Meet the woman campaigning for Breakthrough party

Meet the woman campaigning for Breakthrough party

Rhi Storer - Local Democracy Reporter | Tuesday 12th April 2022 3:20pm

We met at her home on Albert Road, in Aston, not too far from Aston Park. I was struck by the high ceilings in her living room. “It’s a lovely house. It doesn't appear big on the outside. But now – like everyone – I'm worried about my heating bills”. 

Family and home are core to Ms Meah. She's a mother to five children, the eldest is 22 and the youngest nine. She tells me she has lived in Aston since 2006 – 16 years – and  runs a pre-school and creche service for families. It’s located on Fredrick Road, and has informed her of the struggle many young families and teenagers are going through. 

Just like Mr Mays, she left Labour in 2020 after Jeremy Corbyn, the previous leader, had stepped down. At the time, she was stuffing envelopes for Shabana Mahmood MP, “I was still sort of in contact with Labour” Ms Meah said. “I was watching the news at the time and thought to myself intelligent people were meant to be in government. I thought I could come up with better schemes than what they’re coming up with.” 

In October last year, she applied and was accepted by the Labour party. Then she had second thoughts. She said she didn't like the way the interview was conducted to stand as a councillor under Labour. “It was very much you will do this. If the whip says this, you will do this. I was sitting there thinking: 'I’m an individual with a mind'.” 

“When I saw Breakthrough's pledges on Twitter I thought that was the party for me. So I applied,” she added.

Those pledges include a £15 minimum wage; renationalising the NHS and social care; a universal basic income; and ending no-fault evictions – all targeted at those who held similar views under Corbyn's leadership – especially those who were politically active within Labour during the Corbyn years – such as those between the ages of 16 – 25. 

She lists the problems. “We’ve almost got nothing here. No children's centres, no community activities. It's a real problem considering only a half mile down the road Perry Barr has had a wealth of investment for the Commonwealth Games. It feels like we are forgotten about here in Aston.”

The local councillors don't reply to her emails, she tells me. Neither do the council officers. “The council website is absolutely horrific. If I can't find information on, say, bin collections, how will my neighbours?” 

She tried to email them about the local library that had been recently converted into exempt accommodation. “And they say the youths are hanging around, but their local library is closed”, she cried.

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