St Albans parliamentary candidates on why you should vote for them

Ahead of the General Election on December 12, five candidates will be contesting the seat which has been held by Anne Main for 14 years.

At the last election in May 2017, the Conservatives held 43 per cent of votes, the Lib Dems 32 per cent, Labour 13 per cent and the Green Party one per cent.

This year, the Lib Dems, Greens and Labour will be hoping to increase their support.

Here is what all the parliamentary candidates had to say:

Daisy Cooper, Liberal Democrat

St Albans deserves a strong local champion who shares our values.

I’ve campaigned with the Save St Albans Pubs campaign, and marched with locals for a Peoples Vote on the Brexit deal.

I’ve protested to protect the River Ver and to save Ellenbrook Fields, and I’ve organised community meetings on schools funding and children's mental health.

I set up a 1600+ strong commuter action group that influenced a Parliamentary inquiry.

I am also the only major party candidate who lives in St Albans, and the only real challenger for the seat. A vote for me is a vote for a strong local voice who will represent our values here at home and in Westminster.

After three years and three prime ministers the latest Brexit option will make the country poorer, weaker and at the mercy of Trump’s America. It’s a national humiliation. Enough is enough.

Liberal Democrats have an ambitious plan for the future.

First, we will Stop Brexit and invest the £50 billion Remain Bonus into public services.

Secondly, we’ll tackle the climate emergency, taking the radical action we need to stop irreversible damage in the next 10 years.

Thirdly, we’ll invest in our schools, NHS and social care. We will recruit 20,000 more teachers and restore schools funding to 2015 levels.

We’ll ensure mental health support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And we’ll ensure social care is properly funded.

A vote for me on the 12th December is a vote to stop Brexit and for a brighter future.

Simon Grover, Green Party

I was born and bred in St Albans and have lived here most of my life. I’ve been a Green Party councillor in St Albans since 2011, re-elected twice.

As a councillor I’ve notched up dozens of achievements, from solar panels on leisure centres to blue badge parking at the train station.

I now play a key role in developing the council's response to the climate emergency.

Greens are fully for Remain and demand a People’s Vote on the deal.

As part of a Remain arrangement, we’re standing aside in 45 seats. It’s an attempt to compensate for our broken electoral system.

But we’re standing in 500 other seats, so people can vote for our radical policies to address the climate emergency and social injustice.

We can fix climate change, but we need to be bold and fast.

We need system change, at national government level.

The good news is that much of this change will make our lives better immediately, not just in the long term.

Warm homes, green jobs, clean energy, less polluted streets, cheap and effective public transport. Everybody wants these things, and everybody benefits.

We also need to fix our crumbling, desperately unequal society.

We need publicly-owned utilities, as shorter working week, free public childcare and an end to tuition fees.

If you like these ideas, please vote for them. Every Green vote on 12 December makes it more likely that we’ll achieve them.

If you’d like to help make it happen, contact me at simon.grover@gmail.com

Rebecca Lury, Labour

I want to win this seat back for the Labour Party, because in St Albans, you deserve an MP who will stand up for you and represent your views in Parliament.

Growing up under a Labour Government showed me first-hand the amazing difference that Labour can make in power.

It's why I became a school governor, why I volunteered with a domestic violence charity, and why I became a local councillor, because in each of those instances, I have had the opportunity to ensure that all individuals are being looked after and supported.

But there are still too many people being left behind. I've been a councillor for seven years and am currently deputy leader of Southwark Council.

Every single day, I speak to residents who are being failed by this Government.

I'm out now in St Albans, where the story is no different. Local people feel let down, and this General Election is the opportunity for real change.

At this General Election, by voting Labour, you will be voting to put money back into the NHS, local schools and our police.

Anne Main, Conservative

It has been an honour to represent St Albans for 14 years and be a strong voice for residents in Westminster.

I have consistently fought for real change. This includes leading the campaign for school funding, an issue important to me as a former teacher myself.

Every child should have access to a great education and that is why I have lobbied at all levels for funding.

I am delighted that St Albans’ schools will now see increases in per pupil funding above new minimum levels.

I believe that our transport links are vital. I campaigned for a £6m revamp of City station and have supported the re-opening of the Bricket Wood passing loop.

I recognise the importance of urgent action when it comes to our environment. Defending local rivers, wildlife and Green Belt areas is a priority for me.

In 2018, I set up the APPG on the Prevention of Plastic Waste, a Parliamentary cross party group committed to tackling plastic pollution.

I have also campaigned against Luton Airport expansion and noise pollution.

Positive and lasting change takes years to achieve, such as my opposition to the Park Street Rail Freight Interchange, but residents know they can rely on me to engage with their most pressing concerns with dedication and tenacity.

Should I be re-elected, I will continue to campaign on issues residents’ care about most: education, business, affordable housing, transport, and the environment.

I will fight for a brighter future for St Albans and demand better for resident.

Jules Sherrington, Indepedent

I’m standing in the election to properly serve the people of St Albans, who are disenchanted with the absence of a personal touch when it comes to representing individuals issues.

I’ve lived in St Albans for the past 25 years and work locally, having relocated from London, my place of birth. I'm the only candidate who will freely vote for issues affecting you, as I’d be unfettered by the dictates of any party whip.

I will be able to debate on legislation cross party, giving you a wider and direct input on legislation that may be onerous and unsuitable in practice.

My surgery will be open to every constituent and I will fight your corner passionately.

I’m an inventor, with patents/design registrations and IP on a number of projects. My latest project is the Zebra 2K. Councillors have indicated their support in trialling the upgrade on a live road test for evaluation and viability with a view to rolling it out across Hertfordshire.

This project is driven from a desire to give back to the community and would be my input to solving a perennial problem that I recognised in 1998 whilst driving a bus during the hours of darkness.

Climate change is somewhat of a ‘free radical’ but as a problem solver, I’m not shy to provide input to solutions.

A vote for me is a vote for you to be engaged at the forefront of politics, without needing to experience any disruption in your daily lives.