A big thank you to all the constituencies that have supported my nomination and for the countless members who have already pledged their support!
The General Election result was disappointing. It was clear that the electorate wanted change, but that we were perceived as gatekeepers of the old politics at a time when people demanded a new direction, and new way of doing things from their politicians.
However, it was also clear from the election that people did not necessarily want a Tory Government, let alone a ConDem coalition with its shameless cuts to our public services.
There now follows a period of deep reflection and soul searching by the Labour Party in order to reform, repair and reconnect with both our grass root members and the wider public.
Going forward we must rediscover our true Labour voice, regain the confidence to celebrate our many achievements and accept with humility our mistakes. We must consult, listen and learn in order to reshape our Party to meet the needs of the modern electorate.
The next few months will herald an exciting period of change. We will select a new leader, our National Executive Committee (NEC) representatives, our National Policy Forum (NPF) representatives and in London a new Mayoral candidate to retake the capital from the Tories.
I am a committed and proactive Party activist, heavily involved in year round campaigning. I am a proud member of TGWU
(Unite) and LGBT Labour and the Cooperative Party.
My particular policy interests have been heavily influenced by my experiences growing up. They are education, housing, opportunities for young people, public services and employment.
The National Policy Forum is a vital conduit for members to discuss, debate and influence Party policy. I would be very proud to represent the Yorkshire & Humber region in this process.
As your National Policy Forum representative I will …
CHALLENGE our Labour politicians to join us in Yorkshire & Humber to talk to Party members about the future direction of Labour policy
CAMPAIGN for reform in our policy making process to ensure that members' views are heard and remain at the centre of policy debate
CREATE more opportunities for members to feed in to the policy process. In addition to meeting with members I would write an email newsletter, maintain a website and will make use of social networking sites.
CONSULT you the members every step of the way. I will remain in constant conversation with you. And make sure your views are taken on board.
CHAMPION the view of Yorkshire & Humber Labour Party members and be a strong campaigner across our region.
Ballot papers are now landing on doorsteps. You can vote for up to FOUR candidates in the NPF Regional Representatives ballot ...I hope you will cast one of your votes for me!
I was born and brought up in the small coastal town of South Shields. I'm proud to say that it is the only constituency in existence since the Great Reform Act of 1832 never to have elected a Conservative MP...long may it remain so. I've been in West Yorkshire now since 1999.
The oldest of five children, my mother is a shop assistant and my father drives ambulances for the local authority. I attended the local comprehensive school in the 1980's. I was the first person in my family to go on to further education and then on to University. My experiences at school influenced my passion for education and belief in education for all, not just for those families who can afford it.
I'm proud that thanks to Labour my old prefab school is finally being rebuilt and transformed into a state of the art £19 million facility.
Like many families, during the 1990s my family home was repossessed. There were no council houses available so we were forced to move into my grandmother's two bedroom house. There were seven of us cramped into two small rooms for over two years.
I'm proud that Labour delivered the Decent Homes Programme which has helped to deliver over a £20 billion investment for major improvements in social housing conditions - lifting over one million households out of cold, damp or poor housing and turning round the £19 billion maintenance backlog left by the Tories.
In 2002 I was elected as the Finance and Commercial Services Officer at Leeds University Union (LUU) where I represented the interests and campaigned on behalf of over 30,000 members locally and nationally. I was also elected by fellow officers in the region to sit on the National Council of the National Union of Students (NUS) . I have also been a board member of Unipol Student Homes and a trustee of University of Leeds and Leeds University Union.
I was the first officer in knowledge at Leeds to be re-elected for a second term in 2003. In 2004 I took up the post of Events & Productions Coordinator for the University of Leeds, planning and marketing events, conferences and theatre productions.
In 2005 I began working for the newly elected Mary Creagh MP in Wakefield as her Senior Caseworker and later her Office
Manager. In 2009 I began work as the Office Manager and Press Officer for Labour MP, Ann Cryer in Keighley.
Why not visit my main website www.simonyoung.info where you can read all about the places I go and the people I meet in my adventures as a Labour Party activist. I also use the site to comment on current affairs and promote my campaigns and interests.
16/08/2010: Read the text which will appear in the election booklet here (PDF 2.32MB)
