Brighton Pavilion’s Labour Party General Election Candidate Adam Imanpour

Adam Imanpour, The Labour Party, Brighton Pavilion

I grew up in Brighton and Hove, I am honoured to be standing. Labour is seeking a mandate to rebuild Britain after almost a decade of Tory cuts.

The last Labour government enabled me to study with the Education Maintenance Allowance, I had fantastic support for my special educational needs at school in Brighton.

I work with my father as a mechanic in our family’s small garage business in Brighton, where we have seen the cost of MOT training rise to over £3,000 since the Tories privatised it, it used to be free. I am excited by Labour’s plans for a Green Industrial Revolution: we will invest in new technologies and training to rebuild our failing economy, where people’s needs will be compatible with those of the planet.

My mother used to receive in-work tax credits - a system set up to help people work for themselves. These have been removed. My younger brother, who has various medical issues, has endured the pain and indignity of repeated hostile ‘work capability assessments’.

As the son of an immigrant I especially value Brighton’s role as a ‘City of Sanctuary’. I grew up in two different cultures, Iranian and British, which gave me a great interest in other people’s diverse cultures and traditions as well as my own, alongside respect for this country’s enduring sense of justice and freedom.

I believe only a Labour government will uphold the values I cherish and deliver real change for our city, our country and our planet.