Southcote
LABOUR HOLDS.
2023 result
2022 result
Polling stations
- Southcote Primary School, Silchester Road, Southcote
- Manor Primary School, 110 Ashampstead Road, Southcote
- Southcote Community Hub, Coronation Square, Southcote
- YMCA Parkside Road, 34 Parkside Road, Reading
The candidates
Neil Adams, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
In Reading Borough, we have seen cuts budgets voted through time and again by the Labour controlled council.
This year, council tax has been increased along with an increase in housing rent of 7%. And what will we see in return? Further efficiencies of £9.841 million that will lead to more services cuts.
I will not stand by and see a Labour council carry out Tory cuts whilst the super-rich amass huge sums of wealth at our expense. None of the other establishment parties offer an alternative either, having shown time and again that, when in power, they will carry out austerity.
The people of Southcote deserve better.
They deserve a party that will not bow down to the billionaires. We say that councils should use reserves and borrowing powers to set balanced budgets that meet the needs of the electorate.
They must then be prepared to build campaigns amongst service users, locals unions and campaigners to demand the funding that is actually needed from central government.
The strike wave that we are seeing is a sign that workers will fight back. They now need a political party that is on their side.
Ben Blackmore, Conservative
John Ennis, Labour
I have represented Southcote Ward as a Labour Councillor for twenty years and I am proud to represent Southcote along with council colleagues Debs Edwards and Jason Brock.
I am in regular contact with Southcote residents, keeping in touch all year round and not just at election time. I regularly attend local neighbourhood and residents meetings advocating for local residents in issues such as anti-social behaviour, speeding, inconsiderate parking, litter and for better housing.
I have regularly consulted with local Southcote residents on improvements such as council housing, parking enforcement measures and 20 mph limits. I strongly believe I should listen to residents’ concerns and act on their behalf.
I am the Lead Councillor for Adult Social Care, a school Governor at Blessed Hugh Faringdon secondary school and I am Chair of Governors at Holybrook special needs school.
I am a public service worker in the criminal justice system.
I am a long-time season ticket holder at Reading FC.
Riccardo Mancuso-Marcello, Lib Dem
Riccardo Mancuso-Marcello has been living and working in Reading for over 10 years. Riccardo believes every child should have the same opportunities in life, and will work to address inequality in education and help tackle increased poverty and homelessness in Reading. If elected, his priorities are getting a fair deal for Southcote residents and services, building the affordable housing we need, where we need it, and protecting our green spaces and woodlands from further development.
Riccardo opposes NatWest’s proposed closure of their branch in Tilehurst, and is supporting the Liberal Democrats’ petition to keep banking services in the west of Reading
Jamie Whitham, Green
Jamie Whitham was born and raised in Reading. He is experienced as a councillor having represented Park Ward and Redlands Ward. Jamie works as a software engineer and outside of work enjoys cycling.
Green councillors and candidates are working for a fairer, greener, more affordable town.
Greens did so well at the council elections last year that we overtook the Conservatives becoming the second largest party on Reading’s Labour-run council (32 Labour councillors, 7 Green, 6 Conservative and 3 Lib Dem). Labour have a very large majority of councillors but it is very close between Greens and Conservatives for second place.
Vote Green at the council elections on Thursday 4 May for hard work year-round but also to keep the Green Party ahead of the Conservatives as the main opposition party on Reading Council.
Get involved with the campaign. We will only win with your help.
