ELECTION: Full statements from Bassetlaw candidates and why you should vote for them

Bassetlaw residents will go to the polls next week to elect their next MP.
Ballot boxBallot box
Ballot box

The poll will be held on Thursday 7th May 2015, between 7am-10pm.

Here is the full list of candidates standing and why you should vote for them.

John Mann - Labour Party

Of the five candidates, you have to choose which one you want representing you on the issues that count.

Who do you most trust to keep our hospital, ambulance station, fire and police service local?

Which candidate was there to lead the fight to keep them open in recent years?

If you and your family has a problem, which candidate would you want fighting your corner?

When there is a crucial vote on war, such as on Syria in 2013, who would you trust to get the call right?

During an election there is even more hot air around than usual. Promises, pledges, insults.

I only make one promise, as someone who uses the same hospital, shops, schools and roads as you do: I will carry on working hard on your behalf. I know from years of experience how to get results for you and for our communities.

I will also continue to speak out fearlessly on the big issues in Parliament and in the media. I don’t duck conflict, I am never afraid to ruffle feathers in Westminster by raising your concerns and holding the powerful to account.

In the years to come I will be called on to intervene in further controversies and back more protests, but a vote for me is not a protest. It is a vote for aspiration and hope in Bassetlaw.

Kris Wragg - Green Party

I believe strongly in a fairer society and that the Government’s job is to ensure that its citizens have roofs over their heads, food on their plates and a fantastic health service.

We will rollback NHS privatization which has doubled since 2007 in percentage terms. We will provide free social care for older people and bring England in-line with the rest of the UK with free prescriptions and dentistry for everyone.

To fund this and many other policies we will crackdown hard on tax loopholes, avoidance and evasion and claw back as much of the estimated £120 billion lost per year that we can.

In addition we will abolish the mortgage interest tax relief for landlords which will raise £5.8bn a year. We will put this money towards building 500,000 new social homes, of which Bassetlaw will see an estimated 1000.

I will make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle and use public transport. By renationalising the railways it will improve services and reduce fares; helping all those that travel between Worksop and Retford, or to places such as Sheffield, Doncaster and Nottingham.

We are the only party opposed to fracking, which will affect the people of Misson. I do not think companies should be able to frack under your property without your permission; nor put homes and farmland at risk of contamination.

With a minimum wage of £8.10 in 2015 rising to a living wage of £10 per hour by 2020 I want every working person to be able to live without worry of being able to pay their rent or bills.

The fact is the trickle down approach does not work, the wealth divide is only getting bigger and austerity is not the answer.

Vote Green in 2015 for a fairer, sustainable economy.

Leon Duveen - Liberal Democrats

Although born in London, I have lived in Bassetlaw for over 25 years, bring up my family here and being part of the local community, I have been a school governor and involved with community groups.

Recently I helped set-up Bassetlaw Against Fracking to try to stop the extraction of methane gas from sites in the area.

I only came into Party Politics in 2010 after I saw the Lib Dems having the courage to make a choice that was the good of the country and accept the challenge of being in a Coalition Government at a time of a deep economic crisis even though it was clear that it would damage support for the party in the short term.

Being in Coalition has meant tough choices, accepting some policies we don’t like in exchange for being able to implement those we do.

Labour have shown they are not capable of managing the economy and without a strong economy we cannot have provide the public services we all want.

The Tories are so intent on cutting the deficit that they will destroy public education, the NHS and many other public services and for what? There is no point to strong economy unless we all benefit

It is only the Lib Dems that really stand up for ordinary people, making sure the economy is repaired after the crash of ’08 for the benefit of all while protecting the vital public services we all rely on.

It is only with a strong Liberal Democrat voice in Parliament, working for you, can we make sure that the hardships of the last few years are not wasted by either borrowing too much or cutting too deep.

It is only by voting Liberal Democrat can we make sure that the there is a strong economy, a fairer society and opportunity for all.

David Scott - UKIP

I have lived in Worksop all of my life, with most of my family and myself having connections with the local community and the sadly lost mining industry. My own working life was guided by my Grandad saying: “If I catch you working down the pit I’ll clip you round the ear!” So with this in mind I became an apprentice mechanic working on coaches and lorries.

Over the years I have had a variety of jobs many having interaction with local people on a personal level including bus driving, taxi driving and working for a local funeral director. But I have always returned to working the spanners.

For myself, voting is an essential public duty, however I soon became disillusioned when I could not vote for any party that represented the issues of my choice. Thus my interest in politics was born. Having developed this interest over time, I would like to be given the opportunity to represent the people of Bassetlaw. I believe that Bassetlaw people should have more say on the national and local issues that affect us all. For the first time in 100 years, there is the opportunity for real change on the horizon, all you have to do is vote for it.

Sarah Downes - Conservatives

I want to make Worksop and Bassetlaw the best place to live in the UK.

Labour in Bassetlaw has still not delivered on promises for local people. I won’t be an MP who simply jumps on a bandwagon to take credit for things that other people achieve.

The last national Labour Government built up debt that will take generations to clear, opened the door to uncontrolled immigration putting pressures on the NHS, schools and housing, de-regulated finance and widened social inequality.

Jobs: My background in business means I know what I am talking about and can help deliver real change. Two million more jobs, three million more apprenticeships, improved school standards, lower income tax and jobs tax. Conservatives will work with businesses, not demonise them as Labour do.

Public services: I will work with local and national organisations to attract investment in roads and rail. Good quality development on brownfield land, lobby for extra bus services, attract business sponsorship for community schemes.

A strong, Conservative-led national economy will protect investment in the NHS and social care – a sector I have hands-on experience in.

Community: Worksop needs better value Council Tax, better shops, more social housing and local facilities built into any future housing developments. Labour negotiated waste and public transport contracts that provide poor service at too high a cost. A Conservative MP would hold Labour Councils publicly to account.

A better, brighter Bassetlaw. I hope I can rely on your vote to make it happen.

ELECTION: Full statements from Bassetlaw candidates on why you should vote for them

Bassetlaw residents will go to the polls next week to elect their next MP.

The poll will be held on Thursday 7th May 2015, between 7am-10pm.

Here is the full list of candidates standing and why you should vote for them.

John Mann - Labour Party

Of the five candidates, you have to choose which one you want representing you on the issues that count.

Who do you most trust to keep our hospital, ambulance station, fire and police service local?

Which candidate was there to lead the fight to keep them open in recent years?

If you and your family has a problem, which candidate would you want fighting your corner?

When there is a crucial vote on war, such as on Syria in 2013, who would you trust to get the call right?

During an election there is even more hot air around than usual. Promises, pledges, insults.

I only make one promise, as someone who uses the same hospital, shops, schools and roads as you do: I will carry on working hard on your behalf. I know from years of experience how to get results for you and for our communities.

I will also continue to speak out fearlessly on the big issues in Parliament and in the media. I don’t duck conflict, I am never afraid to ruffle feathers in Westminster by raising your concerns and holding the powerful to account.

In the years to come I will be called on to intervene in further controversies and back more protests, but a vote for me is not a protest. It is a vote for aspiration and hope in Bassetlaw.

Kris Wragg - Green Party

I believe strongly in a fairer society and that the Government’s job is to ensure that its citizens have roofs over their heads, food on their plates and a fantastic health service.

We will rollback NHS privatization which has doubled since 2007 in percentage terms. We will provide free social care for older people and bring England in-line with the rest of the UK with free prescriptions and dentistry for everyone.

To fund this and many other policies we will crackdown hard on tax loopholes, avoidance and evasion and claw back as much of the estimated £120 billion lost per year that we can.

In addition we will abolish the mortgage interest tax relief for landlords which will raise £5.8bn a year. We will put this money towards building 500,000 new social homes, of which Bassetlaw will see an estimated 1000.

I will make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle and use public transport. By renationalising the railways it will improve services and reduce fares; helping all those that travel between Worksop and Retford, or to places such as Sheffield, Doncaster and Nottingham.

We are the only party opposed to fracking, which will affect the people of Misson. I do not think companies should be able to frack under your property without your permission; nor put homes and farmland at risk of contamination.

With a minimum wage of £8.10 in 2015 rising to a living wage of £10 per hour by 2020 I want every working person to be able to live without worry of being able to pay their rent or bills.

The fact is the trickle down approach does not work, the wealth divide is only getting bigger and austerity is not the answer.

Vote Green in 2015 for a fairer, sustainable economy.

Leon Duveen - Liberal Democrats

Although born in London, I have lived in Bassetlaw for over 25 years, bring up my family here and being part of the local community, I have been a school governor and involved with community groups.

Recently I helped set-up Bassetlaw Against Fracking to try to stop the extraction of methane gas from sites in the area.

I only came into Party Politics in 2010 after I saw the Lib Dems having the courage to make a choice that was the good of the country and accept the challenge of being in a Coalition Government at a time of a deep economic crisis even though it was clear that it would damage support for the party in the short term.

Being in Coalition has meant tough choices, accepting some policies we don’t like in exchange for being able to implement those we do.

Labour have shown they are not capable of managing the economy and without a strong economy we cannot have provide the public services we all want.

The Tories are so intent on cutting the deficit that they will destroy public education, the NHS and many other public services and for what? There is no point to strong economy unless we all benefit

It is only the Lib Dems that really stand up for ordinary people, making sure the economy is repaired after the crash of ’08 for the benefit of all while protecting the vital public services we all rely on.

It is only with a strong Liberal Democrat voice in Parliament, working for you, can we make sure that the hardships of the last few years are not wasted by either borrowing too much or cutting too deep.

It is only by voting Liberal Democrat can we make sure that the there is a strong economy, a fairer society and opportunity for all.

David Scott - UKIP

I have lived in Worksop all of my life, with most of my family and myself having connections with the local community and the sadly lost mining industry. My own working life was guided by my Grandad saying: “If I catch you working down the pit I’ll clip you round the ear!” So with this in mind I became an apprentice mechanic working on coaches and lorries.

Over the years I have had a variety of jobs many having interaction with local people on a personal level including bus driving, taxi driving and working for a local funeral director. But I have always returned to working the spanners.

For myself, voting is an essential public duty, however I soon became disillusioned when I could not vote for any party that represented the issues of my choice. Thus my interest in politics was born. Having developed this interest over time, I would like to be given the opportunity to represent the people of Bassetlaw. I believe that Bassetlaw people should have more say on the national and local issues that affect us all. For the first time in 100 years, there is the opportunity for real change on the horizon, all you have to do is vote for it.

Sarah Downes - Conservatives

I want to make Worksop and Bassetlaw the best place to live in the UK.

Labour in Bassetlaw has still not delivered on promises for local people. I won’t be an MP who simply jumps on a bandwagon to take credit for things that other people achieve.

The last national Labour Government built up debt that will take generations to clear, opened the door to uncontrolled immigration putting pressures on the NHS, schools and housing, de-regulated finance and widened social inequality.

Jobs: My background in business means I know what I am talking about and can help deliver real change. Two million more jobs, three million more apprenticeships, improved school standards, lower income tax and jobs tax. Conservatives will work with businesses, not demonise them as Labour do.

Public services: I will work with local and national organisations to attract investment in roads and rail. Good quality development on brownfield land, lobby for extra bus services, attract business sponsorship for community schemes.

A strong, Conservative-led national economy will protect investment in the NHS and social care – a sector I have hands-on experience in.

Community: Worksop needs better value Council Tax, better shops, more social housing and local facilities built into any future housing developments. Labour negotiated waste and public transport contracts that provide poor service at too high a cost. A Conservative MP would hold Labour Councils publicly to account.

A better, brighter Bassetlaw. I hope I can rely on your vote to make it happen.