I’m standing in this selection because I care about Lancaster and Fleetwood. I’m seeing first-hand the destruction this Tory government backed by our local Tory MP is doing to our community. Week in and week out I speak to residents in Lancaster and Fleetwood who share the same heart breaking accounts of the bedroom tax, fear of losing local hospital services and despair at the unemployment levels. It makes me angry that we are seeing the need for food banks locally and I know together we must fight for a Labour government in 2015.
The local candidate:
I have been a member of the Labour Party since joining the former constituency of Lancaster and Wyre eight years ago. Since then I have campaigned in every set of elections, most recently talking to voters both in Lancaster and in Fleetwood for the recent Lancashire County Council elections. I am committed to our area, was born and raised in Barrow and now live in Lancaster. I was Labour’s 2010 general election candidate in the neighbouring constituency, Wyre and Preston North.
The national experience:
After graduating from Lancaster University, I have worked at the heart of Westminster with Labour in government as well as in opposition. My work in Parliament, supporting three Labour MPs and a Labour peer and in Labour Party headquarters, where I worked to engage faith communities, has given me the experience to know how to deliver real change for real people. In my current role with the British Association of Social Workers, I have successfully brought about changes to government policy, defending and improving a service vital to many of the most vulnerable in our society. We need to shout about our achievements and the difference that a Labour government will bring to people’s lives: I am a confident media performer, writing a monthly column for Tribune, serving on the editorial board of Chartist magazine and have been interviewed on Newsnight, Daily Politics and BBC Radio Four.
The campaigning candidate:
It will not be easy to return a Labour government in 2015. The Tories will throw money at seats like Lancaster and Fleetwood. But some things money can’t buy. My background, experience and knowledge of campaigning will not just make me a candidate who can make Lancaster and Fleetwood Labour again, but an effective MP for people here from day one.
You can see my full professional CV at LinkedIn.
My five pledges to you if you select me as your parliamentary candidate:
I will campaign from the day you select me. I live in the constituency and have already knocked on hundreds of doors for our local party this year.
I will use my local links and existing relationships to build membership and activity in our local party.
A year-round campaign; on the doorsteps, with street surgeries and street stalls, taking up the issues people care about and proving that Lancaster and Fleetwood Labour is on the side of the people who live here.
If elected in 2015, I will be a visible and accessible MP. I will continue to live here, and have a full-time staffed office in the constituency.
I will campaign so that by the 2020 election, Lancaster and Fleetwood is considered a safe Labour seat.
As Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate in the neighbouring constituency of Wyre and Preston North at the last general election in 2010 I know what you will expect from your candidate and I know together with your support I can deliver a winning campaign.
I have met with many of you already and there are some clear areas I know we need to address between now and 2015.
With long-term unemployment in Lancaster and Fleetwood up by a shocking 36%, the Tories are letting local people down. Labour must deliver an economic recovery which addresses the North-South divide and ensure the benefits of growth are felt beyond the South East. As a candidate, I will develop a local plan for investment in infrastructure to spur jobs and growth. I strongly back the re-introduction of Fleetwood’s rail link, supporting our local businesses and creating jobs.
The National Health Service
The NHS is the most civilised aspect of our society. The creeping privatisation of our NHS is wrong in principle, damaging in practice and economically inefficient. Profits should never be put before people. With the current threat to services in the Morecambe Bay Health Trust, I will defend Lancaster’s 24-hours A&E and maternity unit. Fleetwood must also not suffer any withdrawal of services, which must always remain free at the point of use and supported with qualified staff who have secure jobs.
Affordable homes
For many of our young families, renting is no longer a stepping-stone to home ownership, but their long term reality. 21% of local residents rent privately, many more than are in housing association (7%) or local authority homes (4%). With rising prices and a lack of quality long-term secure family housing, I will campaign for new council house building, the expansion of shared ownership schemes plus the regulation of private landlords, with long term secure tenancies and rent regulation.
As a workplace rep for Unite, I’m proud to be supported by the following unions:
Many local members and others I’ve worked with have shared why they support my candidacy:
“Lancaster & Fleetwood is a key constituency for Labour. We must ensure that we have the best possible candidate to ensure both success in the election and to represent our views in the years to come. There is one person who stands out as having the experience, enthusiasm, local credentials and political conviction to be our candidate, and that is Cat Smith.
I have known Cat for several years, since I was selected as Labour’s candidate for this constituency in 2007, when she was part of the campaign team. Cat has an excellent track record of campaigning, both politically and on issues of social justice. She has the experience of being a former parliamentary candidate and also from being a parliamentary assistant to Labour MPs.
Cat will be an excellent candidate for Labour and an excellent MP for Lancaster & Fleetwood. Please give her your support in this selection.”
Clive Grunshaw, Chair of Lancaster and Fleetwood CLP
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner
Parliamentary candidate for Lancaster and Fleetwood 2010
“We need a candidate in 2015 who is genuinely local with the campaigning experience to take on the Tories, I know Cat is that person. She lives in the constituency, campaigns week-in and week-out alongside our Labour councillors and candidates. I know with her campaigning ethos she can win at the general election”
Councillor Vikki Price, Lancaster and Fleetwood CLP
“I have campaigned and spoken alongside Cat in defending the NHS from cuts and privatsiation and I know she would be a strong advocate for the people of Lancaster and Fleetwood, the NHS and our core Labour values”
Dr David Wrigley, local GP and NHS Campaigner, BMA GP’s Committee and Chair of Morecambe and Lunesdale CLP
“I believe Cat ticks all the right boxes that will make her a formidable Labour candidate who will be successful in 2015. As a northerner who knows the area, she is a tremendously hard worker and committed to the Labour cause. She’s intelligent and a great communicator.
From leafleting to canvassing, broadcasting, being on the platform or participating in meetings Cat does it all. I want an MP who can ‘hit the ground running’ and doesn’t need to waste time finding her way around. Cat will do this for us to immediately be an effective MP.
Finally, and most important, she’s ‘proper Labour’. You only have to talk to her for a short time to see that she is routed in sound Labour principles of fairness, equality and supporting the vulnerable. There’s lots more to her than that but I suggest you talk to her yourself to find out why she would be a great MP”
Colin Hartley, Lancaster Central County Council Candidate 2013 & Lancaster and Fleetwood CLP member
“Winning Lancaster and Fleetwood in 2015 will have to include the mobilisation of students and young people, especially at the University. Cat’s background and her record of engagement with young members will be a huge asset on the campaign trail and I’m pleased to support her in this selection”
Sam Hale, Chair of Lancaster University Labour Club
“It’s been a pleasure to know Cat for more than 10 years. During that time she’s consistently proved herself to be a committed and hardworking Labour Party campaigner. More importantly she’s intelligent, driven and goes the extra mile to make a real difference wherever she’s involved. She’s also someone with real conviction and not frightened to challenge conventions. She’ll do everything necessary to improve Lancaster and help the people of our great city, which is why I’m proud to endorse her.”
Michael Gibson, Former Chair, Lancaster Labour Party and Managing Director, Fat Media
“Working with Cat on social justice campaigns has been inspiring and challenging. Cat is ready to get her hands dirty on the ground taking practical action, but she also asks the questions as to why the action is needed and follows this up with political action. Her background in the North West makes her an excellent advocate for us – she has an awareness of the complex diversity of our communities, the deprivation, the rural environment, the industry and also the more affluent parts of our towns and cities. Cat is someone I have confidence in supporting – she will make an excellent candidate”.
Rev Steve Charman, Minister at Lancaster Methodist Church and University Chaplain
“Cat Smith grew up in Barrow, was educated in Lancaster, learnt her politics in Wyre and has steeped herself in Lancaster & Fleetwood through knocking on a thousand doors over the last 3 years. Conscientious, intelligent and independent Cat is exactly the sort of hard working, committed representative that I know the constituency needs”
Hilton Dawson, MP for Lancaster and Wyre 1997-2005
“I was part of Cat’s campaign team in Wyre and Preston North at the 2010 general election and saw first hand her commitment and energy for campaigning. She would be able to lead a campaign to return Lancaster and Fleetwood to Labour”
Stella Charnley, Wyre and Preston North CLP
“I have no hesitation in recommending Cat as prospective parliamentary candidate for the Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency. I was so impressed during the 2010 campaign by her determination and commitment to the Labour cause. If she succeeds in becoming the prospective candidate I will be there in the team working for her.”
Irene Barton, Wyre and Preston North CLP
“Cat has been a huge support to me my work in the House of Lords over the past three years; not only is her knowledge of social care and disability issues superb but she also has a very broad knowledge of many other policy areas. I am delighted that she has thrown her hat into the ring for the Lancaster and Fleetwood selection for parliamentary candidate. She would be of great value as an MP: her combination of hard work, great commitment and strong advocacy skills would make her well loved by her constituency”
Baroness Rosalie Wilkins, Labour Peer
The process to choose Lancaster and Fleetwood’s next general election candidate is underway. I am writing today to let you know a little about me, why I am standing and to ask you for your support and nomination. The local candidate I joined the Labour Party in 2004 in the old Lancaster and Wyre constituency [...]
I really want to hear from all Labour members in Lancaster and Fleetwood – please get in touch: