Tower and Town, May 2015

  (view the full edition)

Hustings: Prospective Parliamentary Candidates

As May is the month of our General Election I invited each of our PPCs to describe in no more than 150 words what would be his/her single most significant wish for this constituency, the one most important way in which he/she would hope to make a difference to our lives were he/she to be elected. Here in alphabetical order is their unedited response:-

Emma Dawnay (Green)

I am a scientist, a mother and a local. My passion is economics: the economy should work for everyone, without destroying our planet or our beautiful countryside. The economy needs “growth”, but growth based on increasing consumption of our natural resources is unsustainable.

My wish is: for my constituents to live healthy and fulfilling lives, knowing there’s a caring “safety-net” if needed, without requiring environmentally destructive “growth”. We must change the rules and invest to make this possible: to ensure everyone has a living wage; to support locally owned smaller businesses; to bring the NHS and the railways back into public ownership; to have free social care for the elderly; to build zero-carbon affordable rented housing; to insulate homes; and to make it easier to harness nature's resources to generate more renewable energy. Food banks and fuel poverty will belong to the past, and thriving local economies to the future.

Claire Perry (Conservative)

There is one thing that I would like to change if I am fortunate enough to be re- elected as your MP: the “Why should I bother to vote” views that I encounter. Older people, especially women, often see it as a duty to vote - as one lady well into her 80s said to me this week: “Women died so that I could have a vote - and I am jolly well going to use it”. But somehow that view seems to get watered down, especially as people get younger. I know us politicians have to earn your trust - I’m not a big fan of compulsory voting and I do think the system could be changed to make it easier to vote, but above all I think that with the rights we have in a democracy come responsibilities including that of participation. So, even if you spoil your ballot papers, please do make your voice heard on this and every election day!

David Pollitt (UKIP)

I am married with two children and have lived in Wiltshire for 24 years. Being self- employed for 26 years I can understand the everyday problems we all face, particularly for families and small business owners with money as tight as it is today. If elected I will work for the people in the Devizes Constituency, not for Westminster or Europe. I hate the way politicians can be elected then ignore their constituents. We need local matters decided by local people. UKIP believe in local referendums on most issues. If elected I will work to bring about affordable housing for local people, uphold UKIP’s Military Covenant to assist ex-service personnel, preserve our NHS free at the point of delivery and support our farmers. I will also work hard to improve the state of the roads throughout the constituency which are appalling and beyond the finances of local government.

Manda Rigby (Lib Dem)

I am an avid writer, adore football and love animals. My father was a professional footballer, so I got hooked at four, and fast forward a few years, became the first female Chairman of a football club in the top five divisions. I believe in the power of community participation in sport, and that mental and physical health is greatly improved by playing team sports. As an MP I would take a real interest in sport, and press the government to invest in public leisure centres. It’s often the changing facilities that put people off, but the scope is there to make them a real hub of the community. I particularly love dogs, and my one regret is that it wouldn’t be fair to keep one at present, but I know there are plenty in Marlborough to meet on my rounds!

Chris Watts (Labour)

I am 48 and married with 3 children. I have dedicated much of my time since 2010 campaigning for a living wage and against zero hour contracts. I believe that achieving these goals are the bedrock to a fair and equitable society. I believe that fair wages and proper employment contracts would lift millions of hard working people out of poverty, boosting productivity and promoting health and well being, especially in the family unit. This in turn would reduce the burden on our care and social services whilst generating additional revenues to close the financial deficit, fuelling re-investment in the NHS, education, apprenticeships and services that are the measure of a civilised society in the 21st century. I believe that we can build a society that leaves no-one behind and does not seek to scapegoat others or divide communities when times are hard. I believe that we can do better.