Michael Kane – 2014 Speech after Winning Wythenshawe and Sale East By-Election

Below is the text of the speech made by Michael Kane after winning the Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election on 13th February 2014.

Tonight the people of Wythenshawe and Sale East have sent a very clear message – they want a government will to stand up for us all – a One Nation Labour government.

It’s a result which emphatically demonstrates that people here know the NHS is not safe in David Cameron’s hands, and that we’ve had enough of his utterly out of touch government.

But tonight we are thinking of those across the country affected by storms, by flooding and by the dreadful weather which we also experienced in Manchester on Wednesday.

I will be an MP speaking out on the issues that matter to you:

Fighting for a fair deal for Wythenshawe A&E.

Exposing the cost-of-living crisis felt by families and pensioners across our area and beyond.

And on the unfair and disproportionate cuts to local services – Wythenshawe and Sale has said tonight: enough is enough.

This was the by-election nobody wanted.

My dear friend Paul Goggins achieved so much for the people of Wythenshawe and Sale East, and their love and respect for him will be one of my abiding memories of the campaign.

Paul’s legacy is matched by the legacy of my mentor and my inspiration Alf Morris, who championed the rights of the chronically sick and disabled.

To be returned as MP for the area both Alf and Paul served so well, the constituency in which I’ve lived all my life, is a humbling moment for me.

My message to you tonight, whether you voted for me, for one of my opponents, or you didn’t vote at all, is that I will represent everyone in this constituency and I will be your voice in Westminster.

Almost 200 years ago Benjamin Disraeli stood on a spot across the road from here and spoke of One Nation – and he said “What Manchester does today, the world does tomorrow”.

Well, Manchester has rejected David Cameron today…and the rest of Britain will tomorrow.

Today’s Tories have abandoned Disraeli’s principles.

It’s the same old Tory attitude of “them and us” , and people here are sick of their constant attempts to divide our communities.

But as Ed Miliband told Wythenshawe when he came here during the campaign: we are a party for everybody – uniting communities, building on the best of Britain … not pandering to the worst.

That’s what One Nation Labour is all about.

I want to thank the returning officer, Sir Howard Bernstein, the staff and the police who have all worked hard at the count tonight.

And thank you to my opponents for what has been predominantly a robust but fair contest … I wish them a safe journey home.

I’d like to thank my agent and all those who have worked so hard on my campaign, so often battling the elements…

And I want to pay special tribute to my wife Sandra who has been at my side all the way and without whom I wouldn’t be here tonight.

But most of all I’d like to thank the people of Wythenshawe and Sale East.

They have rejected the failed policies of the out-of-touch Tories…

They have rejected the isolationism and scaremongering of UKIP.

Labour is proud of Wythenshawe and Sale, and this is the place I am proud to call my home.

Today the people have said loud and clear: Labour is on your side.

Thank you.