North Herefordshire's Parliamentary Candidates

Over the last five years the Conservatives have been working to a long-term economic plan to put Britain on the right track.

Across the country unemployment has fallen, families have bought their first homes using Help to Buy, beer duty has been cut, cider duty has been frozen, the state pension has been increased and the tax free personal allowance has taken over 3 million people out of tax altogether.

A Conservative Government will increase the tax-free Personal Allowance to £12,500, commit to no increases in VAT, National Insurance contributions or Income Tax whilst cracking down on tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance.

We will build 275,000 more affordable homes, invest £8 billion in the NHS, continue to increase the State Pension through our triple lock and support our Armed Forces.

A Conservative Government is also the only way to ensure the whole of the UK is given a choice on Europe in an In or Out referendum by 2017.

If elected I will fight for North Herefordshire’s interests: for more beds for Hereford Hospital, for improved mobile and broadband connections, for a better economy, for a stronger defence and for all those living and working here.

SALLY PRENTICE - Labour. North Herefordshire Candidate.

I am standing in North Herefordshire as I grew up in a rural community so I understand the issues affecting people in market towns and villages. I have had a successful career in the public and voluntary sector: I have worked for HM Treasury and been a senior manager with Age UK.

I joined the Labour Party because I want people get on in life but to live in a society that is fair and looks after the most vulnerable. It is a disgrace that people are using food banks when we live in the sixth richest country in the world. I want young people to have the opportunities that I have had. I will campaign for more affordable housing, built to high environmental standards in appropriate locations; financial support for the cost of travelling to sixth form and Further Education colleges; more apprenticeships and reduce tuition fees to £6000. Our commitment, to increase free nursery education from 15 to 25 hours per week for working families with 3 and 4 year olds, will help families with the high cost of childcare.

DAISY BLENCH - Green. North Herefordshire Candidate.

I am Herefordshire-born and attended the Minster College and Hereford Sixth Form and now work for a trade association in the pub and brewing sector.

At age 27 I see the Green Party as the party of my generation. It looks to the future - the only party offering an alternative to the consensus of austerity and cuts and seeking real action to tackle climate change.

My view is that all policies should contribute towards building a fairer and more sustainable society. Instead of subsidising fracking and fossil fuels, we would invest in energy efficiency and renewables, creating green jobs. We would reduce the national insurance contribution and cut business rates for small businesses, the backbone of our local economy. They need a boost to grow and employ more people in good jobs, paying the living wage and helping our county thrive.

We would bring the railways back into public hands and secure better funding for local bus services. We would protect and rebuild our cherished NHS, damaged by underfunding and privatisation.

Herefordshire needs a Green voice in parliament to fight for better resources and opportunities for all whilst maintaining the distinctive and special character of the area and champion policies that put people and planet first.

JEANIE FALCONER - Liberal Democrats. North Herefordshire.

This election is about two things: what kind of MP do you want and what kind of government do you want?

I live and work in Bishops Frome, running our small vineyard, so I know what our issues are. We have all seen our public services suffer and a key solution is to win a fairer share of funding for the rural areas.

I think an MP has to be a catalyst bringing people together in her community. She needs to be out and about so that people know who she is and how to reach her. My plan, as your MP, is to re-invigorate our representation in Westminster and to campaign for a fairer share of funding for our rural area.

The Liberal Democrats in coalition over the last five years brought five years of sane, stable and fair government. The job is not finished. The next government is almost certain to be another coalition. We need Liberal Democrats in government again.

At the last election, 83% of the vote went to the Liberal Democrat (31%) and the Conservative (52%). Between them, Labour, Green and UKIP got 17%. Only the Liberal Democrats can beat the Conservative here. I urge you to vote for JEANIE FALCONER

JONATHAN OAKTON - UKIP. North Herefordshire.

Following UKIP winning the European Elections last year and two By-Election successes we are expectant of a massive move forward in North Herefordshire this time. The melting away of the LibDem support nationally can only spur us on as Labour never figures in the local results.

Working people and young people suffer the most from economic migration from poorer parts of Europe now they have to compete for their own jobs and houses directly.

We have all heard the Cast Iron promises and the smoke screen of “renegotiations “ with a European Government that says that it will not reopen signed Treaties. The prospect of the Brussels /Washington TTIP trade deal will put our NHS into the firing line because there is nothing like a National Health Service anywhere else in the world so it is only the British who can guard its health.

UKIP believe that leaving the European Union the £55,000,000 per DAY that we give to Europe would be better spent in Britain, saving local services, paying 8,000 new local GPs. Funding University places for Science, Medicine, Maths, Technology and Engineering students.

Currently we import from Europe £83.2 Billion Goods per year more than we export there. We are their best customers.