Fiona BRUCE - Conservative

FIONA Bruce has lived and worked in Cheshire for over 20 years. She is a solicitor who has run her own community law firm in Stockton Heath throughout that time and is an award-winning businesswoman.

She scooped the National Businesswoman of the Year Award for Women Into Business, for the successful startup and development of her business, Fiona Bruce & Co LLP.

Mrs Bruce is married to Richard, a chartered surveyor, who was born and brought up in Cheshire, as are their two sons aged 16 and 13.

Richard worked for many years for Frank Marshall & Co, the Cheshire agricultural land agents, and they live as a family in Northwich, just a few minutes from the Congleton constituency boundary.

Mrs Bruce said: "I am determined to get to know as many people here as I can between now and the next General Election so everyone can really know the person they are being asked to vote for.

"People ask me "why are you in politics?" The reason is I look at the world that my two boys are growing up in, and think, it could be so much better than this.

"We have a choice. We can stay on the sidelines, or we can get involved, and try to make a positive difference. I’ve chosen to get involved."

David BRYANT - Labour

DAVID Bryant, 41, has lived in Congleton for 11 years, since he left London to work in the North West.

The former Wasps Rugby Union player grew up in South Wales and has worked as a forensic scientist for the Metropolitan Police.

He now who lives in Brereton and is married with two young children.

He has worked for over 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry and now runs his own business, Cranage Healthcare International, based at Dane Mill Business Centre, which providing healthcare products for health services around the world.

Mr Bryant has also worked with disabled children since moving to the North West and set up a charity based in the Wirral, providing free therapy for children with cerebral palsy. 

Mr Bryant says his beliefs have been framed by working with the most vulnerable in society, and growing up under a Conservative government in the 80’s.

He says he has radical plans to improve the lives of local people and ensure that they have a say in national politics.

He said: "I am local and was inspired to run because of my own frustrations at local politics.

"I have always been interested in politics and I will try to get people of the area to have their say, to get them involved in politics, get them motivated."

Dr Peter HIRST - Liberal Democrat

DR HIRST was born in Leeds and was brought up in Oldham that was then in Lancashire.

He was educated locally and in North Wales before studying medicine at the University of Manchester. He then trained in Cheshire, Cambridge and Scotland.

Since 1985 he worked as a locum doctor in various parts of the country until retiring form medical practice in 2004.

DR Hirst joined the Liberal Democrats in 1988.

He has been a Middlewich Town Councillor since 1999. He presently serves on the finance and planning committees. He is also a member of Community Pride. He is an active supporter of Middlewich Vision being on all four working groups.

Dr Hirst stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Stroud constituency, Gloucestershire in the 2005 General Election when he increased the Liberal Democrat vote by 3.2% in a tight marginal with only 350 votes separating the Labour and Conservative Parties.

He is married with two teenage children. His wife, Kate works as the medical director of St Luke’s Hospice in Winsford.

Dr Hirst has lived in Middlewich for 19 years and enjoys gardening, walking and eating out.

He took early retirement from the medical profession, where he worked as a locum consultant physician, in 2004.

Peter was a Congleton Borough Councillor from 1999-2002. During this period he became vice-chair of the Economic Development committee.

Dr Hirst stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate in the European Elections in the North West in 2009.

His political interests include the environment, education, health, preserving local communities, promoting economic prosperity, agriculture, transport, housing and electoral reform.

Lee SLAUGHTER, UKIP

(No further information at present)

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