We need a £10 an hour minimum wage

Why I’m standing:

We need a £10 an hour minimum wage

Rail worker and RMT transport union member Ted Woodley is standing for TUSC in the Birmingham Erdington seat.

What do people think of a co- worker standing for parliament?

My workmates are very supportive and I had overwhelming support from my brothers and sisters in my RMT branch, resulting in a substantial donation towards my election campaign.

What issues are you bringing to the fore in your campaigning?

People in Erdington face the same problems as in most other inner city areas of the country: a lack of decent quality and affordable housing and a lack of jobs and services for young people.

Low pay is endemic and we campaign for a £10 minimum wage and for an end to zero-hour contracts – as we do all year round when it isn’t election time.

What makes you different to the other candidates standing for Erdington?

The fact that I would reject the full MP’s salary is a key part of our programme. The majority of people of all political persuasions see MPs as greedy and on the take so the Socialist Party’s worker’s wage policy has never been so important.


  • Don’t miss the TUSC election broadcast on 17 April on BBC2 at 5.55pm, ITV at 6.25pm, BBC1 at 6.55pm, and Channel 4 at 7.55pm
  • See the BBC’s report of the TUSC manifesto launch at bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32254035

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is an electoral alliance involving the RMT transport union, the Socialist Party, other socialist groups and leading members of other trade unions. This May TUSC is standing 135 candidates in the general election and 619 in the local elections.