The number one issue for my constituents is the huge gas explosion that devastated New Ferry, in March last year.

Children and adults are doubly devastated not only by the explosion itself but also by the selective compassion shown by this government. Some families, like Christopher Power’s, are facing their second Christmas in temporary accommodation. In the language of war, they’d be called “internally displaced refugees”.

Disasters could happen anywhere at anytime. When disaster struck in Salisbury, London, and Belfast the government chose to rip up their rule book and paid out quickly. £7.5m was given to Salisbury businesses for loss of trade, but not a single penny has come for traders in New Ferry. Why?

In politics it is easy to use personal attacks rather than sticking to the real issues affecting our society, especially when we are living in a time of austerity and Brexit, when we feel more divided than ever.

As Cllr Jo Bird points out, Yvonne Nolan has recently been singled out by Councillors on the Wirral unfairly with no right to reply as a member of the public.

Last year, President Trump retweeted videos from Britain First – a violent, fascist, Islamophobic organisation. They are also linked to explicitly anti-Semitic, holocaust denying, political parties in Poland. The name of Britain First was invoked by the murderer of Jo Cox MP.

Trump’s ally, alt-right leader, Richard Spencer, calls himself a “white Zionist”. Because the State of Israel and its para-military racism, has become a model for white supremacists.

Would she agree with me that we must support access to local centres like New Ferry and Bromborough Village through car parking and better bus services because locally owned businesses, traders and customers they're the heart and soul of our local economies and local communities unlike businesses that are run purely for wealth extraction. So please should she give council an update on the community wealth building initiative?

I am honoured to represent Bromborough ward and almost 15,000 residents.

I grew up on the Wirral in the 70s and 80s. After studying and working in Manchester and Northern Ireland, I returned to live on the Wirral last year.

Many things haven’t changed: - There are beautiful people, stunning views and green spaces such as Port Sunlight - There is still too much poverty and inequality - We are still dealing with cruel conservative cuts to services we all rely on, such as to our NHS - There is still no justice for the strikers of Cammell Lairds, - The Labour Party remains a broad church, or what I call, a broad synagogue.

I am a newly-elected Labour councillor who is Jewish in a ward bordering Birkenhead.

Frank Field MP chose to use anti-Semitism as his excuse to resign from the Labour whip.

I am, frankly fed up of anti-Jewish racism being used as a political weapon to attack Labour.

Thank you to everyone who made this fantastic result possible. To:

The returning officer and their team of workers for democracy

Labour supporters, more than a hundred, who delivered leaflets and spoke with thousands of residents

To generations of our left wing parents and grandparents who built and defended our welfare state, our NHS and who raised children to question authority

To Oh, Jeremy Corbyn who provides the leadership and hope we need for our next Labour government

Most of all, I'd like to thank the 1,253 residents of Bromborough, Port Sunlight and New Ferry who came out and voted for me and for Labour.

I've listened and talked with thousands of people in this ward. Almost everyone is saying how important New Ferry is. New Ferry was devastated by a huge explosion, in March last year. At that time, I lived in Derry~Londonderry in Northern Ireland. In both places, I see communities that are doubly traumatised. Firstly by explosions and violence, and secondly by the ongoing trauma of government indifference, inaction and injustice - though the causes are different. The Conservative government found £7.5m for Salisbury after events there, and gives tax breaks to the richest, but public funding for local services we all rely on has been cruelly cut to the bone.

I was Labour candidate for Eastham, in Wirral South. On 4th May, I won 1500 votes, an increase of 65% (600) from last time.

I didn’t win the election, but our share of the vote increased from 24% to 36% – the best result on the Wirral. Nationally, Labour did great – gaining 79 seats and winning more than half of all council seats.

We all know Labour is the focus of media attention and establishment attack because it is the next government in waiting. And because of Jeremy Corbyn’s track record of standing up for social justice – from Hillsborough, Grenfell and Windrush, to Anti-Apartheid to Gaza. With this leadership, the Labour Party brings hope to millions of people in this country and around the world.

'I find the situation very hopeful and exciting now. This period is our best chance in a generation to mainstream co-operatives and solidarity in the economy'

Jo is a director of Co-operative Business Consultants, a co-operative consortium of individuals and organisations committed to social justice through solidarity co-ops, which has organised six Ways Forward conferences. A leader of pro-democracy responses to situations in the co-operative movement, she is also standing as a Labour & Co-operative candidate in local elections in Eastham, Wirral on 3 May.

Jo Bird is a popular Green councillor for Bromborough on the Wirral.

First elected in August 2018 and re-elected in May 2021. She is a high profile campaigner for fairness and justice for everyone. Jo has three decades of experience supporting democratic businesses of all kinds.

Jo Bird is standing as Labour/Co-op candidate for Eastham, Wirral in north west England. Her back story is in this podcast.