This morning Afzal Khan (Member of Parliament for Manchester Gorton constituency) joined with Councillors Aftab Razaq, Angeliki Stogia and Muqaddasah Bano, and Labour supporters in Manley Park, to launch Aftab’s campaign as the Labour candidate for Whalley Range in the local elections on Thursday 5 May.

Afzal spoke about the Conservative government’s complete lack of interest in the growing day-to-day problems of many people and families across the country at the moment, as they face huge increases in energy bills and the cost of basic essentials while companies (such as P&O Ferries) use ‘fire-and-rehire’ tactics to actually drive down pay and conditions. Meanwhile the contrast between this week’s increase in national insurance payments by workers (including those on low incomes) and the chancellor Rishi Sunak’s own family’s tax affairs could not be more striking.

Aftab says “Only Labour can form a government to replace the Tories, and the route back to a Labour government starts in our local communities. I am proud to have represented Whalley Range for Labour since 2011, and it is a privilege to present myself as your candidate again this year.”