Local resident and activist Richard Banks has been chosen as the Labour Party candidate to contest Armley ward in the local council elections next May 2024.
Richard was born in Armley and has lived there all his life. He has recently retired after working as a plumber by trade and as a trade union representative.
Current Armley Labour councillor Jim McKenna, who has represented the ward for 36 years, was not selected by the Labour Party Leeds Local Government Committee to stand in May’s local election.
Richard said: “I’m passionate about our area and my working-class background and involvement in the trade union movement has given me an insight into the lives of our varied and vibrant communities. I love Armley but know that we also face many problems.
“I want to join with our active Armley Labour councillor team to bring better housing, streets, shops, youth services and reduce levels of crime and anti-social behaviour that can make life so difficult for people.”
Richard sees the election of a Labour government as the only way to get rid of the Tories and make the long-term, sustained improvements communities like Armley so desperately needs: transforming workplace rights, tackling the cost of living crisis, saving our health service, creating a green revolution in energy, better transport, housing and putting decisions back in the hands of local people.
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves added: “I’m delighted that Richard Banks has been selected as Labour’s council candidate for Armley in the 2024 local elections. As a lifelong Armley resident, Richard understands the concerns, needs, and values of the people of Armley. I look forward to working with him in the future and I know he will always put Armley first.”
Well, at least he wasn’t called Robin.
Brilliant .
Wish Richard well, but same old Labour. Transport infrastructure well??? This incompetent labour council as destroyed Leeds with it’s Transport infrastructure and coursed more pollution than clean air zones because of the traffic pollution and delays on the roads and street’s around Leeds. And Rachel Reeves MP no comment!
i hear he is known locally as Dick