What has Labour achieved in Hart?

Although we have no councillors as yet, and limited resources, we are always looking to see what we can do for our community.

Conservative-dominated Hampshire County Council proposed massive cuts to preventative health services in 2021. From a moral point of view, this was unforgivable at a time of huge need.  Moreover, even from a financial viewpoint the cuts made no sense – cuts in services such as sexual health, stop-smoking clinics, and addressing drug addiction just cause more costs down the line, often very soon. With Labour groups across Hampshire, we campaigned against the cuts: we enlisted other groups, we responded to the proposals, and we publicised in social media. Hampshire residents responded and reinforced our message – the Tories were forced to back down on the cuts.

In 2021, we found that Hart Foodbank was paying rent to Hart Council for storage space, while the Foodbank was taking on the moral, and perhaps legal, duty to keep residents fed. We raised an online petition and obtained hundreds of signatures. Hart Council sat up and took notice, and in 2022 provided £5,000 to cover the rental, and another £5,000 for essential work for Hart Foodbank. Councillors from other parties were quick to claim credit on social media after the event, but for 2023 it fell to Labour to pressure the Council again, successfully, to support the Foodbank.

These are just some of the achievements we had, working from outside Hart District Council – if we can get direct access to Council staff and other councillors, by having our own Labour councillors, we can achieve so much more. Our members are active in volunteering, where they are not labelled as Labour but are working hard for the community: volunteering on Hart Foodbank; serving on parish council; leading group cycle rides; serving on the committee of a film club; heading up an adult education charity; and many more. They are keen to help others and to make our area a better place for all.