Candidates spell out priorities
VOTERS go to the polls next month for the General Election. Five parties are standing in the West Lancashire constituency, which is currently held by Rosie Cooper of the Labour Party.
Ms Cooper is hoping to retain that seat, but is likely to face a close contest from Conservative candidate Sam Currie.
Prime Minister Theresa May visited Ormskirk earlier this month as part of the campaign, a clear sign that the party feels confident it can win the seat.
Also standing in West Lancs are Jo Barton for the Liberal Democrats, Nate Higgins for the Green Party, and David Oswald Braid from the War Veterans ProTraditional Family Party.
One party which won’t be fielding a candidate is Ukip, which told the Advertiser it was stepping aside as it felt the Tory candidate was a strong pro-Brexit voice and the party had therefore decided to focus on other areas.
In the lead-up to the poll, we asked each candidate about their background and policies for the upcoming election.
Mr Braid was unavailable to respond at the time of going to press.
He also ran in the previous five general elections here, gaining 150 votes (0.3%) in 2015.
Here’s what they said:
IT HAS been an honour and privilege to serve the people of West Lancashire for the last 12 years.
I believe my record on issues shows that I have kept my commitment to being West Lancashire’s voice in Westminster, not Westminster’s voice in West Lancashire. At this election I am standing on my record of delivery with the promise of more.
The choice for West Lancashire voters on June 8 is who is the person that is prepared to stand up and fight for you.
It is clear that the Conservatives want to make this a one issue election. Your future, the future of West Lancashire is about much more than one issue.
It is about the NHS having a future and social care being available to all not just those who can afford it. I have a long standing record of campaigning to protect our local health services.
It is about providing dignity for older people in retirement by protecting their incomes and entitlements, such as keeping the pensions triple lock, and the winter fuel allowance, which I am committed to doing.
Our young people should be looking to the future with hope not despair. I am ambitious for a future of opportunity in which we invest in our schools, not cutting, in which we provide high-quality jobs and make affordable housing available.
For many working families their living standards have been hit hard and, under the Conservatives, are getting worse with work becoming more insecure, wages falling in real terms and the cost of living rising.
For those reasons, now more than ever the people of West Lancashire need an MP willing to fight their corner, who will be a strong, independent voice for this community.
As the eldest daughter of deaf parents, I was their voice. My family worked hard and played by the rules, wanting a fair chance and a fair reward.
I am fighting to deliver a better future for West Lancashire residents as I fought for my family.