Labour is the only party who can deliver a brighter future for Lichfield and Burntwood residents, claims parliamentary candidate Chris Worsey.
The 31-year-old says he came into politics to tackle social issues such as fuel poverty, food banks and health inequality.
He added that his family has always supported the Labour Party.
The businessman and Sandwell Councillor revealed that reading about ex-US presidents and former Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee sparked his interest in politics.
The Labour politician also talked about his life experience, which has seen Mr Worsey travel to New York, Southeast Asia and Australia.
He said: “My interest in politics began as I read the biographies of the likes of Winston Churchill and great former Labour Party leaders like Clement Attlee.
“At Keele University I studied English Literature and International Politics for my undergraduate degree, and I then did a masters degree in Public Policy at the University of Warwick.
“Some 4,123 people live in fuel poverty here in Lichfield, over 800 families use the local food bank and under the Tories our national health service is going backwards.
“I still believe that Labour is the best way to get social justice through the political system. All of the major social advancement in this country was introduced by Labour such as the introduction of the NHS, employment protection and equality law. I’m standing for parliament because I want to see a fairer, more equal and entrepreneurial society.
“I lived in New York for a year where I was doing an internship at Estate agents Buchbinder and Warren – I’ve also been to Southeast Asia and Australia.
“My family are Labour through and through – my Granddad was a former Cannock councillor back in the 1960s. My mum and dad are both proud of me, when we launched our election campaign my mum was there.”
The entrepreneur believes he has a good chance of becoming Labour’s first member of parliament in Lichfield since Sylvia Heal back in 1990.
Mr Worsey revealed that he and his team have had thousands of conversations with local electors ahead of the general election on May 7.
And Labour leader Ed Miliband is convincing swathes of people across the country to vote for change at this election, claims Mr Worsey.
He said: “I’ve committed 20 months of my life to this seat, working rigorously since I was selected to fight this election back in January 2014. My team and I have knocked on thousands of doors.
“We’re going for the win on May 7.
“I think Ed is doing very well, and he’s getting Labour’s message across to the general public.”
The politician has also set out why the constituency of Lichfield and Burntwood matters to him.
The digital entrepreneur explained that his connection with the local area will continue, whatever the result on May 7.
But Mr Worsey admits outside of politics that he’s just a normal man who enjoys socialising with his friends.
After fighting for his seat, the Aston Villa supporter will be fighting to get a ticket to watch his team face Arsenal in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
He said: “I grew up just three miles outside of Lichfield in Great Wyrley – I represented Lichfield Cricket Club all across the district and got to know the area really well.
“If I don’t win the election on May 7, I’ll still remain involved in Lichfield and Burntwood because I’ve made some fantastic friends here.
“Outside of politics I do what any man in his 30s would do – I go out and have a beer with my friends or I go for a meal with my wife Hannah.
“Football is a big thing for me too. I saw Dwight Yorke score against Notts County in my first game at Villa Park in 1991, and as a family we all started to go regularly to matches from the 1992/1993 season.
“We’ve not been able to go to Villa Park as much in recent years – but we’re hoping to get tickets for the FA Cup final.”
Mr Worsey explained how his digital business aims to help people find jobs.
“I run my own small digital business which aims to get young people back into work,” he said. “For every young person that we place into a job – we then train another young person for free in digital skills.
“We use advanced physiological techniques to place them into the right job. We actually go into businesses and interview the managing directors and ask them what it’s young people need to do to actually get a job in what is a tough labour market.”
The candidates standing in the Lichfield constituency are:
- Andy Bennetts – Class War
- Michael Fabricant – Conservatives
- Robert Pass – Green Party
- John Rackham – UKIP
- Paul Ray – Lib Dem
- Chris Worsey – Labour
