INVESTING in infrastructure and removing profiteering from the NHS are the best ways to deal with Rugby’s services becoming overrun as the town grows – so said Jeremy Corbyn in an exclusive chat with The Rugby Observer.
During a visit to Warwick, the Labour leader acknowledged the strains being places on Rugby’s healthcare, roads and housing.
He said: “The problem we have is far too much privatisation of services in the NHS, and far too much profit being made by those companies.
“An expanding economy would bring in greater tax income and more employment, and we would establish a national investment bank so local authorities can draw down funding for vital infrastructure such as healthcare.”
He added investment in rail and roads was important to help industrial development.
“Above all we need to address the housing crisis which essentially has got to start with investing in council housing and social housing,” he said.
Mr Corbyn was in Warwick to launch Labour’s Police Crime Commissioner campaign for Warwickshire, and introduce candidate Coun Julie Jackson of the County Council.
Outlining her campaign objectives, she said she wanted to take on board the priorities of the people of Warwickshire.
She said: “I’m being told consistently on the doorstep what matters most is the relationship with local policing. So investing in safer neighbourhood teams, police officers and community support officers is something we should be doing in Warwickshire.
“The current PCC has a level of reserves that give me confidence that we can at least move forward on increasing those local teams.”
Mr Corbyn added: “I’ve every confidence that Julie will do a great job and be accountable to the people, but I think there also needs to be a day-to-day accountability through local government, the police and the fire service.
“We want to work out more democratic structures for the future – real devolutionary powers in England, not just the selective ‘super-mayors’ in certain cities with other parts of the country getting nothing at all.”
Coun Jackson will contest the election in May against Conservative candidate Philip Seccombe, Liberal Democrat Nicola Davies and independents David Whitehouse and Ben Twomey.
