JUST imagine - a city full of new homes in which local people can afford to live, built by local companies.

The Press jobs pages packed with interesting, good quality jobs that our young people are trained to do.

An investment bank and a National Education Service focused on giving our people and businesses the skills and resources they need to thrive and grow.

Coney Street and Front Street packed with shops that people can reach easily by bus, bike or on foot while breathing clean air.

A city centre everyone can enjoy regardless of their age or budget.

Labour has been creating and testing the policies to make this a reality, and in York we have the opportunity to make much of this happen.

The frustration is that we need a Government and council with the vision to do it and since being elected I have witnessed three-and-a-half wasted years.

York is a magnificent city, but as my postbag shows it isn’t working for everyone.

Too many people are being left behind.

Too many people cannot see how the city meets their needs, or that of their family or community.

Too many of our high streets have been left to the market which is hollowing out shops and allowing anti-social behaviour to get a grip.

Too many businesses are struggling to get the support they need.

It will take leadership to turn this around, and that is what Labour will provide.

So how do we build a fair and just community in which we can all thrive?

As a starting point we need to make sure that all our plans:

· Put local people first in the city

· Help local businesses to thrive and ensure people have the skills to work here

· Build good housing, develop strong communities and a pleasant place to live

· Ensure that services meet local need

· Provide transport options that help to get people around

This means making sure we’re not just building houses, but building houses people can afford, which is why I’ve suggested a ‘York First’ principle for York Central.

This means standing up for our high streets and local businesses; which is why I’ve been leading the debate on business rates in Parliament and have been working with businesses to understand how we help them to incubate and grow.

This is why I led a consultation on how we make York a family friendly and accessible city, which we are now ready to implement.

And this is why I have focused my work on developing good public transport, cycling and walking and a cleaner environment.

Our city has a proud history of leading the way in lifting people out of poverty and creating better and more equal places to live and work.

Entrepreneurs invested in businesses that provided the jobs we needed, York built the homes to meet local needs, and services pulled together to create the support that people needed, all while ensuring that we had a fantastic environment in which to live.

Drawing on our past, drawing on the incredible skills, energy and vision that people have across York today, Labour has developed a plan for Government that will revive our nation and city.

This is York’s proud tradition, and Labour are determined to make it our future.