When the election comes on 12 December, the people of this constituency will have a clear choice – five more years of Boris Johnson, or a fresh start with a Labour Government. 

Hello, my name is Ibrahim Dogus, and I am the Labour candidate for West Bromwich East.

I am campaigning for a Labour Government because I know people around here are sick of the cuts, sick of austerity, and sick of Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg and the rest of the Tories making life hard for working class people.

Job losses, cuts to benefits, the Bedroom Tax. The Tories have much to answer for. 

Unlike the Tories, I wasn’t born into a life of privilege. 

Politics for me is about the struggle for justice, not a comfortable career. 

I came to the UK as a refugee, when I was a teenager, escaping persecution and violence. 

I couldn’t even speak English. 

But I worked hard at school and college, 

and I worked hard waiting on tables and washing dishes. 

I started a business and created jobs for others. 

I know what it is like to worry about the bills, and to live in temporary accommodation, and to work long hours for low wages. 

I have a young family, and I know what it is like to worry about cuts to schools and youth services, and to be concerned about knife crime and gangs.

As a leader of my community, I stood up to local gangs, and I was shot in the stomach. 

It was terrifying. I am forever grateful to the wonderful doctors and nurses of the NHS who saved my life and got me fit again.

So I know what it’s like to feel that anger at seeing the NHS stretched to breaking point, and to see NHS staff in tears because they haven’t the staff or resources to treat their patients. 

I’m just getting to know the communities of the West Bromwich East constituency. 

But I already know your values are my values, 

the things you care about – jobs, NHS, schools, crime – are the things I care about. 

And I know what its like when life’s a struggle and there are barriers of injustice in the way. 

So in the weeks ahead, let’s work together to kick out Boris Johnson from Number 10, 

let’s get the extra money we need to rebuild local schools and Sure Starts, 

get more busses with more routes and regular services, 

invest in local skills and businesses, 

and rebuild the local NHS.

If you’d like to share your concerns, please get in touch.

My name is Ibrahim Dogus, and I am proud to be your Labour candidate for West Bromwich East on 12 December. 

Thank you.