Kentish Express Ashford & District
Five candidates lodge final bid for your vote
Election hopefuls make their last pitch on polling day
Five candidates are competing for your vote today (Thursday) in what has been dubbed the Brexit election.
Ashford has a Conservative MP since 1885, except for a Liberal MP voted in during the 1929 election.
There will be 77 polling stations in the borough, which will be open from 7am until 10pm.
Brexit is sure to dominate the vote, with the environment being another key issue in this election.
In Ashford in the 2016 EU referendum, 41,472 voted Leave, and 28,314 Remain, with turn-out at 77.1%.
Ahead of today’s vote, we gave the five candidates an opportunity to lodge their last bid for votes.
■ Labour: Dara Farrell
This General Election is about the type of country we want to live in.
The Conservatives have been in power for nearly a decade and our town has suffered as a result of poor management and unnecessary austerity.
Our NHS is at risk of being sold off to Donald Trump by Boris Johnson, while plans are considered to close the William Harvey A&E.
After nine years in government I don’t trust the Conservatives to suddenly start putting ordinary people first.
In Ashford, it’s only Labour that can beat the Tories.
It’s time our town was represented by a campaigning MP, on the side of the many, not the few.
■ Independent: Susannah De Sanvil
This General Election gives us all an opportunity to finally get on the road to a world beyond Brexit.
Vote for a true Brexiteer, myself, to really ensure that Brexit occurs with no delay tactics from MPs who are really Remainers but pretending otherwise to gain your vote in this election.
This will enable individuals and businesses to move on with certainty and freedom from the constraints of the EU and move onto address the issues in our community that affect us all like crime, health and social care and education.
Vote for me to finally restore order and democracy.
■ Conservative: Damian Green
An Arrow taxi pulled to a halt when it passed me today, and the driver shouted “Tell your boss just to get Brexit done.”
I couldn’t agree more and nor could Boris.
That’s the central national issue at this election, and only the Conservatives want it to happen.
A Conservative government with a working majority will put another £33.9bn into the NHS, recruit 20,000 more police officers, and give more funding for every pupil in every school.
Here I am campaigning to keep the A&E at the William Harvey.
I want to continue to help regenerate Ashford town centre by attracting new businesses.
■ Lib Dem: Adrian Gee-Turner
Today is your last chance to stop Brexit. Labour leave the door open for Brexit. I remain convinced that this election is the most important in a generation.
It’s about the future of our businesses, our schools, our NHS and our environment. Our local economy relies on free access to Europe, so as your MP I will fight for that.
Strong ties with Europe, will not only benefit Ashford’s economy but the whole of the UK.
A strong economy means we can invest in building a brighter future, focussing on the things that really matter to all of us.
■ Green Party: Mandy Rossi
When other parties have twisted and turned with every change of wind direction, we have always been consistent in our messages.
I’m passionate about building a fairer Britain, tackling the climate crisis, ending the enormous poverty problem that is causing suffering for so many millions and protecting our NHS.
If you agree that decades of doing politics the same old way haven’t worked and that we need a totally new approach for a better Britain, please consider voting for me. If not now, when?
■ A report in the Kentish Express on November 21 stated that independent candidate Susannah De Sanvil was a member of Ukip. We wish to make it clear that she is no longer a member of the party.