Leigh candidates set out priorities ahead of general election

With less than three weeks to go, they have set out what issues they would concentrate on if they were elected.

Jo Platt, Labour

The former Astley Mosley Common councillor was elected as Leigh MP two years ago, securing 56 per cent of the vote and winning by a majority of 9,554.

She said: “I'm immensely proud to stand for re-election in my home constituency as a local working-class woman who lives in Leigh with my two children.

"I know exactly what our towns needs to thrive and work for the hardworking many.

"My priority has always been to bring the best out of our community and unlock our incredible potential.

"But we've been held back by the Conservatives and endured a lost decade of cuts that have prevented the transformation we need.

"Over the last two years in Parliament, my transport campaign has brought us closer to restoring rail connectivity than at any point since our train stations were closed 50 years ago with three proposed stations to serve our towns.

"I’m standing as a strong, local voice in Parliament who stands up for our community and fights for the investment and infrastructure we need to rebuild, restore and renew our towns.”

James Grundy, Conservative

Lowton East councillor James Grundy is bidding for the second time to become Leigh's next MP.

He was runner-up in the 2017 election with 16,793 votes.

Among his policies, he wants to protect green belt land and have a debate over whether Leigh should go back to having its own council.

Cllr Grundy said: "I was educated here, grew up here and have worked here almost all my life, and I'm proud to represent my home village of Lowton on the council.

"As my highest priority, I'll vote to get Brexit done and end the gridlock that has been paralysing the country, then we can get on and deal with the issues that local people want to see sorted.

"We need to get on with reconnecting Leigh to the national rail network with a railway station, and with finishing the Atherleigh Way bypass.

"We need to get on with regenerating our town centres and getting more police onto our streets to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour.

"All these things and more need doing.

"Let's get Brexit done and fix our town."

Mark Clayton, Liberal Democrats

Mark Clayton has campaigned on many issues including human rights, transport, housing, education and to stay in the EU in 1975, before joining any party.

He has stood for a seat in the EU Parliament elections three times and helped the Liberal Democrats gain two MEPs as a regional agent this year.

Mr Clayton is a member of Mensa and his parents were born in Wigan.

“Crime and anti-social behaviour have been on the rise across the borough and within Leigh especially," he said.

"Cuts to policing, social care and education are all contributing factors to this rise and it's imperative we act to improve all these areas so Leythers can feel safe to walk the streets.”

James Melly, Brexit Party

James Melly is campaigning on his party's clear message of getting the UK to leave the EU.

A resounding 64 per cent of residents in the borough voted Leave in the EU referendum in 2016.

Mr Melly, 43 said: “I was born in Wigan and have lived in and around Leigh for most of my life.

“I’m not a career politician. I am just a working class man who wants the best for my home town.

“In my current job I work to help tenants and work closely with the local councils and Universal Credit everyday to help prevent homelessness. I understand the problems both working people and unemployed people face.

“As a family we also have a small business so I also understand the challenges small business owners face."

He added: “It is time Leigh has someone like me as an MP who will work hard to improve the lives of people.

"It is wrong that some people just want to further their own career and never be seen in the area once they have been elected.

“The town doesn’t have an A&E department and doesn’t’ even have a train station which I strongly believe we should have.

"This great and proud town should be benefitting from the success of Manchester.

“I will listen to what people want and fight for this town. I don’t want another 20 years to pass by with no improvement.

“I believe Parliament does not want working class people like me in government as I will represent the people not the elite but it’s time for something new and I want to get Leigh the help it deserves."

Leon Peters, UKIP

Leon Peters stood at the local elections in May as his party's candidate for the Leigh South seat, finishing in third place behind Labour and the Conservatives.

He has now been selected to represent UKIP at a higher level.

Mr Peters said: "I was born in Leigh and have continued to live, work and raise my family here.

"I love this town and I have seen our once proud communities eroded under a Tory Government and Labour councils. We have been consistently let down by lack of investment, service cuts and false promises.

"Vote UKIP for a fresh vision and let’s start putting the people of our towns first.

"For example, I would champion and fight for increased funding for the NHS, social care, infrastructure and schools.

"I would be against service cuts, uncontrolled immigration and costly unnecessary projects such as HS2.

"In the 2017 election Labour held the Leigh constituency by stating they would respect the referendum. They did not.

"Labour is a remain party.

"UKIP offer true leave voters a home."

Ann Maureen O'Bern

Pro-Brexit candidate Ann Maureen O'Bern has worked at Leigh Library for 32 years.

She said: "I love my job but decided to stand as an independent candidate in Leigh as I felt the democratic vote for Brexit of the majority of people was not being respected.

"If we don't uphold a democratic vote we are not a democracy.

"Many people including myself are very disillusioned and no longer trust mainstream parties to listen to us.

"If elected this is what I would like to do in Leigh and the surrounding areas:

• To work with the council, police and the community to tackle the anti social behaviour and substance abuse issues that are having such a negative effect on peoples lives.

• To look at the homeless issue that wont be resolved without support for mental health and substance abuse problems.

• A training programme or employment for all school leavers who at the moment are not in work or education.

• Campaign for more central government funds for social care, public services and the NHS with strict guidelines to prevent waste.

• To look at ways to support business and regenerate our town centres and make them greener and more environmentally friendly.

• To follow the lead of the people of Leigh by asking what their particular concerns are and what they want for their town. I will hold weekly surgeries and regular public meetings and act upon any feedback I get.

"I promise to donate at least 15 per cent of my salary to community projects and to actively be involved with these."