NHS workers running for Council in Aylesbury North

Steve Bell and Paul Tovey, who have both worked for Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust for over 50 years are standing for election in Aylesbury North.

They will be standing under the Trade Unionist and coalition banner, TUSC.

Speaking to the Herald, they said: "We have decided to stand under the TUSC banner as we feel there is no current party that represents the interests of the working clases in Aylesbury.

"We want to represent these people, but also the disenfranchised and also minorities."

Steve Bell has worked in the mental health sector service since 1993.

He said: "I've seen many different governments come and go, they all say the health service is their priority but nothing ever changes.

"We continue to see services starved of the resources we need to do our job with the quality we want.

"We have seen beds closed and we have seen this especially with Covid, where health staff had to work with no protection owing to the lack of masks.

"As a trade unionist in the health service I have fought bullying and harassment , racism and fought for more resources for the service and staff.

"That's what I will bring to the county council if elected.

"I will fight for more resources in social care and against charges for the most vulnerable.

"I will fight for the council to build homes for all, council homes at rents that young people and families can actually afford. I will fight job losses and for workers and those small businesses and the self employed that have suffered with little or no protection during covid.

"I will also donate any allowance over my travel expenses and communication needs to local trade union and community campaigns like HS2."

You can see all of Steve's pledges on the Aylesbury TUSC Facebook page by clicking here. Paul Tovey has been active in bringing 'privatised staff' back into the NHS throughout his career.

He said: "With Steve I set up the Thames Valley cost of living campaign in recognition of the increased cost of living in the Thames valley region. This was to raise awareness of the hardships that working class people were going through simply living in this area.

"This was driving staff out of the area and making recruitment much more difficult.

"I will fight all cuts as I have in the health service.

"As we have seen in the last year that money can be found when there is a political need.

"For too long we have had no voices in the county council that stand for and alongside working people.

"Like Steve I will donate any allowance to trade union and community campaigns as unlike many politicians this is not a career choice but a necessity if we are to change things for working people."

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