4 of our
candidates found the time to to contribute, and the first to reply was Jeff Townsend of
the Conservative Party. Here’s what he had to say:
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“Jeff was born on a mine in South Africa and grew up
in mining communities around the world. It was in these early years he was
taught the importance of self-responsibility, providing for your family and
looking after your community. These core principles are why he is standing as
your Conservative candidate at the General election.
If you want to question them directly, visit yournextmp.com to find their contact details - although as previously stated Julie Elliott's details are incorrect. She can be found on Twitter @JulieElliottMP. .
Jeff is proud of the Conservatives record on the
economy and wants to use this as a springboard for growth and enhancement of
the city. To do this we need to attract people and business to the city and
that means we need to improve our infrastructure. Motorway access, increased
capacity of Sunderland train station so more direct trains can come straight
into the heart of the city, extending the metro to surrounding areas and
promoting the port nationally as a gateway to Northern Europe.
In his spare time Jeff studies Ju Jitsu and is an
avid reader. He enjoys a good pub quiz and would love to see more people
cycling.”
Rachel Featherstone of the Green Party was second to contribute. She
says:
“The
Green Party are the only Party in England to challenge the economic sabotage
that is austerity.
Cutting government spending has never been the answer to recession, it decreases spending and tax revenue, making the debt bigger with every passing year. It also harms the most vulnerable people in society.
Last year, one million people used food banks, 80,000 children were housed in B&Bs and hostels and 6.9 million people in working families were living in poverty. The top 1% have increased their fortunes by £69 billion since 2010.
The Green Party want a better, sustainable future for everyone, not just the very wealthy. We would legislate for a living wage of £10 per hour by 2020 and a universal Citizen's Pension to lift people out of poverty. We would invest in our public sector, housing and renewable energy to create jobs, reduce bills and provide excellent services.
The Green Party don't believe that the NHS should be a source of profit for private companies, we support the NHS Reinstatement Bill which would remove the market from healthcare. At this election, we have a genuine choice - more cuts and privatisation or an economy that works for the common good.”
Due to the email address on yournextmp.com being incorrect, Julie Elliott of Labour was unable to reply as quickly as she would have liked. When we resolved this issue, she had this to say:
Finally for now, Adrian Page of the Liberal Democrats had this to say:
"Adrian
Page has always passionate about politics, but only joined the Liberal
Democrats two years ago. Having developed a strong social and political
conscience during his time in the Army, and later working for church-related
inclusion initiatives, he joined the Liberal Democrats in the hope of engaging
more people in democracy.
Adrian is 36, and currently combining studies with working as a part-time photographer. In addition to his military service, he has also worked in the charity sector - mainly in relation to facilitating understanding and tolerance towards religious communities. Adrian has an active interest in theology and is a practising Christian, while advocating a liberal society in which people of all faiths can celebrate their religion openly.
Adrian is a keen advocate for equality and inclusion - his passions include lifting barriers for those with disabilities and championing better working conditions at a time of growing casualisation of employment. He has been active in promoting significant reform of how mental health services work. He is also interested in human rights issues, and believes in empowering ordinary citizens to participate in the human rights agenda.
He believes the key priorities for any incoming government should be safeguarding the long-term future of the NHS, addressing the need for job creation, making the tax system fairer and delivering a better democracy in which voting makes a real difference.
Adrian pledges that, whether or not he is elected, he will act with honesty and fairness at all times - standing by his principles and promoting a more just society."
Our other candidates are Bryan Foster for UKIP and Independent Joseph Young.
Cutting government spending has never been the answer to recession, it decreases spending and tax revenue, making the debt bigger with every passing year. It also harms the most vulnerable people in society.
Last year, one million people used food banks, 80,000 children were housed in B&Bs and hostels and 6.9 million people in working families were living in poverty. The top 1% have increased their fortunes by £69 billion since 2010.
The Green Party want a better, sustainable future for everyone, not just the very wealthy. We would legislate for a living wage of £10 per hour by 2020 and a universal Citizen's Pension to lift people out of poverty. We would invest in our public sector, housing and renewable energy to create jobs, reduce bills and provide excellent services.
The Green Party don't believe that the NHS should be a source of profit for private companies, we support the NHS Reinstatement Bill which would remove the market from healthcare. At this election, we have a genuine choice - more cuts and privatisation or an economy that works for the common good.”
Due to the email address on yournextmp.com being incorrect, Julie Elliott of Labour was unable to reply as quickly as she would have liked. When we resolved this issue, she had this to say:
"In 2010 I was given
the honour of becoming the MP for Sunderland Central and since then, I have
never missed an opportunity to stand up for our great city. I have given
Sunderland a strong voice by fighting our corner at a regional and national
level.
If re-elected, I
will continue to be a full-time campaigning MP. In the last five years,
my biggest and most successful campaign resulted in the decision to close
Sunderland Central Community Fire Station being reversed. This campaign
would not have succeeded without the 34,000-plus signatures collected on
doorsteps across the city. Despite the Tory-led government’s attack on
our vital public services, Sunderland’s future is now safer than it might have
been because of our collective action.
As you supported me to
save our station, I need your support once again on 7 May. Only Labour
will save our NHS, reform our broken energy market and give ‘generation rent’
the help they need to get on in life. Please give me your vote so that I
can go on putting Sunderland at the heart of all I do."
"Adrian
Page has always passionate about politics, but only joined the Liberal
Democrats two years ago. Having developed a strong social and political
conscience during his time in the Army, and later working for church-related
inclusion initiatives, he joined the Liberal Democrats in the hope of engaging
more people in democracy. Adrian is 36, and currently combining studies with working as a part-time photographer. In addition to his military service, he has also worked in the charity sector - mainly in relation to facilitating understanding and tolerance towards religious communities. Adrian has an active interest in theology and is a practising Christian, while advocating a liberal society in which people of all faiths can celebrate their religion openly.
Adrian is a keen advocate for equality and inclusion - his passions include lifting barriers for those with disabilities and championing better working conditions at a time of growing casualisation of employment. He has been active in promoting significant reform of how mental health services work. He is also interested in human rights issues, and believes in empowering ordinary citizens to participate in the human rights agenda.
He believes the key priorities for any incoming government should be safeguarding the long-term future of the NHS, addressing the need for job creation, making the tax system fairer and delivering a better democracy in which voting makes a real difference.
Adrian pledges that, whether or not he is elected, he will act with honesty and fairness at all times - standing by his principles and promoting a more just society."
Our other candidates are Bryan Foster for UKIP and Independent Joseph Young.
Obviously we as a Parish team are not endorsing any
particular party – the choice, as they say, is yours – but please do try &
find out about who is seeking to represent us, and prayerfully consider who you
will vote for.
If you want to question them directly, visit yournextmp.com to find their contact details - although as previously stated Julie Elliott's details are incorrect. She can be found on Twitter @JulieElliottMP. .
* Sadly we
were unable to quote Joseph Young, the Independent candidate, as no email
address was listed on yournextmp.com.
