Mike COOKSLEY - Independent

TOURISM chief Mike Cooksley is hoping to make the change from Government advisor to a member of parliament after announcing his intention to stand as an Independent candidate in the battle for the Weaver Vale constituency.

Heathercliffe Country House hotel owner Mike, 63, of Onston Lane, Cuddington - who was chairman of the Weaver Valley Management Board, chairman of Visit Chester and Cheshire, and on the Inland Waterways Advisory Council - is married with three children and one grandchild.

He said: "It comes down to a simple choice for voters in Weaver Vale, more of the same party political stitch up or having the courage to vote for someone truly independent, unfettered by party bosses at Westminster but with the credibility, capability, experience and dedication to deliver real change and represent the true wishes and aspirations of the local people.

"I want to give voters a credible alternative, someone who knows the constituency well, that will champion the cause of central Cheshire and represent constituents as a true independent."

Graham EVANS - Conservative

CAMPAIGNING Conservative Weaver Vale candidate Graham Evans says becoming MP for the constituency will be the culmination of three years hard work.

Sales and marketing manager Mr Evans, 45, of Macclesfield, a former Cheshire policeman, has laid the foundations for a successful election, visiting homeowners and campaigning against post office closures, incinerators and improving the local health service.

"I have the same concerns, keeping jobs, paying the mortgage and having a decent pension," said Graham, who is married to Cheryl and has three children Sophie, three, Tom, seven, and George, 13.

"People think all the candidates only arrive each election time but I have been knocking on doors for the last two and a half years, introducing myself and asking for support.

"I think I have a good chance. I have done as much as I can to give the election a real chance."

Mr Evans believes he will need a 6.35% swing to take the Weaver Vale seat from Labour, who have represented the region in Westminster for 13 years.

Peter HAMPSON - Liberal Democrat

PARLIAMENTARY hopeful Peter Hampson is bidding to become the country’s youngest MP by representing the Liberal Democrats in Weaver Vale.

Focusing on transport, regeneration and development, the 23-year-old - who studied law and economics at Aberystwyth University before completing a post graduate degree in legal practice - works for the Co-operative bank in Stockport.

He said: "I have been going around and talking to people, leafleting through doors.

"The way things have developed the field seems to have opened right up and nationally too I think.

"I have both local and national issues in mind, but first you have to be a good constituency MP and I intend to follow in the footsteps Mike Hall has made and have the same relationship with the electorate.

"I am focusing on regeneration of the local area and the economy, I will lobby for more funding and development in Weaver Vale.

"I will campaign for better public transport. If you are under travel in the area can be quite expensive and they aren’t the best services.

"The boundary commissions review will be key for Frodsham and Helsby and I believe each area should have their own councillor to focus on issues in their area."

Colin MARSH, BNP

EX-SERVICEMAN Colin Marsh, 43, a father of three and a grandfather of one, spends his time working with the British National Party and likes to unwind with his partner and family.

He said: "The BNP is the only main political party in Britain that has promised to end, and reverse, New Labour’s cultural Marxist experiment of mass immigration.

"By doing so we will ease the pressure on local councils that are having difficulty supporting British people in their towns and cities through lack of resources, resources that are being given away to people who have put nothing into our welfare system, but have somehow managed to get access to free housing and other benefits currently denied to people who were born here.

"Another promise the BNP has made is to withdraw our armed forces from the conflict in Afghanistan.

"Our young men and women are being sent, ill-equipped and underfunded, to fight and die in a conflict that does not, so far as we know, serve British interests.

"The BNP will expose the ‘climate change’ conspiracy for what it is – a means for the corrupt EU system to impose more taxes on an already over-burdened British taxpayer. The data used to underpin ‘climate change’ has been discredited, yet the other mainstream parties are falling over themselves to prove to the eco-lobby that they will do ‘more’ to combat climate change."

Paul REMFRY - UKIP

FAMILY man Paul Remfry, 47, of Congleton, a self-employed computer consultant and historian, is standing for UKIP.

He said: "In this country the number of people voting is continually dropping. I have been out on the streets talking to people about this and find the attitude is ‘it doesn’t matter who we vote for, the Government always gets in!’

"Now there is virtually no difference between the three main parties or the LibLabCon as they are increasingly called. They all agree they need to borrow more to get themselves out of debt. They all agree that we, the people of Great Britain, should be ruled by unelected bureaucrats in Brussels and that they should be paid more and more to do less and less. No wonder people are fed up.

"The answer lies in the pencil that will be in your hands in your local polling station! Unlike the other candidates I have signed a pledge on what I intend to do. Only your Conservative candidate has also replied to this pledge and he has refused to sign up to working for the people of his constituency and having a referendum on our continued membership of the EU.

"I therefore say that a vote for me and UKIP will be a vote to return your democracy to you."

Tom REYNOLDS, Independent

COMPANY director Tom Reynolds, 56, is married with four children and lives on Simons Lane, Frodsham, decided to stand in the General Election after becoming dissolusioned with mainstream political parties.

He said: "I'm out to win. I can deliver that change, in Weaver Vale.

"This election is about change not same-old, same-old!

"I did believe in the party system. I don't now.

"Now is the time for Independents to put constraints upon all parties.

"I voted Conservative from 1979 until 1992, watching the Tory party self-disintergrate by 1997.

"In 1997, I voted for Mike Hall and a squeaky-clean Labour who promised to drag politics from the gutter the Conservatives had put it into.

"By 2009 it became obvious that all Parliamentary parties treated us with contempt in the way they used expenses to bolster the salaries they regarded as inadequate. It has continued into 2010.

"I also decided to stand as an Independent because immigration and Traveller issues are not being dealt with, openly by the Labour, Conservative and LibDem parties in Weaver Vale.

"I also believe that my business experience will be of benefit to the regeneration of the area.

"It concerned me that the constituency might fall to the BNP because the constituents see the BNP as dealing with these issues the parties are trying to ignore.

"Current day politics reminds me of Mobile phone Networks.

"They spend a fortune telling us just how good they are. They use voiceovers, we trust to put this message across. The fact is, we all know these Networks are prone to failures and there is little choice between them. Are we that gullible?

"Putting a few Independents in amongst them, will scare the daylights out of them and shake them out of their cosy ways."

John STOCKTON - Labour

BATTLING John Stockton has already won the fight to be Labour’s candidate for Weaver Vale and is hoping for a similar victory in the General Election.

Halton Brook councillor and head of department at Halewood Centre for Learning John Stockton, 54, has been Labour constituency secretary for 15 years.

He said: "I know the issues, I know the area and I know the people. I live and breathe the issues.

"It would be an honour and a privilege to represent the constituency where I have lived for the last 23 years."

John, who is married and lives in Norton, has fought two elections, in 2001 and 2005.

"I will be striving to ensure that the Tories don’t take the seat, that mustn’t happen"

Following sitting MP Mike Hall’s decision to stand down, Cllr Stockton secured his place as Labour’s candidate beating former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott’s son David, ex-Ellesmere Port and Neston council leader Justin Madders, and Labour party policy officer Ben Johnson.

Howard THORP - Green Party

ENVIRONMENTALIST Howard Thorp, technical advisor for the Environment Agency, is standing for the Green Party as they make their first bid for the Weaver Vale constituency seat.

He said: "David Cameron is asking the electorate to vote for change, but if voters back him, New Labour or the Liberal Democrats, they will get more of the same - business as usual.

"The same failed economic policies that have lead to the current economic crisis and the banker’s bonus bonanza will be followed.

"The Green Party has policies that will not only help tackle climate change but also create hundreds of thousands of jobs through a Green New Deal.

"Vote Green for a fair society that meets the needs of everyone."

(Any further candidates will be added to this profile as we receive their details. If you are a candidate, or a representative, call our newsroom on 01244 606425 to submit information)