UNISON is backing Neil Duncan-Jordan in Poole. We caught up with Leigh to talk about the realities of life in Dorset and what motivated him to want to be an MP.
Why are you running for Parliament?
I’ve always been involved in politics since the age of 14 when I went on my first march in London. I think Westminster needs a broader range of voices than those who all went to Cambridge or Oxford or public school.
I studied journalism as a mature student before working as a National Officer for the National Pensioners Convention – where Rodney Bickerstaffe was my boss, to then becoming a Regional Organiser for UNISON. We need to draw on the talent and ideas of everyone within the movement and I hope to play my part.
What have you learnt from being in a trade union?
Trade unionism defines who I am. It’s a way of thinking. How can anyone believe you have more chance of success by acting alone, than if you join together with others in a common cause? The sense of solidarity breeds confidence, and with that the will to achieve more. The movement is a genuine force for good in both the workplace and society as a whole. I’m proud to be a part of it.
What would you say to public service workers voting in the next election?
Public service workers, like all workers, need a government that fundamentally believes in the work they do and the contribution they make to our economy and society generally.
The Conservatives have shown themselves time and again to be more interested in selling off our public services so that their friends can make a profit. Look at what happened during Covid when the PPE contracts went to their mates. It’s outrageous.
Public services and those who work in them need investment, proper wages and conditions and a sense of security. Only Labour can offer that.
What issues do you particularly care about in politics / your constituency?
The social care issue is one that’s really close to my heart, as I saw how inadequate and broken the system was when my father got dementia. He lost all his life’s savings to pay for his care, yet if he’d had cancer we would have all paid through the NHS and our taxes.
You cannot have a two-tier care system where some illnesses get funding and others don’t. Fixing this and advocating for something better and fairer will definitely be one of my priorities.
