Labour candidate confident 'tide is turning' in Newark

The Labour Party have announced their candidate for Newark in the upcoming General Election.

Saj Ahmad will stand as the Labour candidate hoping to oust sitting Conservative MP Robert Jenrick from the historically Tory seat of Newark.

Her selection came following the shock announcement by Rishi Sunak on Wednesday evening to call an early General Election, in which the Prime Minister confirmed the country will head to the polls on July 4.

Saj Ahmad is a Nottingham City councillor, who has experience and involvement with trade unions, and a day job working at the highest levels of government in the cyber security sector.

Born and bred in Nottinghamshire from a working class background, she said she was passionate about the issues that affect people in the area, and was confident of ‘turning Newark red, and it staying red’.

“I am very pleased and honoured to have been chosen as the candidate for Newark,” she said.

“Newark is a brilliant place with amazing people and I am excited to have the chance to represent them after this election.

“This is an amazing area with so much history and I have enjoyed spending a lot of time here over the past several months getting to know residents and speaking with businesses about what is important to them.

“The recent elections of a Labour Police and Crime Commissioner and East Midlands Mayor have proven that there is an appetite for change, the tide is turning in Newark and one way or another Robert Jenrick will have a fight on his hands.”

Labour’s priorities going into the election are to stabilise the economy, invest in green energy, reduce pressure on the NHS, control border security and increase opportunities for young people as well as recruiting 6,500 more teachers nationally.

Saj said: “People are really struggling with the cost of living, inflation, and high mortgage rates brought about by the Tories and 14 years of complete mismanagement of our economy.

“We want to deliver economic stability and for Newark that means supporting local businesses who tell me they need more help so that our towns can thrive.

“There are currently 40,000 people on NHS waiting lists; something needs to be done about border security; and we need to look at the education system in this country.”

She added: “I also feel that rural areas have been left behind and the people have been let down by the Conservatives and Robert Jenrick, and need someone who is going to be their voice in Westminster.

“We have to make our case to the people of Newark and I will not take anything for granted.

“I will be out there, knocking on doors, engaging with residents, speaking to as many people as possible to find out what really matters to them and explaining how the plan that Labour has can improve people’s lives.

‘’I was a child who had free school meals, I grew up in a council house and I understand what it’s like to go without.

“I’ll be the kind of MP who works hard for everyone in Newark because I believe everyone should have a chance to thrive regardless of their background or how wealthy their family is.‘’

The UK General Election is scheduled to take place on July 4. The candidates so-far confirmed for the Newark constituency are (listed alphabetically):

• Michael Ackroyd - Green Party

• Saj Ahmad - Labour

• Adrian Amer - Independent

• Robert Hall-Palmer - Reform UK

• Robert Jenrick - Conservative

• David Watts - Liberal Democrats