I will earn your trust.
And to those who didn't vote for me, I will always work hard for you, and I will always be honest, and I will always be decent.
To our Muslim communities, who this week suffered an attempted attack during Ramadan, whilst I was being welcomed by women at a mosque in Longsight, someone just down the road walked into a mosque carrying an axe.
And whilst we were gathered and eating together, an act of terror could easily have taken place.
And I can't and won't accept this victory tonight without calling out the politicians and divisive figures who constantly scapegoat and blame our communities for all the problems in society.
My Muslim friends and neighbors are just like me, human.
And of course, to our White working class communities, the background that I have become so proud to be from.
We know how it feels to be looked down on, maybe because we didn't do well at school, maybe because we do dirty manual jobs, because we are shut out of places we should be in.
To people here in Gorton and Denton, who feel left behind and isolated, I see you and I will fight for you.
Because whilst our communities may sometimes be labeled in different ways, the thing everyone seems to have underestimated here, especially over the last few weeks, is how similar we all actually are. How we have common ground, how we get along, how we stand up for each other.
The cracks that were starting to show can be healed, and I believe that it is through offering people hope and a chance to do things differently and do things better.
Now to my customers, I'm sorry, but I think I might have to cancel the work that you have booked in, because I'm heading to Parliament.
And when I get there, I will make space for everyone doing jobs like mine. We will finally get a seat at the table.
And to Layla, the little girl who had the pleasure of meeting and holding this week, I promised you I would try and improve the world that you are growing up in. I told you that I am not perfect, but that I always try my best.
I always try and do the right thing.
Now something exciting is definitely happening and I invite you all to be part of it.
Come and join the Green Party so that we can spread hope and win everywhere across the country.
Our strength will grow as more and more of us come together. We have shown that we don't have to accept being turned against each other.
We can demand better without hating each other. We can do that together.
We ran a hopeful campaign backed by thousands of volunteers and activists.
We defeated the parties of billionaire donors.
We have shown that we don't have to accept being turned against each other at all, and we did this with the people who live here side by side, shoulder to shoulder, just as we have always done in this constituency and in the whole of Greater Manchester. Because this is is Manchester and we do things differently here.
Thank you so, so much to everybody.
Thank you.
= new reply since forum marked as read
