Labour candidate hits back at ‘disrespectful’ comment about youth

THAME’S Labour candidate for the Parliamentary elections in May, has hit back at remarks made the Conservative candidate, John Howell, about young people and their political leanings.

Labour Parliamentary candidate Sam Juthani is interviewed by the foreign press in Thame

Referring to a report on this website of a public meeting at Thame Town Hall last Wednesday, called by John Howell, the Conservative candidate, Sam Juthani, the Labour candidate said:

“Last week, John Howell made the incredible claim “young people are generally socialist but they grow out it!” He was trying to defend his extremely poor reception at the Lord Williams School hustings, in which I received 65% of the students’ votes, whilst he slumped to just 10.8%.

“There are a number of problems with this.

“Firstly, it is hugely disrespectful to the audience that voted in the hustings. They were engaged in politics and were active questioners- the exact opposite of what young people are often criticised of being. They did not give any of us an easy time, and John Howell is wrong to dismiss them.

“Secondly, it is disrespectful to the electorate in the constituency. The voters of Thame, regardless of their age, deserve to have their questions answered on their terms, not to be dismissed because their views might be inconvenient.

“And finally, it is disrespectful to all those who believe that Britain can be better than it has been over the last few years. Socialists like Nye Bevan created the NHS. Socialists outlawed gender and racial discrimination in jobs (something incidentally that Nigel Farage wants to repeal) and helped make bigger strides towards equality for LGBT people than anyone else. That’s because Socialists, like me, believe that we should be treated equally.

“John Howell’s dismissive behaviour is something we have seen all too often from him. As any constituent who contacts him to disagree with him has found, this will not be a surprise, and it’s something I have previously challenged him on, over the Elms. The audience at Lord Bill’s clearly thought so. Their vote of confidence in me is just a confirmation that my approach, which involves proper engagement with my constituents, will ensure that I would make the best MP for Thame.”

THAME ATTRACTS THE FOREIGN MEDIA

Last Thursday, Sam Juthani and District Council and Town Council Labour candidate, Mary Stiles, attracted the attention of the foreign media when they had a stall out in Montesson Square, in Thame, to engage voters. (See photo)

Sam was interviewed by Mr Yasuo Naito, London Bureau Chief of the Japanese newspaper ‘Sankei’ (http://www.sankei.com/). Its circulation is two million per day and nine million daily Internet viewing. Yasuo spent half a day following Sam around as he campaigned at the stall and out canvassing residents, and interviewed in great detail.

Sam said: “Mr Yasuo Naito was interested in the nature of our democracy, and in me as a young candidate.
I was also interviewed by Stephen Beard of ‘Marketplace‘, the flagship business and economic affairs show broadcast on American NPR (National Public Radio)- a network of over 500 public radio stations with a regular audience of around 10m people. He interviewed me about the failure of this Government’s economic record, Labour’s policy to abolish non-dom status, and the potential threat of withdrawing from the EU.”