Yvonne Ridley is a independent candidate for Newcastle Central and West.
North East Bylines asked candidates for our 27 constituencies ten questions on a range of subjects. We will be publishing their answers over the next few weeks.
1. What is your plan for economic revival in the North East?
I want to be ambitious on behalf of this city of strivers. I would refocus Newcastle as an economic hub for the UK by promoting initiatives to attract new businesses, support entrepreneurship, and create well-paid, good quality jobs. Newcastle is already home to a burgeoning technology and digital sector – why shouldn’t it become the Silicone Valley of the UK? I will also promote tax breaks and other practical support for small businesses, and fight for our fair share of Levelling Up and all government funding streams. I will invest in youth employment programmes aimed at providing training, internships and apprenticeships.
2. How will you help to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets?
The decarbonisation of homes is crucial and has the added benefit of reducing fuel poverty. I will fight for social landlords in Newcastle to receive their fair share of national housing resources to make the fabric first improvements and install the clean heat technologies required to decarbonise. We must also financially support low and middle income homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. We need to improve public transport provision and active travel infrastructure if we are to dissuade people from their over-reliance on cars. But big business must play its part and clean up its act – or face massive fines or even imprisonment to help focus minds.
3. How will you work to end child poverty in the North East?
I’m calling for free school meals for all school-aged children. If even some of the most deprived parts of London such as Tower Hamlets can find the money to do this, why can’t we? I would support a lift on the two child cap for child benefit, and am disappointed that Labour won’t commit to this. I want the National Funding Formula for schools to be revised so that our children receive their fair share and regional inequalities don’t continue to rise. I would redirect and ringfence the money we currently spend on exporting arms and military aid specifically for children’s services in this country.
4. What is your view of the war on Gaza and how would you resolve it?
There must be an immediate ceasefire. I’ve fought for Palestinian rights for 50 years, but this latest onslaught is like nothing I’ve seen before. Peace cannot be delivered through the barrel of a gun; diplomacy is the only solution. The UK Government must recognise the state of Palestine. We must demand a two state solution. We must challenge Israel robustly when it behaves as badly as it has been doing under leader Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist coalition. As happened in apartheid South Africa – there is a tipping point for world opinion to shift. Now is the tipping point for Palestine and world opinion is shifting at quite an unprecedented speed.
5. How can the curriculum be widened to make it more useful and inclusive for our pupils?
The content of the school curriculum is best when co-produced by educational practitioners, pupils and parents.
6. How do you propose to protect our waterways from contamination with sewerage?
Nationalise. Nationalise. Nationalise. Private, foreign money men don’t care about anything other than their bottom line – even if what comes out of bottoms ends up in our rivers, seas and even tap water! Many of our voters have no idea Northumbria Water no longer belongs to the people and is in the hands of US hedge fund managers and Hong Kong entrepreneurs. The shareholders are raking in millions in profits while we face high water bills and a lack of investment.
7. What do you see are the main benefits of Brexit?
Until yesterday, I failed to see any benefits, especially in the long queues forming at all European borders. But after the victory of so many far-right parties in the European elections, I guess I’m a little pleased my tax money isn’t paying to give those almost-fascists a platform to spew their poison.
8. What will you do to fight for fair pay for all NHS staff?
It’s not rocket science. I would tax the rich and use this to improve public sector pay across the board. The NHS is the biggest employer in Newcastle. Improving pay for NHS workers has the added benefit of boosting the local economy. The filthy rich and the fat cats can afford to pay extra without feeling any loss.
9. Which historical figure would you go to for advice?
An impossible call between my uncle Joe Mills, who was a legendary figure in the North East’s trade union movement as head of the Transport & General WU – he understood better than most the power of collective bargaining, of solidarity and strength in numbers. And humble seamstress Rosa Parks, who was the embodiment of what I call the Power of One. One woman who dared to utter one word – “no” – and changed the world.
10. How would you ensure that you represent all constituents, including the ones who didn’t vote for you?
It would be very limiting to live only in one’s own echo chamber. I’m interested in a plurality of viewpoints and challenge is the best way for us to learn and grow. I would assess each case and each issue on its merit, and I know I would be open in my welcome and fair in my response. Treat others as you would want to be treated yourself.
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