York Disability Rights Forum joined together with York LGBT Forum, York Anti-Racist Collective and York Older People’s Assembly to write a letter to all the mayoral candidates for the York and North Yorkshire election on 2nd May 2024.
You can read the letter we sent on 9th April below. We will upload responses here as we get them and we hope they will help our communities to get a sense of how these candidates might represent us if they win the seat and support us to be more informed in our voting choices.
Don’t forget to bring photo ID with you to vote!
Reply from Paul Haslam 11th April 2024
It’s Paul here. As an independent, I personally respond to most queries, aiming for timely communication.
I deeply appreciate the invaluable work you undertake, contributing significantly not only to the welfare of your members but also in shaping a better society for us all.
Thank you for your pertinent and vital questions.
The role of the Mayor is to serve everyone in our community. I firmly believe that every member of our society holds equal value, and diverse viewpoints must be acknowledged and considered. Effective communication, a two-way street, is crucial in identifying needs, understanding issues, and outlining resolutions. The extent of consultation will vary with the issue’s magnitude to ensure comprehensive participation in decision-making. Promoting social inclusion is a top priority for me.
Ensuring representation from all societal sectors within our public and private organisations is essential. We must lead by example, adopting a “Do as I do, not as I say” approach.
*York LGBT Forum:*
Directly addressing your concern, I unequivocally stand against transphobia and all forms of discrimination. A recent incident, involving a teenager assaulted on a bus in York, is both heart-wrenching and completely intolerable. As Mayor, overseeing the Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner role, I’d directly influence our strategies to combat and prevent hate crimes. Additionally, I’m committed to enhancing public transportation, ensuring safety for all passengers, irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation.
*York Disability Rights Forum:*
The principles outlined above are equally applicable here. Having chaired the Scrutiny Transport for the North for five years, my committee initiated the social inclusion policy [https://transportforthenorth.com/social-inclusion/], a blueprint I intend to adapt for York and North Yorkshire. We will scrutinize standards for taxis, pedestrian access to residences and commercial venues, among other aspects.
*York Anti-Racist Collective:*
With schools under the Council’s jurisdiction, I wholeheartedly condemn racial intolerance. My actions and those of the Combined Authority will consistently advocate for racial tolerance. Additionally, my oversight of the Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner role will further enable us to tackle and prevent any hate crimes.
*York Older People’s Assembly:*
Crucially, we must ensure the care sector is staffed with skilled professionals, streamlined with NHS operations, and supported by strategically located affordable housing for community workers. The Mayor’s remit includes adult skills and training, pivotal for equipping individuals with necessary skills at crucial career junctures or regional needs.
I plan to unite relevant stakeholders to optimize resource use, minimize duplication, and deliver comprehensive services. While technology will increasingly support home care, the importance of human interaction remains paramount. Investment in businesses developing supportive technologies for our “third life” phase is on my agenda, alongside a committed focus on affordable housing. Establishing a task force to address the slow progress in housing construction is urgent. Last year’s production rate is insufficient; we must act swiftly.
I’m truly grateful for your engagement. The perspectives and voices within your communities are essential for fostering an inclusive future. As your prospective Mayor, please know my unwavering support is with you.
I encourage all groups to share suggestions that could significantly improve your quality of life. What might seem minor to some can be transformative for others. Understanding different perspectives, though challenging, is crucial. Hence, ongoing dialogue with organisations like yours is key to achieving a truly inclusive society.
Best Paul
Reply from Kevin Foster 12th April 2024
Thank you for contacting me , sorry it’s take so much time to get back to you, I hope you understand the demands on my time and the amount of emails I am having to deal with . These are the answers to your questions.
York LGBT Forum: What is your view on trans/transgender people, and as York is a trans-friendly, Human Rights City of Sanctuary, how will you support trans people in the city and the wider North Yorkshire Region?
I support the the rights of Transgender. I very much support my party policy on this as well.
York Disability Rights Forum: Disabled people continue to face physical and attitudinal barriers across York and North Yorkshire. How are you going to ensure accessibility and disability rights are central to your work across the
I recently attended Hustings on public transport stating we need to remember our disabled residents when developing or transport plan. What really frustrates me is pavement parking that pushes some of out disabled on the road, I would be very vocal to stop this
York Anti-Racist Collective: Racism is a significant issue in schools across North Yorkshire and York. How are you planning to approach this?
Schools come under the responsibility of North Yorkshire and City of York Council. I would encourage the councils to address this I would be a strong voice as Mayor and use this to raise any Racism in York and North Yorkshire
York Older People’s Assembly: Parts of York and North Yorkshire have a high number of older people. How will you ensure that social care is resourced for older people across the region?
Adult and Social care is again the responsibility of both Councils. I would use my influence to lobby national government to support our councils to do this it is a shocking state because of the under funding.
Reply received from Felicity Cunliffe-Lister 16th April 2024
Apologies for not replying before now, the campaign is keeping me very busy. As the LibDem candidate I am responding generally to all the points as follows :
- Liberal Democrats exist to build a free society where every person’s rights and liberties are protected. Everyone should be able to live their lives as who they are: free to pursue their dreams and fulfil their potential, safe in the knowledge that their fundamental rights will be protected.
- In decades past, the UK has led the world in advancing human rights, civil liberties and equality for women and LGBT+ people. But under the Conservatives, progress has stalled. They are failing to stand up to hatred and prejudice, or tackle entrenched inequalities. Instead, they keep threatening to rip up the UK’s Human Rights Act, which protects our fundamental British freedoms.
- Liberal Democrats champion the freedom, dignity and wellbeing of every individual. We will combat all forms of prejudice and discrimination, wherever they exist.
- I believe that the UK’s rich diversity is one of its greatest strengths. We will celebrate that diversity and ensure it is better reflected throughout public life. We will apply the principles of openness, transparency and accountability to tackle institutional biases, promote equality and hold power to account.
I am sorry not to be able to reply more full, but if (and when!) elected I can assure you that I will fully engage with the organisations you represent
Regards
Felicity
All candidates were sent this letter
Dear [NAME]
As representatives of the York Disability Rights Forum, York LGBT Forum, York Anti-Racist Collective and York Older People’s Assembly, we are reaching out to all mayoral candidates to seek your perspectives and commitments on critical issues facing our communities in York and North Yorkshire.
We appreciate your candidacy for the upcoming mayoral election and recognise the importance of understanding your stance on various issues that directly impact marginalised groups in our region. Our organisations have compiled a set of questions aimed at addressing the specific concerns of our communities, as outlined below:
York LGBT Forum: What is your view on trans/transgender people, and as York is a trans-friendly, Human Rights City of Sanctuary, how will you support trans people in the city and the wider North Yorkshire Region?
York Disability Rights Forum: Disabled people continue to face physical and attitudinal barriers across York and North Yorkshire. How are you going to ensure accessibility and disability rights are central to your work across the region?
York Anti-Racist Collective: Racism is a significant issue in schools across North Yorkshire and York. How are you planning to approach this?
York Older People’s Assembly: Parts of York and North Yorkshire have a high number of older people. How will you ensure that social care is resourced for older people across the region?
We kindly request your prompt response to these questions, as they will inform our members and the wider community about your stance and proposed actions on these critical issues.
Additionally, we invite you to engage with our organisations further to discuss these matters in greater detail to advance equity and inclusion in our region.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters, if you can respond before the 16th April this would help inform our members many of who opt to use postal voting, we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully,
York Disability Rights Forum
York LGBT Forum
York Anti-Racist Collective
York Older People’s Assembly