As part of our 2024 General Election coverage, we have contacted each candidate standing in Northfield, Bromsgrove, Edgbaston and Selly Oak constituencies asking them to contribute to this election’s ‘500 Words’ series. We have also asked the same of each candidate in the local council by-elections for Northfield and Kings Norton North wards.
Each candidate has been invited to describe themselves and their campaigns in their own words. Their submissions will be published without editing, in the order that they are received. Should they be longer than 500 words, they will be cropped.
Dick Rodgers • Common Good • Birmingham Northfield
My wife and I moved here in 1983 to my job as a trainee surgeon at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital.
I’m nobody. More precisely, I am an engaged thinking citizen. The Common Good party is a vehicle through which I want to change Britain for the better. I’m standing again for two things – First, to encourage Britain to sustain much stronger support for Ukraine as it resists Russia’s invasion, to help its young people not to give up but to enlist to relieve those at the front who need a rest. Second: The other thing in my heart is to heal the diseased ethos of our own society here in Britain by wholesome means that are bolder than the main parties dare to countenance. The more votes I get the more you are saying, “Dick, we take you seriously, we like your vision and want it to succeed in healing our country.”
Russia/Ukraine – it’s serious. Western support for Ukraine has wavered.I want the Bank of England to create a whopping £100bn to fund our military support for Ukraine. It’s a lot but we spent £875bn bailing out banks and coping with Covid. A clear commitment from us would keep spirits up in Ukraine and help our NATO allies to settle to a long slog until Russia decides to live peaceably with the rest of us. If Russia seizes Ukraine it would force Ukrainian men to fight in the Russian army against the west – or be shot as deserters. A horror we can’t allow. The way to stop China from shaping the world is to be out and about in the world serving it diligently and honestly.
I want to change the tone of today’s Britain, to be a nation with a purpose – working together to make the world a better place. That will make us a happy, efficient, egalitarian society. I’m full of ideas about how to do that.
Elected Regional Government with power to organise the infrastructureand economy for, in our case, the larger West Midlands stretching to the Welsh border not just the current WM Mayoral area. And we need an altruistic, public business bank fostering the economy of each region.Every other country in Europe has such regions. They work well. In England today, Westminster decides all.
Underground Rapid Transport – Northfield to the centre in 10 minutes, planning ahead and not allowing 200 metre-deep heat pump ducts to clutter up future routes.
NHS back to its founding ethos. A Medical Officer of Health for eachregion with responsibility for the health of the population, cared for by a united team. Elderly care within the NHS. Specialist Treatment Centres for eg Hip Replacements within the NHS team. Dentistry in the NHS.GPs to be colleagues in the team not contractors.
No Uni fees. Sort the crazy money side of housing. PR. Undo much privatisation. Courtesy.
dick@rodgers.org.uk/www.thecommongood.info/FB comgood/ X @dick_rodgers /Youtube dickrodgers7502
 |
 |
 |
 |
Hustings
A chance to hear directly from your candidates, any hustings we are aware of will be listed below. Please let us know of any not listed.
