Candidates named for election fight
TWO of prospective parliamentary candidates have been selected to contest the Macclesfield seat at the next General Election.
Neil Christian, 33, will bid to take the Macclesfield constituency for the Liberal Democrats, while Adrian Howard aims to do the same for UKIP.
The seat has been held by Conservative David Rutley since 2010.
They will contend for the seat, which has been Tory since 1918, against Mr Rutley, Labour’s candidate Tim Roca and Green party candidate Joan Plimmer.
Mr Christian works as a barrister from a Manchester-based chambers and lives in Chester. He grew up on the Isle of Man and has lived in Cheshire for nine years.
He read medieval history at St Andrew’s University and law at the College of Law in York and in London.
He has 15 years experience working and campaigning with the Liberal Democrats in local and national politics.
Mr Christian said: “I was delighted to be selected to contest the Macclesfield seat. If elected as MP, I will fight for better local infrastructure, transport, housing, NHS services and schools, and be a powerful and effective voice for the people of Macclesfield at Westminster.
“My priority in the coming months will be to highlight the dangers of unrestricted cuts to our public services as proposed by the Tories, and the risk to our recovering economy posed by Labour’s plans for irresponsible borrowing.
“The Liberal Democrats will continue to argue for a balance between cuts and borrowing. The Liberal Democrats and I want a fairer society and a stronger economy, so that everyone can get on in life.”
UKIP’s candidate Adrian Howard, 52, grew up in Cheadle Hulme, and has lived in Macclesfield for seven years with fiancée Jane and their daughter.
He works in Manchester for a manufacturing business and has previously worked in the USA, Holland and for a Prestbury advertising agency.
David Langley, UKIP’s Macclesfield chairman, said: “Adrian Howard’s a local, a northerner, and a practical, down to earth family man. But he’s also an articulate and convincing speaker with a detailed grasp of policy who’ll really stand up for this town.
“Now UKIP have chosen Adrian I believe the people of our town will soon agree that we’ve found a man who is in tune with them, shares their concerns and is absolutely passionate about the issues that matter to him and to Macclesfield.”
Mr Howard said he was determined to win.
He added: “I first came here in the 1980s, so I remember the vibrant town centre Macclesfield once was. Like this town, I have seen my fair share of ups and downs since then, from doing well in business to more recently standing in the job centre desperate for work. That’s why I feel it is essential that someone from the region represents this historic northern town, someone who understands this part of the world.”
The General Election is due to take place on Thursday, May 7.