There remains real inequalities across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. There are over 200,000 living in poverty in the area that will be represented by a new Mayor. Areas in places like Alfreton, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Codnor, Derby, Gedling, Heanor, Hucknall, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Langley Mill, Matlock, Mansfield, Nottingham, Pinxton, Ripley and Sutton-in-Ashfield suffer from real poverty.
Free School Meal claimants in our region is the highest since records began – yet our councils do not do everything they can to help.
Councillor Relf said, “A Mayor has a unique opportunity to improve the life chances of all our residents. I will immediately look to use any expected rise in business rates collections to roll out free school meals for every primary school pupil at a state run school. I will prioritise areas where resources where they are most needed – including increasing social mobility in our poorest areas by improving bus and rail services and ensuring that everyone under 25 years of age has a free bus pass. The best way to get children out of poverty is to educate them out of it.”
