We're Backing Rachel
"Ready to take on the Tories"
Co-operative Party
UNISON
Community
USDAW
Labour's Environment Campaign, SERA
Open Labour
Labour Movement for Europe
Labour Housing Group
Labour for a European Future
Socialist Educational Association
Labour Coast and Country
Cllr Yvonne Edwards, Woodley Town Councillor and Women's Officer
I am supporting Rachel as our parliamentary candidate. She is an experienced Labour Party activist and has delivered many years of service to her community. Rachel is an empathetic and relatable candidate with a wealth of life experience
Alex Sobel MP
I work closely with Rachel as Treasurer of a National Environmental organisation. Her skills, abilities and experience on national and international issues like climate change is sorely needed in Parliament,
Cllr Ruth McEwan, Church Ward Councillor
I’m supporting Rachel as she’ll be a breath of fresh air. We need a candidate and MP who will supporting and dealing with the issues from public health to education and really support residents. We really need a candidate who can really get out there and is ready to take on the Tories.
Cllr Majid Nagra, Woodley Town Councillor
Our ideal candidate should have demonstrated commitment to the local community and should have political and administrative experience. Rachel has all those qualities that are required for this new role in this new constituency.
She has demonstrated her commitment to the local community not just in Reading but in my area of Woodley as well as being a very caring person.
Cllr Micky Leng, Whitley Ward Councillor
I’m supporting Rachel because she has sincerity, is conscientious, and a hard worker.
As part of “Team Whitley” as we call ourselves I know she knows how to work together as part of a broad church politics.
She’s someone who knows the community and doesn’t just have a passion for politics she is ready to play an active part in a Labour government.
Vikram Singh, Vice Chair of Earley and Woodley CLP
I have known Rachel for 10 years. She has great leadership qualities, her ethics of hard work and she genuinely cares about wellbeing of her constituents. She believes in inclusiveness, equality and fairness. Rachel has all the qualities which we want in a Labour MP and I fully endorse her.
George Davidson, PPC for Wokingham in 2010
As a former Parliamentary candidate for Wokingham, I know that to win Earley and Woodley we need a candidate who is experienced, committed and has a strong local profile. Rachel is that candidate.
Mailan Henning, Woodley and Whitegates Labour Party Member
I am supporting Rachel as Labour Candidate for the new Earley and Woodley constituency because we need an experienced campaigner who will win the seat for us and continue the good work that Matt Rodda has done in Woodley as our MP. Rachel understands our community through the many years she has served as a local councillor and Mayor.
Anaz Sickandar Navab, Earley and Woodley CLP Youth Officer (personal capacity)
Rachel is an experienced councillor. She listens to and works with young people including when she was Mayor. She’s well known across the constituency and I am supporting her to be our MP
Parvinder Singh, Woodley Town Councillor
Rachel is already very close to our diverse communities. As Mayor she worked inclusively with everyone and knows the issues we face. She would be a strong voice for us in Parliament
Sophia James, former Reading Councillor and former Chair of Reading and District Labour Party
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Rachel for many years. I have known her as a community focused campaigner, an inspiring lead councillor and an active supporter of many local charities. She truly believes in building a fairer society and empowering people from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds. She is the candidate who will take on the Tories and I couldn’t think of a better representative for Earley and Woodley.
Cllr Paul Woodward, Church Ward Councillor
As a high profile local candidate Rachel is best placed to win Earley and Woodley for Labour and as always will work tirelessly on behalf of residents after her election
Babar Zulfiqar, Woodley and Whitegates Labour Party Member
We need a candidate who understands both the wider economic picture and the pressure on working people caused by interest rates and inflation. Rachel has the credibility to deliver for us in Westminster and her experience both as an accountant and a councillor means she is ideally placed to serve in Parliament.
Abdul Naveed, Church Branch Labour Party Member
Rachel has been tested in campaigning and is experienced as a Mayor. She would be a great representative and is the definitely the best person to be our candidate.
Chris Bloomfield, Earley and Shinfield Branch Labour Party Member
Rachel’s keen sense of social justice and decent and committed approach to politics will make her an excellent candidate and in turn, Member of Parliament.
Elliott Gardiner, LGBT Officer, Earley and Woodley Constituency Labour Party
I’m backing Rachel, Earley and Woodley deserves an MP that will stand up for them, put our interests first, and look out for our climate; I don’t doubt for a second, that Rachel will do exactly that.
Navjit Kaur Gill, Women's Officer Reading Central CLP
I admire what Rachel’s done for Reading and personally consider her one of my role models as she’s a fighter for gender equality. She’s gone out of her way to encourage and support me to stand. As an exceptional councillor for 13 years, there’s no one more deserving to serve Earley and Woodley than her.
Cllr Glenn Dennis, Reading Borough Councillor and Deputy Mayor
I’ve worked with Rachel for many years, both as a campaigner and as a fellow councillor. She’d make a formidable candidate for Earley and Woodley and would be a hard-working, effective MP.
Cllr Wendy Griffiths, Reading Borough Councillor
I’m backing Rachel, she’s passionate about the work she does and cares deeply about our community and combating climate change. Earley and Woodley deserves an MP who will put their interests first and I don’t doubt for a second Rachel will do exactly that.
Linda Dobraszczyk, Woodley and Whitegates Branch Labour Party Member
I’ve known Rachel for many years and I know that public service is in her heart. Since she was first a councillor in 2010 up to her recent time as Mayor, Rachel has served the public in Reading. This is how I know she will be a great MP.
Cllr Andrew Hornsby-Smith, Church Ward Councillor
Rachel has a fantastic reputation as a hard-working local councillor in Reading. Her work rate and organisation are impressive. The loyalty she inspired in her team in turn inspires confidence, she has embued the role of representing Reading with great dignity, humility and skill. She would trounce any Tory.
Mick Pollek, Reading Ukrainian Centre
Rachel’s generosity of spirit and overwhelming sense of fair play would make her a brilliant Labour Member of Parliament
Cllr Ama Asare, resident of Kennet Island
I’m supporting Rachel because she has a brilliant track record of supporting the community and takes people’s issues to heart. She is experienced and passionate as well as caring about diversity and inclusion. I got involved in politics because Rachel encouraged me: I know she will inspire a strong team.
Cllr Will Cross, Welfare Rights Advisor and Cllr for Redlands
We need a candidate who can demonstrate their proven campaigning ability, leadership and Labour values. Rachel has shown this from her solidarity as Mayor with our Ukrainian community to her commitment over many years to Reading. I will be proud to support her to become our MP.
Caroline Basden, outgoing Secretary of Reading and District Labour Party
Rachel was an amazing candidate for Reading West, she built a strong campaign and a high profile. Since then as a local councillor and Mayor of Reading she has continued to make it clear how much she cares about our local community. Earley and Woodley would be lucky to be represented by someone who is so passionate about our area.
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading Borough Councillor
Rachel is a phenomenally hardworking councillor and activist. She is a great advocate for her constituents and generous with her time and support of members: I am one of many councillors who Rachel encouraged and inspired to stand. Rachel is Labour to her core and has long been a champion of South Reading. She has the skills and determination to win the seat for Labour and to be an MP we can all be proud of.
Cllr Sam Juthani, Reading Borough Councillor
As a former parliamentary candidate and having taken a council seat off the Tories I know Earley and Woodley needs a strong and experienced campaigner who can win. I know Rachel can do that and she has my full support.
Cllr Paul Gittings, Reading Borough Councillor
Cllr Graeme Hoskin, Reading Borough Councillor
I’ve worked with Rachel over many years. She’s been a great Mayor and her great community leadership will really help to make her a fantastic candidate. Rachel is Labour through and through. She’s worked hard for us during the tough times and I am absolutely certain she is our best chance of winning and will become a brilliant MP.
Cllr Liam Challenger, Reading Borough Councillor
When first elected, Rachel was a great source of wisdom and insight on how to deliver a better town for residents. Her compassion, energy and thoughtful approach would be a huge asset to Westminster and the people of Earley & Woodley.
Cllr Mark Keeping, Reading Borough Councillor
In 2019, Rachel campaigned hard and ensured the Labour vote held up against the incumbent MP in Reading West – this was against the tide of the national picture. She has since been a splendid ambassador for the town as our Mayor.
Cllr Richard Davies, Reading Borough Councillor
The next General Election will be no time for a novice so we need someone who has a track record of uniting members and leading political campaigns. Rachel’s deep Labour roots, grasp of policy and her energy and passion will make her a superb candidate and MP.