I will have more to say tomorrow (or today!) after a sleep but with a 920 majority in Ham that we worked so hard for, for now I will just say thank you
@PlymouthLabour
, thank you
@CouncillorTudor
, thank you Ham ward ⚘️❤️
My role as an NHS "pen pusher" meant our psychiatrists didn't have to type & send multiple clinic letters or referrals a day, book appointments and deal with routine queries - freeing up their time to see more patients. Admin staff keep the NHS turning. This headline is gross.
This is an entirely inappropriate tweet from a Member of Parliament. I would be devastated if my boss tweeted out my financial situation for the world to see. This is shameful - poor Katy. Hope Mr Speaker does something about this.
Katy works for me. She is single & earns less than 30k, rents a room for £775pcm in Central London, has student debt, £120 a month on travelling to work saves money every month, goes on foreign holidays & does not need to use a foodbank.
Katy makes my point really well.
I have already voted by post, but nipped to the polling station in Manadon to vote by proxy for my parents.
My Mum in particular told me she is keen to get rid of Mercer and was very clear where I should put the cross on her behalf - next to
@FredThomasUK
! ⚘️🗳
We ended our canvass in Pennycross a lot wetter than when we started (!) but the reception was warm, with posters & garden stakes up, and postal votes already in for
@FredThomasUK
. And a great team! ☔️⚘️
Glorious sunshine in Estover with a big team for
@FredThomasUK
- lots of postal votes already in but also lots of people waiting until the day to cast their vote for change ⚘️☀️
How bloody proud I am to see
@FredThomasUK
making his maiden speech in the House of Commons this afternoon.
Our
@PlymouthLabour
MP for Plymouth Moor View! I don't think it will ever get old! Our Labour MP!
An incredibly dignified response to the ramblings of someone who knows his time is running out.
I am so proud to work alongside you
@FredThomasUK
- thank you for your service.
Shocked and disappointed by the hustings yesterday.
Service should be above political point scoring.
My time as Royal Marines Commando is a privilege of a lifetime. It would be an honour to serve Plymouth in Parliament, as I served our nation before.
Now that everything is official I'm so excited to share that I have a new job heading up Fred Thomas MP's team as his Office Manager - I genuinely couldn't be more over the moon.
I have some exciting news!
After a few years away from elected politics, I am so excited to have been selected as
@PlymouthLabour
's candidate in Ham ward for the May elections & looking forward to winning the seat back for Labour!
Well, it was bound to happen sometime, right?!
I don't care how angry you are about politics, you don't do this on the door of mine and my colleagues workplace. This is not how you win an argument. All it does is make our job as
@LukePollard
's caseworkers - dealing daily with asylum cases, homelessness and UC delays - harder.
Been out delivering all morning for
@FredThomasUK
- stopped for lunch in the sunshine with my bestie (good use of the burned calories!) 🥰 - now back to it! ⚘️🗳
I took on the portfolio for Health & Adult Social Care in Plymouth just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, aged 25.
Johnny Mercer didn't engage me with me ~ once ~ throughout the entire time.
Perhaps his views on young people in politics now explains that sheer rudeness 👍
When Johnny Mercer compared the new Labour MP for Selby to an Inbetweener
“We don’t want parliament to become like the Inbetweeners” he told
@skynews
Then this:
Been out delivering all morning for
@FredThomasUK
- stopped for lunch in the sunshine with my bestie (good use of the burned calories!) 🥰 - now back to it! ⚘️🗳
Spent my evening last night reporting the vile, homophobic tweets on here from the cesspit of this website. Glad
@LukePollard
is ignoring the creatures and just living life with the lovely Sydney. Love always wins 💕
Even on his birthday, he is out in the pouring rain with
@PlymouthLabour
, knocking on doors and speaking to voters - I've forced him to have a cake break!
Happy birthday to our brilliant parliamentary candidate
@FredThomasUK
🎂
I don't want to advertise the image of the "mass gathering" planned in Devonport & Central Parks on Saturday from the "UK Freedom Movement", but do want to say that anyone who takes part is a reckless moron with no regard for people's lives and they should stay at home
#COVID19
I have replied privately to Mr Mercer’s letter as Keyham is too important to be a political football.
My team and I are assisting local residents. If I can help, please get in touch on 01752 717255 or luke.pollard.mp
@parliament
.uk
Hot hot hot canvass in Derriford today!
Once a Tory heartland, Labour now has 2 of 3 councillors here, and today, lifelong Tory voters were telling us "enough is enough - no more".
The strength of support for
@FredThomasUK
across the patch is really something! ⚘️☀️
A lovely evening in the sunshine in Weston Mill - I am so privileged to be able to represent this part of the city.
Huge numbers of postal votes already returned here for
@FredThomasUK
and a brilliant team ⚘️☀️
Forgot to post this canvassing picture from Pennycross in Ham last night. A fantastic team in the sunshine - sadly we were depleted after
@PlymouthSally
got bitten by a dog 🐕 😢 But like the warrior she is, she has been back at it today & we had some lovely conversations ☀️⚘️
A done deal! Today I signed my declaration of office and so have officially become the Labour & Co-operative Councillor for Ham Ward - a lovely morning ⚘️❤️
The results for us in Plymouth have been terrible and we have lost some incredible people from our Labour Group. Our city has benefitted from their service, and will be poorer as a result of these losses. A sad day.
I have spent almost the entirety of the time that I have been politically aware, angry at many of the decisions made by those who govern us and their consequences.
I have never ONCE endangered someone else's life.
This is not protest. It is thuggery, plain and simple.
Working for an MP can be really tough at times but today we heard that, after over two years of fighting the Home Office, one of our cases has been granted the asylum he so desperately deserves. Thank you
@LukePollard
for supporting us to push on. Happy Friday!! 🌸🥳
My best friend, my rock, my biggest support and now my amazing fiancé. I don't think I could be any happier than I am in this moment. I love you
@tomsaunders22
and am very excited for the next chapter of our lives together 💕
Over 100 people we spoke to in Glenholt this evening! Lots of them planning to vote for
@FredThomasUK
as soon as their postal votes arrive - have you signed up for yours? ⚘️☀️
Lit a candle and had my own moment of reflection this evening. Thinking of the community in Keyham that I was so proud to represent for so many years. Hold your loved ones a bit closer tonight 💛
A very rough day "at the office" today - one of those which is proving very difficult to process. Some days harder than others in dealing with
#COVID19
and today is one of the darker ones. I'd appreciate a bit of love right now 😔
Today, I found out one of my cases, following our intervention, has been granted asylum to protect her and her daughter from the risk of Female Genital Mutilation. Such victories are the reason I bloody love doing what we do. So proud of
#TeamLuke
💗
Huge thanks to those
@PlymouthLabour
legends who joined
@FredThomasUK
& I to speak to residents in North Prospect & Beacon Park this morning - we spoke to hundreds of people before the rain started! ⚘️🌧
⚘ It is a privilege to have been re-selected to stand as
@PlymouthLabour
's candidate in Devonport in May. It has been an honour to represent the people of Mount Wise, Devonport, Morice Town & Keyham for the last 8 years and I hope I will be lucky enough to win another term⚘😊🔥
Feeling very emotional after one of my cases dropped in today to leave these for me after his positive Home Office decision. A timely reminder that having MPs who really care - like
@LukePollard
- does change people's lives for the better.
Our exceptional
@PlymouthLabour
team spoke to a whopping 157 people in sunny Peverell this evening, lots of whom have already completed their postal votes for
@FredThomasUK
! 🗳⚘️☀️
Kate was previously the Labour councillor for Devonport for nine years, including being Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'I can see first-hand what good leadership means, and why Labour representation matters,' says Kate
@plymouthkate
Our eve of poll
@PlymouthLabour
canvass. We spoke to so many people in Pennycross who have their polling day plan and know when they will be off to the polling station to vote for
@FredThomasUK
. Make sure you have your plan for tomorrow ⚘️🗳
I spoke to a young woman on the doors tonight who said politics wasn't important.
But the COL crisis has forced her to use a food bank, she can't get a GP appointment and she hasn't been able to find suitable housing for her family...
Now she's voting for
@JoshMcCPlymLab
⚘️
National news for Plymouth Argyle for their help in the fight against
#COVID19
and their support for the NHS. I have never been prouder of my club
#pafc
💚
Huge appreciation to the Chief Constable of
@DC_Police
, whose statement on the
#Plymouth
shootings was calm and thoughtful. That thanks extends to all staff, frontline or otherwise, in our emergency services who are doing an amazing job under incredibly difficult circumstances.
Disappointing that so many people are directing their anger and frustration at
@plymouthcc
and
@DC_Police
over the scenes on the Barbican, instead of towards those dropping and leaving litter, and defecating in the street.
#Plymouth
is better than this 😫
I have taken the incredibly difficult decision to stand down from
@plymouthcc
in May 2021 and not contest my seat for
@PlymouthLabour
. My full statement is here: 🌹
Very pleased to see
@LukePollard
's name on this list. He has worked tirelessly in Labour's Shadow Defence team and I am so looking forward to seeing what he does next - congratulations Luke ❤️
My final round of the day was the Cherry Tree Gardens estate. Always feels strange visiting the house I first set up home with my ex partner, where we planned our wedding & where I was Cabinet Member during COVID, working from my lounge! Strange how things turn out ❤️
Another few hundred leaflets delivered in North Prospect this evening, fuelled by some of the greatest hits of the 80s!
Knackered after a day of work & so many steps but so motivating to see my face in people's windows (now swapped for posters!) ⚘️❤️
How dare Johnny Mercer claim to be rolling out Health and Wellbeing Hubs in
#Plymouth
?
Amount asked for from Mercer to support
@plymouthcc
's Hubs programme: £16million.
Amount secured by Mercer from government to support programme: £0.
I would ask him, but he's blocked me 🙄
Got a bit teary at the end of my last Devonport
@PlymouthLabour
branch meeting. What a journey it has been - from Plymouth's youngest ever Councillor to (trying to!) steer the city through a pandemic. My greatest adventure yet. I'm so grateful to have been a part of it 💕
I feel privileged to have kept my portfolio - the steepest learning curve EVER but all things considered I don't think I'd want to be anywhere else. Thank you
@CouncillorTudor
for believing in me and my Cabinet colleagues for always having my back, especially on the dark days!
Tomorrow is the day! 🗳
I have always felt that public service is in my blood - helping people has always got me out of bed in the morning.
Tomorrow, people in Ham ward get their say on who will represent them, and I hope they will return me as their Labour Councillor ⚘️❤️
A clear message from
@plymouthcc
on this COVID-19 outbreak. Stay safe, stay socially distanced, get tested if you have symptoms and self isolate until you have your results. Be a good Janner - look out for Nanna
#Plymouth
.
Absolutely sick to death of people thinking its ok to just sling abuse at individuals because they dislike something. I am able to engage in respectful conversation with people who have different views to mine. But the second you resort to insults or threats, I owe you nothing.
Got a 74 in my latest Open Uni module!
Not bad for a year studying whilst working full time and managing Plymouth's response to the pandemic in the Cabinet.
Feeling pretty damn proud of myself right now 🥳🥰
There are certainly no no-go areas for Labour! South West Devon residents are crying out for an alternative to the Tories, who have taken them for granted for too long.
In
@Sarah4SWD
they have the chance to vote for a fierce, tireless campaigner who will work for everyone ⚘️
Campaign launch in the warm afternoon sunshine. There are no no- go areas for
@SWDevonLabour
Spoke to lots of former Tory voters who are excited to elect their first ever Labour MP
@PlymouthLabour
🌹🌹
I have lived and breathed the campaign in Plymouth Moor View for weeks and so now I have to spend the weekend sorting out all the life admin I have neglected - send help! 😵💫🫠
The bad news is that its Monday morning again, but the good news is I have found somewhere to live, which means I'm coming home to Plymouth - so buzzing about that ✨
The Conservatives will take the credit for Plymouth's first short-term care centre, but I am proud that as the
@PlymouthLabour
portfolio holder, I was the one to set this project in motion and I'm so happy to see it making progress! 🌻
I was planning a funny little tweet to go with this graphic I saw, but in Plymouth Moor View, we don't even see our Member of Parliament every four years - he's never been less interested in the people he has the privilege of representing.
The sun is shining, I am taking some annual leave for my birthday on Saturday and I've lost over a stone in five weeks so feeling healthier!
Been struggling with my mental health of late so very much looking forward to a few days of celebrations.
Happy Hump Day all ⭐🥳
Shout out to my brilliant friend
@Sarah4SWD
for smashing the Conservative majority in South West Devon, taking it from 21430 to just 2112. An incredible Labour woman ❤️⚘️
I am incredulous that I am being criticised for taking five minutes out of my day to film a video thanking our care workers for their hard work in
#Plymouth
during these bloody challenging times.
I won't apologise for letting them know how valued they are 👍
A busy day on the doorstep, with a pause to attend full council this afternoon (
#councillorlife
!) - got my steps in with sessions in Budshead, Eggbuckland and ending in wonderful Ham.
Just 10 days to go and we are still finding new voters supporting
@FredThomasUK
☀️⚘️
Well I got 73% in my first university assignment! It might only be the first and there's a long way to go but between a full time job, council, canvassing, illness and Tom's birthday... I got it in, I got it in early and I didn't balls it up! Small victories!!!
It is an absolute privilege to be joining the
@PlymouthLabour
Cabinet as Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care. A huge challenge with much to do but one I am very much looking forward to!
An absolute scorcher of a day - three rounds of delivery and two sessions in Southway & my own ward of Ham.
Every day I am more motivated by the prospect of ridding our city and our country of these uncaring, self-serving Tories. It's time for change ⚘️🗳
Most positive day yet on the doors today in Plymouth . It feels like voters’ intentions are hardening.
Very difficult to find anyone voting for five more years of the same.
People want change. Vote Labour 🌹
As
@PlymouthLabour
's Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care, I set up a cross-organisation group with the council, the NHS, local community groups and the voluntary sector to tackle loneliness.
The Conservative Cabinet Member who took over from me scrapped it 👍
Today, I am launching a campaign to end loneliness in
#Plymouth
.
I've seen how loneliness blight's lives.
I've also seen just how many people and groups are out there trying to bring people together.
Check this out and get involved 👇
I want my MP to live in my city, support our local economy, pay council tax towards our services.
Plymouth is the best city in the country - and if you want to represent us, you should live here - never mind another county entirely.