THE Bolton West constituency will be a key battleground between Labour and the Conservatives in May’s General Election — but one candidate is urging voters to move away from the mainstream parties in favour of a “clear, left wing alternative.”

John Vickers will be standing in Bolton West on behalf of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition party and says he wants to offer voters the opportunity to elect a party that reflects traditional Labour values.

The 60-year-old Bolton at Home liaison officer said: “My key values are those that the Labour party has long abandoned in its desire to be elected into government over the past thirty years — true Socialist values.

“I am standing on the TUSC manifesto of public ownership, not private profit, no cuts but quality public services, well paid jobs together with a commitment to stop tax avoidance by multi-national corporations and individuals.

“I will also stand for employment and trade union rights, protection of our environment and stopping global warming — it’s about democracy, diversity and justice, solidarity, not war — and socialism.”

The TUSC was established in 2010 with the aim of enabling trade unionists, community campaigners and socialists to stand candidates against what it says are the “pro-austerity, establishment” parties.

Father-of-three Mr Vickers said: “For five years the government has inflicted savage austerity measures on working class people, and there is no prospect of this changing as the Labour party has already committed to further austerity measures if it is in government after May 7.

“ TUSC argues that working class people should not pay for a crisis they did not cause. The message that TUSC sends out is that there is a clear left wing alternative to policies of public sector cuts, privatisation, militarism and environmental degradation.”

Mr Vickers currently lives in Hindley Green in Wigan, but is originally from Moses Gate and is a lifelong Bolton Wanderers fan.

He said he decided to stand in Bolton West to offer something different to people who have lost faith in the current political landscape.

He said: “I have lost count of the number of people people who have said to me I am voting Conservative or Labour because they are the best of a bad bunch.

“The people of this country have lost faith with the major parties — because they see no difference in any of them.

“I am the only candidate standing in Bolton West who offers the electorate a clear alternative to more austerity and further attacks on the living standards of working class people.”