{"id":40310,"date":"2022-05-03T20:32:45","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T19:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sheffieldwire.co.uk\/?p=40310"},"modified":"2022-05-03T20:32:45","modified_gmt":"2022-05-03T19:32:45","slug":"local-elections-it-really-is-the-cost-of-living-election-says-sheffield-labour-candidate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/index.php\/2022\/05\/03\/local-elections-it-really-is-the-cost-of-living-election-says-sheffield-labour-candidate\/","title":{"rendered":"Local Elections: “It really is the cost of living election,” says Sheffield Labour candidate"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Sheffield Labour Party candidate has drawn attention to rising inflation and energy bills in his campaign, telling Sheffield Wire<\/em> “it really is the cost of living election”.<\/p>\n

Tom Hunt is running for election in the Walkley ward – covering Langsett, Netherthorpe, Upperthorpe, Walkley, and Walkley Bank.<\/p>\n

Mr Hunt, who lives in Upperthorpe and has lived in Sheffield for 15 years, said it is “all to play for” in the ward after the Green Party gained a seat from Labour in last year’s local elections.<\/p>\n

In 2018, when the seat Mr Hunt is running for was last up for grabs, Labour’s Cllr Neale Gibson held the seat with a majority of 723 votes.<\/p>\n

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Tom Hunt (right) canvassing with campaigners and MP Paul Blomfield (Credit: Walkley Labour)<\/p><\/div>\n

Mr Hunt, who is a researcher for Sheffield University’s Political Economy Research Institute, said there is a lot of anger at the Conservatives on the doorstep and “people want to send a message to the government in these elections.”<\/p>\n

He said Labour’s policies on bringing bus services in Sheffield under public ownership is widely supported by voters, as are policies on more affordable housing in the Walkley area.<\/p>\n

The issue of bus services in Sheffield are a big focus in most candidates’ campaigns this year as residents say transport is unreliable and too expensive.<\/p>\n

Former Labour leader and current Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change Ed Miliband joined Mr Hunt’s campaign in Walkley last week, emphasising Mr Hunt’s climate crisis credentials in a video.<\/p>\n

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It was brilliant to be joined by @Ed_Miliband<\/a> in Walkley today to talk to people about Labour’s plan for a greener economy and help to tackle rising energy bills. I’m thrilled to have his endorsement pic.twitter.com\/fVrZol8070<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tom Hunt (@tomhunt100) April 30, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n