Last word from our candidates

Apr 30 2010

May 6 is looming, and local candidates give their final message to voters.

Herts Southwest

HARINDER MANN (LAB) has pledged to prioritise three things if elected: Campaign for our local schools to ensure that our children don't need to make the long trips they do right now.Ensure our hospitals are within easy reach for all of us.

Safeguard the rights of pensioners and those who are being cared for at home.

DAVID GAUKE (CON)

"Over the last five years, as MP for South West Hertfordshire, I have got to know local people, businesses and voluntary organisations and to understand the issues facing our area. For example, I have campaigned for a new secondary school and I am pleased that there is now a prospect of one being built. I am also pleased that the Conservative Party will make it easier for new schools to be built. But above all, as a country, we need a change of government. Only a Conservative majority can provide a clean break and a fresh start."

CHRISTOPHER TOWNSEND (LIB DEM)

"At the end of the day, people need to make a choice and decide who, locally, has the passion and ideas to deliver results for the residents of South West Hertfordshire. I believe that I have that passion and drive. As a local resident and councillor I have shown my commitment to making the right choices, for example by voting for lower taxes.

With your support I can win this election. I will then work with others to help build a stronger and more stable society where every voice is heard."

Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner:

TOM PAPWORTH (LIB DEM) believes the elections on May 6 are wide open, with national polls putting his party in first or second place.

He said: "Thousands of people across Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner are turning to the Lib Dems because we offer real change. "Our priorities are fair taxes, including a £700 tax cut for most workers; a fair start for every child, with class sizes reduced to 16 pupils; a fair economy based On job-creating businesses rather than casino banking, and clean, honest politics where every vote counts.If this is the change you want to see, vote for the Liberal Democrats on May 6."

NICK HURD (CON)

Over the last five years as your MP , I have helped more than 5,000 constituents and led important campaigns to keep what we value Ð like the cancer centre at Mount Vernon.

A Conservative vote will help me continue that work and help us get rid of Gordon Brown and his knackered government.

ANITA MACDONALD (LAB)

I am the only person standing as your MP who lives in the constituency. I will take the Tube to Westminster, log my expenses online, and be totally accountable to the electorate I have been chosen to represent. I am not a traditional politician; I have had a career in secondary teaching and I feel strongly that people with life experience rather than career politicians are needed in Westminster. As a Hillingdon councillor, I have the necessary experience to be an effective local community MP, representing your views and local issues. The race in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner is between Labour and the Conservatives, with the Liberal Democrats much further behind in third place (BBC boundary election predictions 2010). I do hope you will support me as a local mum, who is equally at home chatting at the school gate as I am in Westminster.

Uxbridge & South Ruislip

Mike Cox, Liberal Democrats

"Following the leaders' discussions on television, this is the first general election that voters have felt part of the debate and able to make an informed choice about how they vote. There is a new confidence in voting Liberal Democrat and the old 'wasted vote' argument has gone forever. Do not be conned by the old parties into thinking it will only be 'letting in' the other party. A vote for the Lib Dems is a vote for real change that will work for you. Vote Liberal Democrat and you will be backing fairer taxes, smaller classes and cleaner politics. We have pledged to break up the greedy banks and reform the funding of political parties, part of regaining the trust of an electorate which has been bruised by recent expenses and other scandals. I am uniquely qualified to serve you in Uxbridge and Ruislip as I graduated from Brunel University, live in Uxbridge and represent the ward of Ruislip Manor on Hillingdon Council. Vote for me to be your champion in parliament - and for a fairer Britain."

John Randall, Conservative

"It's been a great privilege and honour representing the people in this constituency, and I am asking my fellow residents to give me that responsibility once again.

I believe I have shown that I work hard for my constituents and our local area and if re-elected I will continue to do all I can to help anyone who needs my assistance. I will be accessible, approachable and honest in all my dealings. I will always stand up for what I believe is right. Gordon Brown's Labour Government has bankrupted Britain; run up debts for generations to come, permitted too much immigration, denied people a say on the EU's Lisbon Treaty and created a surveillance society, where civil liberties are disappearing one after another. They would destroy local communities with their discredited plans for a third runway at Heathrow. Only a Conservative government can deliver the change our country desperately needs."

Sid Garg, Labour

"During times like these, a government needs to be decisive, and choices about how to use limited resources are key. The task is to build a secure economic future for Britain and all of its people Ð Britain must rebuild its economy and its industrial base.

This election is about your future and the future of your family. Don't let the Tories put it at risk. I reaffirm my pledges to you to protect public services; to support the Sure Start initiative along with protecting the winter fuel allowances for pensioners.

"Free personal care for those with the highest need is a high priority, and I support the cancer guarantee. We must strengthen public services and our local communities. I believe that we must invest in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, and the constituency needs a future that is fair for all. We need to build on our children's future, and I will continue campaiging for the £150m investment for schools under the BS21 scheme. I will be transparent and accountable, and I will pledge to be on your side and represent the constituency indiscriminately and put the interests of the constituency first."

Hayes and Harlington

John McDonnell, Labour

"This election isn't only about which party forms the next government, it is also about who we can trust to represent our area. This is even more important if there is a hung Parliament. I have always seen my role as speaking up for our community with a strong, independent voice. That is why I have led the campaign against the third runway for 30 years, when both political parties have broken their promises on Heathrow once they were elected. It is also why I am speaking out on the rail terminal threat to West Drayton and the threat by the Conservatives to our £150million schools investment programme.

As a community we have achieved a lot together, with new schools and nurseries, new medical centres and more police on the beat, but there is so much more to do. I am standing for re-election simply because I want to continue working hard for our area."

Satnam Kaur Khalsa, Liberal Democrat

"People of Hayes and Harlington have expressed their concerns to me on a number of issues and I am certain we can give them the chance to improve their lives. By lifting the income tax threshold to £10,000 we can help to reduce the poverty. We will find the empty properties in the area and bring them in use. We must reduce the school class sizes and scrap the university tuition fees to help the youth. Small businesses should be helped by providing them with finance they need. This we can do by making the banks lending finance to them again. We will give the local people £400 to install double glazing and replace boilers. This will again help the local businesses. The threat of destruction and long term ill health from the third runway is real. We will say 'no' to expansion at Heathrow."

Scott Seaman-Digby, Conservative Party

"It has been an incredible couple of months and we have made some amazing advances in this area in that time. We have been welcomed on the doorstep, welcomed by the faith groups, welcomed by community associations and welcomed by local businesses. There is a real appetite for change across this constituency. For too long, people have felt neglected and overlooked and for too long, empty words have replaced real action on behalf local people. On May 6, Hayes and Harlington has the chance to decide that it's time for a new journey, a new way forward where local people and local businesses come first. My pledge to Hayes and Harlington is simple Ð if something is right for our communities and can be done, then I will make sure it is done. The status quo doesn't work. Enough is enough. It's time for change."