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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Joseph Wilkes

Ricky Tomlinson is 'begging ya' to vote Labour in rousing, passionate speech

Legendary Royle Family actor Ricky Tomlinson has delivered an intense and moving speech in which slams the 'stinking few' while begging people to vote Labour.

In the animated plea, filmed in the back of a vehicle, he lashes out at the Tories who have left servicemen on the streets and want to sell off our beloved NHS "by the back door".

Ricky's Royle Family co-star Ralf Little shared the video on his Twitter page, as his pal doesn't have an account on the social media site, and there has been a huge response to the inspirational speech.

Initially directing his words to the people of Weaver Vale, the constituency of Labour MP Mike Amesbury, to the south east of Liverpool, he begins: "To Labour supporters or people who don't know what to do, I'm asking ya, I'm pleading with ya, get out there to the polling station today.

"This is so important, and put your cross by the Labour party candidate.

Ricky's speech will move you to tears (Twitter)

"There are so many reasons to do it, but if I just say National Health Service, that should be enough, because they are gonna sell it off, they are gonna privatise it by the back door, with the Americans.

"We're gonna have to pay through the nose for medication that people need, not to go on holiday, not to have a life of luxury, but to bloody exist!

"Your one vote, your one vote, can make all the difference. So get out there, do what you're supposed to do, protect the National Health Service, protect your children's future.

"And hey, let's get rid of these foodbanks, let's get rid of people lying in the streets - and they're mainly ex servicemen, by the way.

He's passionate and animated (Twitter)

"If they are good enough to go out and fight for this country and protect us, we should be good enough to give them a future where you've got a home, and a bed, and a decent income. There's so much wrong with the society we live in."

Ricky goes on to highlight one statistic to come out of the general election campaign that has "frightened me to death" - that of greedy billionaires and tax-dodging big business.

"In this little country of ours now, there are 150 billionaires," he adds.

In June, Ricky Tomlinson joined protesters outside BBC Media City in Salford after the decision to axe free TV licences (PA)

"No, not millionaires, billionaires - 150 of them. They could solve all the bloody problems with the National Health Service if they paid their fair share of taxes, and the big firms that come in from abroad, we've got to stop this inequality."

And he fervently demands we support the working classes with our votes today.

He adds: "I'm working class, I'm for the working class, and you should support the working class, particularly if you've ever been unemployed, ever been unable to make ends meet.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime job, your little one vote can make the difference.

"So get out there, wherever you are, wherever your constituency is, get out there today today and put your X against that of the Labour Party candidate.

"And let's look forward to a better future for the many, and not the stinking few."

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