THE party led by left-wing British politician George Galloway is hoping to put a candidate up in at least one Cumbrian seat at the next general election.

Derek Ray, 63, a semi-retired railwayman from Moorclose in Workington, is hoping to stand for the Workers Party of Britain in the Whitehaven and Workington seat at the next general election, and says he is now crowdfunding for his campaign.

He moved to London for 23 years before recently moving back to the area, having also been an RMT union activist and full time rep when he first started his railway career in Cumbria.

Mr Ray said: "I think there is no representation any more from the two parties, both Tories and Labour... I don't think they participate in anything for the working class.

"There is no output for any working class interests at all in the parliamentary system, so it needs a shake up.

"Back in the 1960s it used to serve the interests of the people, now they only serve the interests of themselves. The Workers Party of Britain are going to serve the working class."

When asked if he was inspired by George Galloway's recent by-election win, Mr Ray said: "When I was in London I canvassed for George Galloway - for the Respect Party back then - in Bethnal Green and we won twice.

"It's a socialist party. I have been dedicated to socialism since I was in my early 20s in the 1980s and I took part in the NUR (now the RMT union) and we were very much behind the miners in the miners' strike of 1984."

Mr Ray say he has a strong focus on the transport networks within Cumbria, due to what he describes as a 'bad bus service' in the county, as well as campaigning for a living wage of £15 an hour.

He said: "I would like to look into the transport system and the wage structure. If they are having a job of recruiting bus drivers they need to look at the wage structure there. I believe they are on about £12.97 an hour but I think we should have a message right down the line for everyone that the minimum wage should be up to at least £15 an hour."

He also has a keen interest in improvements to the NHS, and looking at addressing the cost of living crisis.

When asked if there was an appetite for the Workers Party of Britain in Cumbria, Mr Ray said: "I think everybody is fed up of the mainstream parties and mainstream media.

"It is not fit for purpose and they don't seem to care about what is going on, they don't understand how people live."