Get to know your candidates ahead

As the election campaign heats up, we’re giving our readers an opportunity to get a deeper insight into Ashford’s candidates. Express reporter Charlie Harman gave each hopeful a series of quick-fire questions and a chance to explain why they should be vot

I have stood for regional district and national elections. At the end of the 1990s, I was elected to London Borough of Hackney Council. I was the first chairman of the overview and scrutiny committee. I took part in the democracy committee for three years which became the new Local Government Act.

Farming and forestry then retail. I then went into publishing, then environmental consultancy. For the last 20 years I’ve been in the medical devices industry. I qualified in marketing and am a fellow of The Chartered Institute of Marketing. I’m a NEC member of the PSA part of UNITE the Union, and have spoken at national conference in MSF and Lib Dem conference.

Metal detecting

Richard Branson

Sovereign Virtue, The Theory and Practice of Equality

Stargate

Klint

“One of mine and the Lib Dems’ key promises is to scrap business rates. I was looking for commercial property in Ashford and I couldn’t believe they were charging 7% or 8% for retail space.

“It’s outrageously high and doesn’t relate to footfall in the town at all.

“If we’re going to return the high street into the community-orientated and attractive place it once was, business rates need to be addressed.

“In the first t few days of this campaign I have spok ken to hundreds of people in all parts of the constituency and the overwh helming message is “get on with it”.

“In other w words people want the governmen nt to finish this part of Brexit and leave the EU.

“Only then will we be able to move on to conce entrate on other vital needs . “A Conserv vative governmen nt with a work king majority wi ill

Amici

“The thing that’s going to restrict Ashford’s growth programmes is transport and traffic management.

“In the long term there’s a strong argument for a light railway system here - we’ve got all these developments, all the schools are pretty much in the town centre but the difficulty in getting across town is limiting people’s ability to go about their daily lives.

“Junction 10a, rather than alleviating traffic problems, is simply relocating those issues. “The way it’s designed and shaped makes it a very long track to get from the motorway to Hythe Road, especially with the traffic around Orbital Park.

“It feels like they designed it for traffic flows from 15 years ago, it’s almost not fit for purpose.

“Before the referendum, I campaigned with a large contingency of Lib Dems and Tories for Remain in Ashford and we were working as a team.

“Labour, in the run up to the vote, wasn’t to be seen with its head above the parapet in support of remaining.

“All the people out there campaigning for the Brexit Party will be quite ticked off that Nigel Farage has pulled the rug from under them.

“One of the things that really needs to be addressed is allowing young people to become adults.

“There’s nothing school leavers dislike more than being told they are adults but not being trusted, being told they must be responsible but being given

no responsibilities.” get Brexit done.

“We will also invest an extra £33.9bn in the

NHS, hire 20,000 new police officers and provide more funding for every pupil in every school.

“We can afford this because of the responsible management of the public finances over the past ten years.

“In Ashford my biggest concern for the immediate future is to keep the full range of emergency services at the William Harvey.

“I have already made it clear to the Health Secretary that it would be madness to move the A&E from Ashford, and I will continue to make this case.

“In recent years I have helped secure funding for schools and the new college, and I will make sure that as the town expands wee improve the infrastructure to support it.

“I am particularly keen to make sure Ashford sees its fair share of the exxtra police becoming available, to keep our streets safe.

“As well as supportingg moves nationally to fight climate chhange, I will continue to defend ouur countryside. “As a vice-president oof Kent CPRE, I applaud the new enviironment bill and will make suree that it protects Kent’s beautifful landscape. “I know there is alwayss more to do as the MP for Ashhford, and I hope you wwill give the chancee to make our aarea and ourr country better.”

Campaigner on local issues as well as global ones, met with Kenyan government regarding female genital mutilation. Appointed as an independent member of education appeals service and education review panels. Like other candidates, I have stood previously and campaigned in different types of elections, acted as an agent etc.

My background is in health and social care. I have a wide variety of experience in different settings including in business, charity and public sector roles. I have worked with those affected by mental health issues, adults and children with various disabilities as well as those in need of safeguarding.

Walking, caring for animals, music and charity volunteering.

Sunny Jacobs, for turning negativity and injustice into positivity.

I am Malala Philomena Russell

Cinna

“I am the only independent candidate and the person unequivocally in favour of Brexit on the ballot paper in the Ashford constituency.

“In Ashford, the result of the referendum in 2016 was almost 60% in favour of leaving the EU and the democratic will of the people needs to be recognised and respected.

“Like me, many of you will have been watching the performance of our parliamentarians with some disgust as our House of Commons has become something of an embarrassment on the international stage with career-minded party politicians not willing to recognise when a deal is damaging to their constituents and their country by voting for it anyway.

“As an independent, I would be entirely free from party whips and can vote on policy in the best interests of the voters in the Ashford constituency. “I know that many of you, like me, are frustrated with the fact that Brexit is still not resolved and that the uncertainties around Brexit are unhelpful to individuals and businesses alike.

“By having focussed representatives in the House of Commons who can effect change, life can move forward and we can then have more focus on the issues that are impacting on people directly.

“My focus would be on primary health care - for physical and mental health - in order that appointments can be obtained much more quickly so that health issues do not escalate and pressurise our already stretched hospital system. “Some of the current proposed changes to A&E services in Kent would directly impact adversely on those in Ashford and this needs to be challenged.

“In addition to this, I am aware of the issues many are facing with crime, both in rural communities, and anti-social behaviour is becoming worse too so strengthening of the police budget is a top priority.”