A well-known York disability rights campaigner has been selected by Labour to run for election in Micklegate in this May’s Council.
Jane Burton hopes to join the other Labour Councillors Jonny Crawshaw and Pete Kilbane in representing the ward.
Jane, who is herself disabled, grew up in Dringhouses and worked as teacher in local schools. She has lived in Clementhorpe for forty years where she raised her daughter.
She is a prominent figure in the campaign to repeal the Blue Badge Ban and was a founding member of a broad coalition of disabled people trying to regain access to the city centre for Blue Badge holders.
Jane has a long history of advocating for disability rights and recently chaired the Lawyers with Disabilities Division of the Law Society. She has a reputation for working hard for the people she represents, which saw her ranked as highly commended as Woman of the Year in the National Women in Law Diversity Awards.
She says, “I know first hand how having hard-working, well-informed representatives can have a positive impact on peoples lives. The current Micklegate Labour Councillors work tirelessly on behalf of residents and really care about the community.
Local people are being priced out of the city as new buildings are mostly luxury flats and hotels while traditional homes are turned into short term holiday lets. It is now time for change and to put local people first. I am passionate about making York a better place for all residents. Bring in genuinely affordable housing, better-paid work, joined-up transport policies with integrated bus services.
I am standing in the Micklegate ward because I want to contribute to the hard work of the local team and help Labour take control of the Council in May. We have the ideas, policies, enthusiasm and drive to build a better future for all the people of York, but to put that into practice Labour needs to win all three seats in Micklegate.