Braintree election candidates explain why you should vote for them

James Cleverly, Conservative

I campaigned and voted to leave the EU. I want to get Brexit done and honour the promise everyone made during the referendum, to abide by the result.

My mother was a midwife in the NHS and my father owned a small business, so I understand the need for a strong economy to fund public services.

This is why I champion local businesses and voted for increased funding for schools, NHS and the police.

I support Boris’s commitment to 20,000 extra police across the UK, including hundreds of extra officers for Essex.

I meet regularly with local GP surgeries and have pushed for extra resources to address the problems that some have had. I will ensure that the extra £33.9 billion NHS funding gets to the front line. The increased per pupil funding in the Conservative manifesto will make a real difference to our schools.

Infrastructure is essential. I lobbied transport ministers to get investment for the A120, and I will keep pushing Greater Anglia for new trains on the Braintree line.

We now enjoy better mobile phone coverage in the constituency and the Conservative Government has announced money to speed up the provisions of super-fast broadband.

If re-elected I will continue to be your voice in Westminster, and work in the best interest of my constituents and country.

'I'm standing to be the true voice of the people'

Alan Dorkins, Independent

I have lived in the local area since 1985 and got married in Braintree and my children went to school in Steeple Bumpstead then on to Hedingham School.

I love the rural life the surrounding villages of Braintree provide and enjoy what the town has to offer.

I am standing as an independent because I am fed up with politics and the current batch of politicians.

I seek to understand the needs and desires of people in their everyday lives.

People have told me they want their MP to be their true voice.

I do not have to toe a party line so I can truly reflect my constituents’ needs.

The current cross-party fighting has caused the public to have very little sympathy for the tough job our politicians do.

There must be a better way to represent local issues in Parliament and I’d like to find it with people who want to do the same.

I voted leave in the referendum.

However if elected I would put the wishes of my constituents first and foremost.

My aim as a MP would be to listen to local people then deliver in Parliament."

'I'll be honest, outspoken champion'

Joshua Garfield, Labour

I am standing in this election because I believe that Braintree, Halstead and surrounding villages deserve decent, honest, and outspoken representation in Parliament.

Across the constituency, 28 of our schools have lost an average of £143 per pupil funding, and our hospital trust, Mid Essex, is falling well behind on its targets for patients seen at A&E, and referrals for cancer treatment.

Since the Tories have been in government, we have seen our public services squeezed to the bone. People are suffering.

Our schools should be properly resourced to give our children the best possible education and start in life.

We should be able to rely on hospitals for care and not face an NHS starved of staff and funding.

I went to school in Essex. I am a local councillor in east London, where I work every day to help families who have been hit hardest by austerity.

Our policies to hire the NHS staff we need, fund schools properly, build social homes and properly tackle the climate crisis are Britain’s best hope on December 12.

As your MP, I pledge to be an honest and outspoken champion for you in Westminster, and campaign on the most pressing issues facing our society, and our country.”

'We need big changes but we see no progress'

Dom Graham, Liberal Democrat

I have the honour and privilege of being the Liberal Democrat candidate for Braintree in the General Election on December 12.

I live in Colchester and I’ve worked in Braintree town centre for more than five years. My wife is an Essex girl and my children were born and raised in Essex.

They regularly tell me I am an adopted Essex-boy.

Outside of Brexit, my main priority is the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis.

More locally, I am also very keen to see improved transport links in and around Braintree, with upgrades to the notorious A120 a key part of my vision.

The incumbent MP, Mr Cleverly, has been talking about the A120 since he entered Parliament, and yet no progress has been made.

We have a Conservative Government. Every MP in Essex is Conservative.

James Cleverly and his neighbour Priti Patel attend cabinet. In recent years, Conservative Government ministers have represented our neighbours in Maldon, Colchester and Saffron Walden. And yet no progress has been made.

We have a Conservative Government, a Conservative county council and a Conservative district council. And yet no progress has been made.

After years of inaction, the people of Braintree must ask themselves: why should I trust any promises from the Conservatives?

At this moment in time, there is a climate crisis, a justice crisis, an education crisis, an NHS crisis and a social care crisis. We can’t keep doing the same things then wondering how we got here.

We need big changes in this country and those changes can start with a Liberal Democrat MP in Braintree.

'No-deal needed to end Brexit fiasco'

Dave Mansell, Independent

It would be a great honour to serve the people of Braintree as an independent Member of Parliament.

My main focus is getting the Brexit fiasco over with by just leaving with no deal, leaving all the EU institutions and not paying £39 billion.

The Brexit Party has been stood down in Braintree, limiting the voters’ choice to Remain or ‘Brexit In Name Only’, so I am standing to give people the opportunity to vote for a full no deal Brexit, and become a free independent nation again. Sixty-one per cent here voted to leave.

I am also campaigning on local issues and would like to make Braintree a happy and prosperous place. Looking after the environment is a priority, as well as keeping our libraries and police stations open, lowering business rates to help small businesses and pubs, improving the dreadful traffic congestion in Braintree, fighting crime and any common sense measures which improve people’s lives.

I want more NHS funding, more freedom of speech, proportional representation and sensible controlled immigration.

I am against foreign wars, nuclear weapons, tuition fees, GM foods, fracking and cruelty to animals.

I have lived and worked in Braintree all my life, and for 11 years I was a staff photographer at the Braintree and Witham Times.

I am now semi-retired.

Joanne Beavis, Independant 

In May, following the District Council local elections, I created the Residents for Braintree District Group (R4BDg).  The Group signed a Coalition Working Agreement with the Green Party to

Form the Green and Independent Coalition Group.  The Group is now the main Opposition Group on Braintree District Council.  I am delighted the Group selected me as its Green and Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Braintree in the General Election on Thursday 12th December.    

What matters most to me?  To protect and improve the living environment for the People and Communities of the Braintree Constituency with a priority towards the existing communities.  I oppose the Garden Communities.  The future development of the Braintree Constituency must be Community Led.  I would support organic and sustainable growth, well designed and where people want to live. We must resolve the issue of congestion and improve public, community services in our existing communities BEFORE the ‘so called’ Garden Communities are built.  I will be a har- working, experienced and credible MP for the People and Communities of the Braintree Constituency.