THE man aiming to become the borough’s next MP believes lower taxes would help the least well-off in society to keep their dignity.

He also reckons Britain should stay in Europe – but with a new set of operating rules.

Stuart Penketh, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Ellesmere Port & Neston, gives his views on a range of important topics in an interview with a national newspaper.

He firstly reveals that he is a supporter of Tory leader David Cameron due to his “traditional old-fashioned Conservative approach that's pragmatic but has got some very good ideology behind it.”

He says his party would be wrong at this stage to reveal what its plans would be on taxation if it wins the election.

But asked whether “green” taxes should rise, he replies: “I believe in green encouragers rather than taxes. We should be encouraging people to use green energy rather than punishing them.

“We should keep car tax as it is and lower it for hybrid cars. You should also get financial subsidy for buying energy from a green power supplier such as hydro-electric or wind – the more people that use these suppliers the more it would make energy cheaper."

On taxes generally, Mr Penketh says: “I believe that lower taxes are better. If you are reducing taxes on the most vulnerable you are reducing the number of people that have to go cap in hand to Government for funds and that means they retain their dignity.

“It was only the post-war Attlee Labour government that started taxing the lowest paid. Before that the bottom 10% of people in work didn't pay any tax at all.”

On the question of Europe, he replies: “You do not need a European parliament to run a free trade area. I believe in free trade. We need to stay in Europe but reform it more democratisation and a new constitution.”

And on the family he says: “I'm from Bury. We think that it shouldn't be the Government's responsibility to dictate to people how they live their lives so long as its legal.

“It's always better to have two parents whether that be two lesbians, two gays or a man and a woman. I was brought up by my mother, she and my father divorced but he was always there."