ARJINDER Thiara Workers Revolutionary Party candidate for Ealing Southall was greeted with enormous enthusiasm at Ealing Hospital yesterday.
Workers, patients and visitors queued up to grab manifestos and pledged to vote for the WRP candidate, who promises to fight to stop the closure of the hospital. RCN nurse and mother Benedicta Olou said: ‘I’ve read his manifesto and I’m voting for Arj to save the hospital and to get back EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) for college students. When I was in college, that £30 made a difference. Also, we’ve got to save this hospital.’
Husband and wife Munawar and Farah Zafar said: ‘We had our three children here. Our third baby was one of the last born here before Maternity closed in July 2015. It was a wonderful maternity unit and must be re-opened. That’s why we’re voting for Arj.’
Murli Adveni, a retired worker from Northolt, said: ‘My wife is here having therapy. This hospital is vital. ‘People are prepared to strike to save it. I am voting for Arj.’
Dominika Toplawska, who works at the newspaper shop at the front of the hospital, said: ‘If this hospital closes, I’ll lose my job. I’ll vote for Arj and tell all my family to do so as well.’ WRP candidate Arj said: ‘There is a really strong feeling and determination to strike and occupy to save this hospital. We are ready to lead that fight.’
l Whilst out campaigning on Muswell Hill Broadway, Anna Athow’s team spoke to Ellen Worrell a student at Highgate Wood School. She said, ‘My school is suffering cuts of £700 per pupil each year.
‘We are going to have to start paying for our own textbooks, for example, one subject £25. We even have to pay £10 to borrow from the school library. Highgate Wood is a comprehensive school and is so diverse whereas the private school up the road is all white.
‘They are changing the whole education system, not for the better, backwards not forwards. I do textiles. We have to buy our own supplies and our teacher relies on donations. I can’t afford to live, rents are so expensive. I was looking at flats for when I go to university but they are impossible. I agree with workers taking over and having a workers government appeals to me. The working class need the power to make the change.’
