Ekua Bayunu Manchester Central I served on Manchester City Council for 3 years as a Manchester Central councillor and Deputy Leader of the Green Group of councillors.

Full statement

I can now focus this experience on serving the wider communities of Manchester Central. I will be proud to be your advocate in Westminster and because the Green Party knows that there is no climate justice without social justice, I can make pledges that help both People and Planet.

I will :

Create a radical new plan for Housing for all in our city. Investing in: Social Housing - homes with renter protections and community services. Warm housing free from damp and mould - support for both social landlords and home owners to retrofit existing houses to the highest standards and new homes built to passive house requirements. Bringing in greater Private Landlord controls to stop the cost of renting rocketing up, which in turn make it impossible for future generations to live in their own communities and creating a housing welfare bill that prevents local councils from being able to invest in services for everybody.

Support actions to bring about a permanent Ceasefire in Gaza. Calling for the safe release of all hostages. Demanding an internationally arbitrated settlement for the safety and rights of Israeli and Palestinian citizens. Guaranteeing the right to everyone to peaceful protest. Supporting the disinvestment in the arms industry and demanding an end to the supply of weapons to Israel and to any place where armed conflict targets civilians.

Promote and defend actions to Improve our Standard of Living: Implementing Immediate measures to address the cost of living, like raising the minimum wage and exploring the introduction of universal basic income and free university education. increasing universal credit and capping fuel price rises.

Reverse this Tory governments attacks on our NHS Being a champion for Quality Healthcare that is accessible to all. with proper funding to reduce waiting times and improve access to GPs and dentists.

Advocate for green policies that benefit the community, Giving access to public transport that is clean, green and affordable and reliable improving local air quality, promoting active transport, and Protecting our rivers and seas from sewage dumping, bringing water companies back into public hands to prevent further harm. Protecting our green spaces Investing in a just transition to green new jobs, focussing on skills development and employment for local people in and for their communities

I am a 62yr old woman of mixed Nigerian and Irish heritage, born and raised in England, who has lived and worked across Manchester for the last 31years. I am Muslim, Christian, Queer and Socialist.

I moved to Central Manchester with 2 young children, who went on to study at Salford and Manchester Metropolitan Universities and now have children of their own. As a grandparent I believe its our duty to consider the needs of future generations and it’s this foundation of responsibility that led me to joining the Green Party.

I chair and am a founding member of Global Arts Manchester, an Arts organisation which promotes systemic and structural change through the arts. I am also a practising artist in my own right.

I am a passionate Housing activist, long term member of the Moss Side branch of Greater Manchester Tenants Union and I also chair the Union’s Anti racism committee helping ensure the union serves all its membership and also supports our engagement in the wider community of active antiracist work being done across the city region.