Epping Forest candidates set out why you should vote for them

The seat has only ever been in the Conservative Party’s hands, and Eleanor Laing, who currently holds the seat, has increased her majority year on year since 1997.

The constituency voted overwhelmingly to leave the European Union last summer.

The district council is made up of a large Conservative majority.

Here your candidates will set out why you should vote for them:

Eleanor Laing, Conservative

“This is an extraordinary time in British politics. A time of turmoil and change.

On Thursday 8th June you will have your say in deciding on the direction in

which you want our country to go.

“Having had the privilege of representing Epping Forest in the House of

Commons for twenty years, I have met, helped, worked with and talked to

many, many people who live in our area. You have told me about your hopes

and fears for the future. I share your ambition to build a country that is

stronger, fairer, more united and more outward-looking than ever before.

“Voting Conservative is the only way to make sure that Britain gets the best deal

from the EU. Voting Conservative is the only way to give everyone in our

country the brightest opportunity for the future.

“I sincerely hope that I can count on your vote”.

Simon Heap, Green Party

“Trying to grow our economy endlessly is impossible, destructive to the planet and demonstrates a lack of imagination. Smaller can be better.

“I joined the Green Party because it does offer an alternative current crop of established parties. If Brexit has showed us anything it is that there is an appetite for change from what exists. Clearly people feel ever more remote from decision makers. If elected I will push for better ideas, better science and an inclusive society and for more powers at the local level.

Hospitals should be smaller and more local. Schools should be more numerous and therefore with smaller class sizes. Testing is not needed if the administration done by teachers was reduced. Let teachers teach and children be children.

This election is crucial to how we develop as a society. We must not stand aside and let things happen just because there is a business case for it. We are a rich nation and we can build on our past to make the future.”

Tom Hall, Young People’s Party

“The Young People’s Party is a party committed to tax reform. We feel that the offerings from the mainstream parties are just tinkering the edges of a tax system. We felt there was no option but to start up our own party.

“We think that the tax system is the wrong way round. We would switch it round. We would relieve burdens from those who go out to work.

“We stand for everybody who contributes to the economy. We are against the people in society who collect at the cost of everybody else.

“We are the Young People’s Party because we feel the policies of the government now are disadvantaging the youth. They are the generation who have been priced out of the possibility of home ownership,

“We think there are important facts that are not being talked about in mainstream politics. We will bring them to the front of political discussion.”

Patrick O’Flynn, UKIP

“As a long standing campaigner for Brexit, I can be relied upon to battle for the full Brexit that electors in Epping Forest voted for last year.

“I will also campaign against the Tory plan to charge people huge sums for their social care and take the money from their estates if they are unlucky enough to develop dementia or another debilitating condition in later life.

“My party believes in ZERO net immigration and we think this is the only way to turn back the tide of overdevelopment in the green belt.

“We also believe in tough law and order and have a costed plan to increase police numbers by 20,000 - which would mean hundreds more officers in Essex and lead to mothballed police stations being re-opened.

“UKIP has also outlined a raft of policies to tackle the threat of radical Islam, including banning the wearing of full face coverings in public places and shutting down schools found to be teaching Islamist propaganda.

“We will also cut foreign aid by £11bn and pour all of that money into the NHS and social care budgets. A vote for me is a vote for common sense.”

Liam Preston, Labour

“This Tory Government has overseen the biggest cuts to our public services in a generation. The NHS and social care is in crisis, our schools are struggling under the weight of the budget cuts and cuts to police budgets are putting our safety at risk.

“People here need a local representative that will put them first. I will work tirelessly between now and June to let local people know that this general election will be a choice between a Labour Party that will stand up for the people of Epping Forest, or a Conservative Party that only looks after the privileged few.”

“As someone local to the constituency, I know that if elected on June 8, he will put this area first and will be a committed and local MP. That’s what Epping Forest deserves.

Liberal Democrat Jon Whitehouse has been contacted for comment.