The General Election is fast approaching, and Sheffield’s candidates have been busy campaigning for your vote.
With political apathy increasing, understanding who you’re voting for and what they advocate, is hugely important.
Forge Press approached every candidate for the Sheffield Central and Sheffield Hallam and offered them a chance to speak through their manifestos and their plans for the local area.
The Green Party candidate for the Sheffield Hallam constituency, Jason Leman, accepted the request for an interview.
The Interview: Jason Leman
Jason Leman’s interest in politics started when he was a student. He said:
“My interest in politics has been a long term thing for me starting back when I was a student at the University of Sheffield, I got involved with campaigns around anti-racism and the criminal justice bill.
“What I’ve been passionate about really, in campaigning since then is around conflict. When the invasion of Iraq happened in 2003 I was very involved in protests and campaigns around that and I think that really stimulated my political activity.”
He stated he had come into the Green Party almost 20 years ago now, and is devoted to making a change in Sheffield.
When asked what would be his main focus for this area if he was to become successful as a candidate, he said:
“The primary thing that I’m concerned about is that we’re facing a lot of challenges.
“Things like conflict, cost of living crisis and the climate crisis is this huge thing which is here and also looming in our future, and how we tackle that ultimately for me is around looking at how we’re living and looking at how we are responsible for each other.”
Jason added: “It’s also about investing in public services, infrastructure like the hospitals, schools, the justice system, the legal system.”
Young people in Sheffield have raised their concerns over issues around the climate crisis, and cost of living.
When Jason was asked what he would do to ease these concerns, he said:
“One thing I do really try is to raise the voices of people whose voices aren’t heard so much.
“I can listen to people and then advocate on their behalf.”
On Sheffield’s Green Party website, it states that Jason Leman knows that change only works ‘when we involve people’.
He plans to work closely with the young people in this community, he said:
“There’s ways in which we can support communities to become more connected. Part of it is also about encouraging more democracy.”
The Green Party manifesto mentions giving grants to those studying in higher level education. Jason explained how he values education and the importance of knowledge. He said:
“Learning for learning’s sake, not learning to jump through a hoop of an exam but really to encourage engagement and love all learning.”
One thing that people should take away from his campaign is this, Jason said:
“Promote the possibility that we can have a healthier nation for everyone, an economy that works for everyone, a future which is good for everyone and we can make that change together.”
Sheffield Hallam Candidates:
Olivia Blake – Labour
Sam Chapman – Rejoin EU
Andrew Cowell – Social Democratic Party
Isaac Howarth – Conservative
Jason Leman – Green
Shaffaq Mohammed – Liberal Democrats
Mo Moui-Tabrizy – Workers Party of Britain
This election is the chance for young people to make a real change to their futures.
If you don’t vote, you don’t have a say. Get to the polling stations on July 4th.
