Still undecided on who to vote for in tomorrow’s General Election? The six election candidates for the Wells constituency, which covers Burnham-On-Sea, have been asked by the BBC to make three pledges on what their priorities would be if they were elected. These are their replies…
Jake Baynes, UK Independence Party
“My first pledge is to campaign and support against overhead and oversized pylons with an underground alternative in areas of concern for social and environmental impact. This focus in strategy will be applied for all forms of energy construction where applicable.
Secondly, I will be campaigning for the protection and support of pubs and small businesses through cutting red tape and campaigning against new legislation for the ridiculous drink-drive limit which will be the final death nail of many pubs.
My third pledge would be to support local residents in home ownership in their local communities which will also protect the future of such communities as young persons and their families are the future.”
Richard Boyce, British National Party
“My three promises to people in Wells are the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, the withdrawal from the European Union, and immigration.
On the money side of things, we could do a lot of things; with the money we save on the European Union – that £45m a day could go and do a lot of things for the NHS, education, jobs etc.”
Chris Briton, The Green Party
“I promise to campaign vigorously to re-open those post offices which misguided government policy has shut down and eventually increase their number.
Two: Resume investment in council and other social housing and allow local authorities to use receipts from sales to fund new, affordable accommodation. We would end the right to buy and introduce the right to rent. People facing severe difficulties with paying their mortgage and facing repossession should have the right to rent their existing home as council housing.
Finally, I will continue my opposition to the building of an incinerator at Haybridge which will only increase pollution and HGV traffic on small country roads.”
David Heathcoat-Amory, Conservative
“My first pledge is to stand up for Somerset. At present we get less then our fair share of government funding for things like education and in other areas.
Second to help small businesses on which we rely here for our local employment. The Conservative pledge to drop Labour’s national insurance contributions is essential here – that means a change of government.
Third to protect our landscape and our precious environment. That means for instance no to the giant planned pylons across the Somerset Levels and the Mendips. That too needs a change of government to achieve.”
Andy Merryfield, Labour
“I would challenge income inequality and that includes the Robin Hood tax on business currency exchange which would provide billions to spend here and in developing countries. Also to increase the minimum wage and index-linked pensions while challenging massive salaries.
Secondly, I’d promote the new planning legislation to allow parish councils to identify housing needs and build houses like Michael Eavis has done in Pilton. I’d encourage other landowners to do the same.
And thirdly, I’d encourage jobs based on the new green economy to combat climate change, linked to engineering businesses, further education, colleges and training courses.”
Tessa Munt, Liberal Democrats
“My three main pledges to the people in Wells are that I want to stand for change. Not change for changes sake, but there’s a job to be done and I want to be one of the new group of MPs restoring the integrity of parliament.
The second thing I stand for is fairness, and that’s having a fair tax system, having a fair chance for people in education, having a fair green future and essentially fair politics and that would include a fair voting system.
And the third thing I’m going to stand for is I want to be your full time MP and part of that is making sure I come to you so that you don’t have to come and find me when you’ve got problems.”
