Candidates standing to be MP for York Outer have set out their stalls ahead of the general election this week.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to six of the nine candidates standing in York Outer about their stance on issues specific to the constituency.
The candidates put gave their views on a range of topics including housing, health, education and transport.
Julian Sturdy – Conservatives
Julian Sturdy was a farmer and councillor in Harrogate prior to becoming York Outer’s MP in 2010.
The Conservative candidate said his record included helping to get plans to dual the York Outer Ring Road dualled and a new station for Haxby.
Mr Sturdy said: “My next campaign is going to be trying to get better health facilities for the area. York District Hospital has reached the end of its lifespan.
“We really need that large project to be delivered for the city.
“The state and safety of the roads has been coming up on the doorstep and we need to do more to improve them.
“People are also concerned about healthcare and GP appointments, the Conservatives have delivered a huge amount of funding to the NHS but we need that funding to get to frontline services.”
Luke Charters – Labour
Labour candidate Luke Charters worked at the Bank of England and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and currently works in the private sector on complaince and fraud protection.
He said raising his family in the York area had given him first hand experience of the challenges of renting, getting GP appointments and accessing the NHS locally.
Mr Charters said: “Labour’s national mission is to get the NHS back onto its feet and that means bringing more GPs, dentists and mental health practioners in schools into York Outer and bringing waiting lists down.
“I also want to tackle sewage dumping in our rivers, we’re putting water companies on notice and we’re going to bring in more monitoring and look at sanctions and criminal prosecutions.
“We also want to build new homes in the right places and hold developers to account to end the housing crisis in York in a sensible way.
“I’m concerned about antisocial behaviour in the Haxby and Wigginton area where I grew up and I’m proud of Labour’s fully-costed plan to bring named community police officers back to tackle it.”
Andrew Hollyer – Liberal Democrats
Andrew Hollyer worked in town planning and is the sitting councillor for York’s Haxby and Wigginton ward.
He said his record of fighting for better local GP services, the new station planned at Haxby and resisting over-development showed he would work hard if elected York Outer’s MP.
The Liberal Democrat said: “One of the biggest issues I’ve heard about on the doorstep is getting GP appointments, I’ve heard some harrowing stories and addressing that and dental deserts in places like York Outer is at the heart of our manifesto.
“Labour’s stance on planning seems a bit up in the air and it seems as though they want to rip up the current system, we want to bring in a community planning system that would give local people a proper say on the infrastructure they want to see coming along with developments.
“There’s anger on the doorstep about the imposition on green waste charges locally which we’ve said is a green bin tax, the delay seems cynical and politically-motivated.
“With Labour looking like they’re going to get a big majority overall and the Conservatives retreating to ever-safer seats, our pitch is for people to vote Liberal Democrat to get change locally.”
Michael Kearney – Green Party
Michael Kearney moved to York to train to be a teacher and currently works in education locally.
He said he witnessing the impact of austerity on education and children had inspired him to get involved in politics and stand in this year’s general election.
The Green candidate said: “The major parties haven’t been honest about funding in the public sector which has been cut to the bone and local authorities’ budgets have been slashed.
“So many issues can only be resolved by increasing public sector funding, we want local authorities to be able to focus on things like public health so they can do more preventative work rather than just treating the symptoms.
“There’s a lot of anger on the doorstep about the NHS, the Greens are pledging to put £8bn into the health service, the largest amount promised by any political party.
“The Greens would give local authorities control over bus services, the current system isn’t working for anyone in York and the operators are only thinking about getting money out of the most profitable roots.”
David Eadington – Yorkshire Party
Retired former lift engineer and photographer David Eadington currently volunteers on the North York Moors Railway.
He said he would fight to get more funding and power for York and the wider region if elected.
Mr Eadington said: “I believe Yorkshire’s had a terrible deal from Westminster, we should have a regional Parliament that controls education, health and social care, transport and the environment.
“I think rail transport from York out to Leeds and over the Pennines needs to be improved and we should reopen the direct lines to Beverley and Bridlington, local cycle lanes should also be improved.
“We need to stop the pollution of the River Ouse, the Yorkshire Party would stop water companies from paying dividends to shareholders and raising chief executives’ salaries if they dump sewage in waterways.
“I also think that because so many people in York live in flats and terraced houses they should have access to an allotment so they can have somewhere outside to go.”
Keith Hayden – Independent
Keith Hayden is a retired teacher who has lived in York for eight years.
He said he wanted society to return to Christian values based on the Bible.
The independent said: “The villages surrounding York had huge amounts of potential to become an example of good living, sound business and compassion to all, including the disadvantaged.
“I want to see all lives protected and nurtured, and encourage everyone to discover how our gifts, skills and attributes can help improve life at home, in work, community and wider society.
“I want to recognise the sanctity of human life, respect marriage, family and caring for others and for us to honour our responsibilities within our communities.”
Reform UK’s John Crispin-Bailey and independents Hal Mayne and Darren Borrows did not respond to requests to speak to LDRS