In 2014, Nicky Jerome was elected as the sole Labour councillor on Wokingham Borough Council, a council dominated by the Conservatives. Nicky’s election win was Labour’s first for a decade in Wokingham; after those elections there were 44 Conservatives and just one Labour councillor in the chamber.
Ever since that brilliant election win, we have built on Nicky’s legacy. As part of this journey, I was delighted with the results of this month’s elections. On the borough council we have built a group of five Labour councillors, the highest we have ever achieved. We also have a group of six Labour councillors on Wokingham Town Council, a Council that as recently as 2019 was dominated by the Conservatives (who now have just three seats). And Labour have also achieved a number of seats on Earley and Woodley Town Councils.
These are still small groups – but I am very proud of the achievement of our hard-working team in an area where it remains extremely hard to get elected as a Labour candidate.
How did we do it? We achieved it through hard work, combined with a persistent and relentless focus on the needs of local residents.
Any Labour candidate that wishes to be elected in Wokingham has to work really, really hard. Years of canvassing week in week out, frequent communication with residents, and regular community action is all necessary for anyone wishing to be successful.
And that work ethic continues when we are councillors. We have to keep working in order to retain our place on the Council – that’s why we will never have councillors who just pop up at election time.
The Conservatives have made some interesting election promises over the years. In the 2022 Norreys election, the then Conservative leader of the Council visited my ward of Norreys and spoke to residents a few weeks before the election. He subsequently wrote to those residents and personally promised them a pedestrian crossing outside their development, accompanied by a leaflet from the Conservative Norreys candidate.
However this was an empty promise – and my residents are still waiting.
By contrast, Wokingham Labour candidates never make glib promises. We know that decisions the council makes are tough and that there are often no quick fixes – so we will be honest with our residents. We promise to put residents first, to always listen to residents, to be the voice of residents on the Council, and to work hard all year round.
And we do exactly what we say.
Community action is key. The local Labour team of borough and town councillors have just arranged our first litterpick of the year in Norreys – it will be the first of many. Residents always join our popular litterpicks as they enjoy putting something back to our community.
Labour councillors regularly join residents in taking part in Community Speedwatch sessions – as we know that road safety this is one of the biggest concerns raised with us by residents. I have personally supported the creation of a Community Speedwatch group in Norreys and Wescott, and there are other groups across the borough. Concerns about speeding traffic are raised with us every week – and this is one way we, along with residents, can take positive action. In an ideal world, I would also like this sort of thing to be done solely by the police but, as active councillors, it is important to try and make a difference with the tools we have.
And our councillors in Woodley, Earley and Shinfield will be arranging community action throughout the year, whether it is clearing slippery leaves in the Autumn, or helping out with local community events, it all matters and it all makes a difference. There is of course the immediate impact – the deterrent of a driver from speeding, or the lack of litter in a children’s play park. But there is a longer term, more special effect – the sense of community pride and togetherness that these events bring. The sense that people care about our community and positive things are happening around us.
I am delighted to be leading a larger group this year and working with some brilliant Labour councillors across the borough. I am sure Full Council meetings will bring their usual share of robust political back and forth, during which Labour councillors will always stand up for our residents. But we will also continue our local action, week in week out. Keeping it local is how we have achieved our success – and will we continue to work hard for, and in, our communities.
Cllr Rachel Burgess is the leader of Wokingham Labour and a member for Norreys ward on Wokingham Borough Council
