LOCAL Labour Party members have launched their campaign for the Wychavon District Council and Evesham Town Council elections on May 2.

The event took place on Saturday in the Market Square in, led by Rebecca Jenkins and local singer-songwriter Alan Mason, who entertained shoppers in song.

Rebecca, a teacher, is the Labour Parliamentary candidate for the nearby marginal constituency of Redditch.

David Haslam, chairman of the Evesham Labour Party introduced Labour’s candidates in the coming elections.

Standing next to the war memorial in the square he said: “We need to see a country that those who are remembered here would be proud of, and sadly we don’t have that at the moment. Too many are homeless, and depending on foodbanks.”

Ros Gowers, candidate in Little Hampton, said that, while Wychavon was regularly voted a great place to live, this is not so for many local people. Social mobility is lower than in other areas, schools and social care are under-funded and our NHS is under extreme pressure.

Mary Campbell, who is standing in Bengeworth, said: “It is time the ordinary person had someone to stand up for them.” John Gowers, targeting Evesham North, stressed that inequality and injustice need to be tackled urgently, both locally and nationally.

The candidate for Inkberrow, Bernie Louise, spoke of the struggle she and others had experienced to get support for the special educational needs of their children at a time of budget cuts.

The other candidates are Misan McFarland, an experienced councillor, standing in Pershore, while Liliana Mesquita and Rehan Yunus, who have settled in Evesham from the EU, will be candidates for the town council.

Evesham members are helping to organise a Free Legal

Advice Forum for EU citizens on Friday, March 22, at 6.30 pm, at Evesham Town Hall by the group 3 Million.