General Election 2015: Eddisbury Parliamentary candidates

As the Parliamentary candidates campaign in what has been dubbed one of the hardest-to-call General Elections of modern times, The Chronicle has given them an opportunity to persuade you of their objectives and to win your vote.

George Antar, Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol (Cista)

Teenager George Antar is standing as a candidate for Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol (Cista) party.

Born in London, George, 18, has lived in Cheshire most of his life and is an electronic musician.

A Cista spokeswoman said: “George hopes that if cannabis can be legalised there can be a change in social attitudes towards drugs so we can move towards an evidence-based law on drugs which can treat drug addiction as an illness as opposed to a crime.”

George said on Facebook: “The issue of cannabis isn’t just about medicine, isn’t just about recreation, it’s also about giving the people of the United Kingdom the sovereign right over their own bodies.”

He added: “I would like to remind everyone that, before becoming Prime Minister, David Cameron supported a reform to the UK’s drug laws. Once again the Conservatives have lied, but that isn’t really much of a surprise is it?”

Antoinette Sandbach, Conservative

Conservative candidate Antoinette Sandbach was selected to fight Eddisbury at the 11th hour after sitting Tory MP Stephen O’Brien took a job at the UN. If elected, Ms Sandbach, who is married with a teenage daughter, will be the first female MP to represent the constituency.

Ms Sandbach, the current Welsh Shadow Minister for the Environment and North Wales AM, prides herself on having ‘a strong record of speaking up for her constituents’.

Previously a barrister, Ms Sandbach moved back to the family farm in 2005 when she then became involved in politics.

During the run up to the election Ms Sandbach is donating her salary as an AM to Clare House and Monneypenny charities and has made public that she will resign from the Welsh Assembly if elected and move to the Eddisbury constituency.

Ms Sandbach is a former Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs where she was a strong advocate for rural communities speaking up on environmental, farming and affordable housing issues.

Andrew Garman, Green Party

Green Party candidate Dr Andrew Garman is a former Liberal Democrat councillor who is standing to push the environmental cause.

Andrew, 61, is a semi-retired scientist who lives in the north of the constituency at Ashton Hayes, a village which has a reputation for action on climate change with its ‘Going Carbon Neutral’ project.

Andrew was a parish councillor for 11 years and responsible for, or involved in, a number of community projects, including a £240,000 scheme to provide recreational and sporting facilities in Ashton Hayes.

He also served as councillor for Kelsall on Chester City Council from 2006 until the local government re-organisation in 2009. He was the Lib Dems’ environment spokesperson before moving to the Greens in 2011.

Andrew said: “I became increasingly concerned about both climate change and the adverse impacts of mounting income and wealth inequalities on the health of our society.

“The Green Party is the natural place for those who want radical action on these vital issues.”

James Laing, Labour

Labour candidate James Laing says ‘Britain will be better under Labour’.

James, who has worked in the television industry for almost 30 years, said: “The General Election on May 7 is the most important I can remember, there are real choices facing the people of Eddisbury,”

“Do we want a future where our children can afford a decent home? Do we want a future where our families can continue to get not-for-profit healthcare, free at the point of need? Do we want secure work that pays a living wage?

“If, like me, your answer to those questions is yes, then the only choice on May 7 is to vote Labour.”

Born in the Midlands, James grew up in the south but has lived in the North West for more than 20 years. The eldest of four children, he attended a comprehensive school and Liverpool University. He has two sons with his partner Gill.

He added: “The Tories are offering an ideological attack on our public services. They say that the economy is growing, but who is it benefiting?”

Ian Priestner, Liberal Democrats

Lib Dem candidate Ian Priestner can’t be accused of never having had a proper job – he’s worked for the oil and gas industry and been the director of a leading hospital in the North West.

Ian, who was born and brought up in Cheshire, says his passion is to protect the beautiful towns and villages of Eddisbury from indiscriminate development, support employment opportunity and health access for all, as well as ensuring young people have the best possible education.

Ian, who lives with his wife Jenny, a senior executive with the BBC, and daughter Victoria near Tarporley, said: “Developing our communities means putting residents first, not developers. Access to services such as doctors, school places and rural transport and communications needs must be built in early not left to be dealt with later. We need to ensure we strike the right balance between growth and jobs, people and the environment.’

He is walking around Eddisbury constituency with his dog, a Rhodesian ridgeback called Barley, to ‘see what is really going on’.

Rob Millington, Ukip

Ukip candidate Rob Millington wants to save the taxpayer billions by scrapping the HS2 high speed line, withdrawing from Europe and reducing overseas aid.

Rob has lived in Eddisbury for most of his life apart from when serving overseas in the Army and periods spent working in the Middle East.

He said: “Every day I speak to people who feel that the cynicism of the Lib/Lab/Con has gone too far and that their concerns are not taken seriously. Just one example of this is Britain’s membership of the EU – none of the other parties are willing to allow the people to have a say as to whether or not they wish to be governed by this unelected bureaucracy.

“Nowadays whether you’re running a business or working in the public sector it is EU laws and bureaucracy that call the shots.”

Aside from saving money, Rob says Ukip will reform planning laws to preserve the green belt and develop brownfield sites instead. Additional funds would be allocated to the NHS. Ukip would exempt minimum wage earners from tax and commit 2% of national income to defence.

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