THE GENERAL election is about the people versus the establishment, York’s Labour MP has said as she launched her campaign for re-election.

Speaking to campaigners and party activists in the centre of York this afternoon, Rachael Maskell echoed Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-establishment calls in his campaign launch earlier in the week.

The York Central MP told campaigners there could not be more contrast in politics than there is today.

She said: “It’s about a party that believes in people, believes in the community, believes in the hope that is out there and will galvanise that to make sure that politics is about their future, about fairness, about equality, about opportunity; versus one which is about the elite, about the rich, about their buddies and their friends in the city, and not about ordinary people.

“That is the choice which is facing us on June 8, and we will make sure that every person in this city knows that this election is about the people versus the establishment.”

The Labour party would make sure £40 billion in avoided taxes were paid, and would stop the most vulnerable people in society becoming scapegoats, she added.

The last two years have seen the establishment “take over our country”, dismissing people and ignoring the real desperation of people’s lives, she said.

The MP accused the Prime Minister of being reckless for calling the election, and said Theresa May had “run scared” of the EU negotiators she should be facing.

“She isn’t ready to answer the questions this country wants to out to her, the questions about our NHS - now nine per cent in private hands - being cut to the bone.”

Ms Maskell said the campaign in York will be fought over issues including housing and building the right homes for people in York; investment in mental health, social care and preventative health services; and reform in the business rate system.

She has also called for a £10 an hour minimum wage, better school funding, action on congestion and re-nationalised railway system, and better flood protection and flood insurance for York people.

Earlier in the day he MP had appeared on The Today programme to talk about Unite the Union’s leadership election, and spoke of jobs losses in York – including the 1500 civilian jobs threatened by the barracks closures, and 300 jobs lost as Minster Law leaves the city.