Watch Eastleigh candidates video

[0s] Who are you and why are standing?

[30s] Hi I'm Ben Parry and I am standing as the candidate for the Green Party.

[33s] And honestly, with every bone in my body, I wish I wasn't standing.

[38s] In truth I wished there was no Green party, because it would mean that the main parties in this country, the ones that we have trusted with our pasts,

[44s] would have given us all a fair, healthy and equitable present and a future filled with hope.

[49s] But we don't have that.

[51s] We have an increasingly broken present, and if we continue business as normal, our children are facing the bleakest of futures,

[57s] environmentally and societally.

[59s] We need urgent change, real change and the hope that goes with it.

[63s] So I'm standing for just that, change in hope.

[67s] I am standing the Green Party, the only party that recognizes that the triumvirate of the economy, society and environment is symbiotic.

[76s] The only part that truly understands that a healthy economy can only exist alongside a health workforce and a heathy environment.

[84s] Hello, my name is Dan Shearer.

[86s] I'm standing to be our Labour MP for Eastleigh.

[92s] It's a fantastic place to live and to work, but it's being badly let down after 14 years of the Conservatives and 31 years at the Liberal Democrats.

[111s] Hello, I'm Liz Jarvis and I am standing to be the MP for Eastley because Eastly deserves a strong local champion who will put our community first.

[121s] I know from my conversations with you on the doorsteps that after 14 years of Conservative government it feels as though nothing is working properly anymore.

[129s] From not being able to get a GP or NHS dentist appointment, to the rising cost of mortgages and rents, the sewage being dumped in our rivers,

[139s] and not being able to get hold of a police officer when you need one.

[142s] And I know some of you may be feeling disillusioned with politicians and think they're all the same.

[147s] Well, I what it's like to worry about keeping a roof over your family's heads.

[152s] I now what's it like, to care for an elderly relative and I no what its like worry what the future holds.

[158s] Im standing to be the MP for Eastleigh so that I can be a strong voice for our community in parliament and to everybody in Eastley the fair deal they deserve.

[168s] Hello, my name's Sam Joyntson.

[170s] I'm the Conservative Party's candidate to be the Member of Parliament for Eastleigh.

[174s] i'm doing this because i am a local guy who is fed up with the professionalism and competence of so many of the MPs we've seen up in Westminster over the

[181s] course of last few years from across the parties.

[184s] In contrast, I am local, i' m professional and i've repeatedly delivered for our community and I think that's why I would make a fantastic Member for Parliament

[192s] in our area.

[193s] Hi, I'm Clive Fawcett and I am standing as your Reform UK candidate in the general election.

[199s] I stand because I've been sick to death of our politicians over decades making promises to us that they don't keep.

[208s] We need to run the country like a business.

[211s] Reform UK has a raft of candidates that have a proven track record of delivery, running their own businesses, working in their specialised fields like healthcare,

[222s] education.

[223s] We needs experienced people to the run country.

[227s] Good morning, my name is Rusker Ching, I'm a local entrepreneur based here at the Lapstone pub in Farrow, Courtney.

[234s] I have a passion for connection in the community and making things happen.

[244s] fed up with how the country's being run, how career politicians and political parties, same old same, bickering promises nothing gets anywhere.

[253s] It's time for a change.

[255s] Corporations are too intertwined with government and it's a time that local people deal with local issues.

[263s] How do we do that?

[265s] is from now.

[267s] Direct democracy.

[270s] I, standing as a candidate, would represent this constituency and implement direct democracy voting and polling for issues that are going through parliament

[283s] on a daily, weekly basis.

[284s] How long have you lived in this Constituency?

[288s] I've lived and raised a family in the constituency for over 15 years now In that time, I've taught in local schools and sixth-form colleges,

[296s] including Barton and Pebble.

[297s] I have set up and currently run an easily-based UK-wide traffic data company, and I volunteered for nine years at a local martial arts club.

[307s] Currently, i'm a coach at local junior football club So this is a question I've been asked quite a bit over the past few months.

[314s] And the answer is yes, I live locally with my wife, Cicely.

[317s] We got married locally last year, and my extended family has lived across Eastleigh, Bishopstoke and Hampshire for decades.

[327s] I moved to Eastleboro after the pandemic, And I have been working to support our communities across easily ever since I been campaigning on the issues

[335s] which matter to you, including fighting to keep Winchester A&E open, and stopping development at the Adjesbo and Velma farm and better access to GP appointments

[345s] and NHS dentists and holding Southern Water to account and working alongside our counsellors to support residents on a wide range of issues.

[355s] I live in Eastleigh, my family live on Eastlea and, put simply, Eastley is the place that I call home.

[361s] Our current address is about 10 minutes walk from Eastleigh Town Centre.

[364s] We lived there for about a year or so, and it would be the honour of my life to represent our community, the place I call home in Parliament.

[373s] Question number two, how long have I lived in the constituency?

[377s] I've lived on Eastlea constituency now for 12 years since 2012. I moved down to Hampshire from Manchester in 2011, started working in Eastley in twenty

[388s] eleven and moved here in 2012 I had a couple of years in the town centre and ten years ago actually, very soon, I bought my property up in Chandler's Ford.

[399s] Yes, I was born and bred in Swayville in Southampton.

[403s] I've been involved in the constituency in manufacturing since 1996 in Fair Oak.

[410s] It's now relocated to Charles Ford, where it's a national manufacturing unit.

[417s] And I own the Lapstone pub here in Faroque.

[422s] Which of your party's policies would you like to change?

[426s] I would absolutely end high-stakes testing at primary school, but at secondary school I do believe it has its place.

[433s] However, I WOULD change those tests to become regular and modular, rather than singular and summative, thereby taking away the extraordinary pressure of

[441s] a single set of exams at the end of year 11. I also believe that there is a place for Ofsted, because there needs to be accountability in any organisation

[449s] or institution.

[450s] But, Ofstead as an entity I believe needs a radical rethink, so that it is the body that is entirely supportive rather than punitive.

[458s] So everything that the Labour Party is putting forward today at this election is fully costed and it's fully funded.

[465s] We are telling you what we are going to do and we're telling how we will deliver it.

[470s] Of course there is loads that we would love to be able to but I'm not prepared to lie to you.

[476s] I am not prepare to dishonest with you I think it's time for politicians to be honest with the public around what is possible in this general election.

[485s] That's what you will get from me as your MP.

[489s] The Liberal Democrats announced our manifesto this week and confirmed our policies, including giving everyone a new right to see a GP within seven days

[497s] or 24 hours if it is urgent, free personal care to enable people to stay in their own homes for longer, an emergency home energy upgrade programme and

[508s] extending free school meals for all children in poverty.

[510s] All our policies are properly costed and designed to make life fairer for everyone in Eastley and across the UK.

[518s] A policy I'd like to see changed at the national level is for the tax thresholds on income tax to be increased.

[524s] It's quite clear at this General Election that the Conservative Party is the only party focused on cutting our taxes, but I want to it go a step further

[533s] through the course of the next Parliament.

[535s] As soon as it's fiscally responsible to do so, I will be campaigning hard for thresholds to raised so we can keep more money in our pocket.

[543s] Actually, none of them.

[545s] I think Reform UK have got a full raft of common sense policies, something that's been sadly lacking in this country for about three decades.

[554s] They're all policies that appeal to ordinary people, low tax and high growth, less immigration.

[562s] This is the immigration election, whether people want to recognise that or not.

[567s] We need to start talking about the elephant in the room there.

[571s] Being truly independent means you don't have to answer to the party political machines that create the policies and having to toe the line as to what is

[579s] being said.

[580s] What I believe in is direct democracy.

[582s] This is a system where the electorate have a say throughout the term, not just every five years.

[587s] I intend to set up a poll to have involvement so votes can be passed through parliament on bills that are created.

[597s] Name the one piece of local infrastructure proper cycle tracks between the villages and the constituency hubs that are safe and self-contained.

[610s] I know first-hand how dangerous they currently are because I spent time in A&E a few years ago after being driven over whilst on my bike on one of the

[620s] cycle-tracks in Eastley.

[621s] Very lucky to be here.

[622s] It would be great if we could fund a network of cycle paths and help take pressure off our over-congested roads.

[628s] So as part of our fully funded and fully costed manifesto, the Labour Party is wanting to revolutionise our local bus networks.

[637s] That would mean getting a direct bus route directly to Southampton General Hospital.

[642s] Currently it takes two or three buses, depending on where you're coming from, to get to Southampton General.

[648s] I speak to so many vulnerable residents locally who've told me that this is a big concern for them.

[653s] So that's one of the local infrastructure projects I'd hope to introduce as your member apartment.

[660s] It has to be the Chicken Hall Lane bypass.

[662s] The Conservative government has utterly neglected vital transport projects both here and in Eastley and across the country and here in easily our community

[670s] has been taken for granted by the Conservative Party and Conservative controlled Hampshire County Council has failed to fix even the most basic infrastructure

[679s] including the potholes in our roads.

[681s] I will be pushing for central government funding for the chicken hall lane bypass in the next Parliament.

[687s] Over the course of the last 25 years, the Liberal Democrat-led Eastley Borough Council have hugely overdeveloped our area.

[694s] Therefore, if I'm the MP for Eastly, my focus from an infrastructure perspective is going to be providing the infrastructure that the liberal Democrats

[701s] should have built over the past few decades.

[704s] That means new doctor's surgeries across our areas for the thousands of people who have moved into the area, it means the Chicken Hall Link Road to increase

[711s] the capacity on the Bishopstoke Road, and it mean new schools for all the young people in the areas.

[716s] The piece of infrastructure that I would most support building, not improving, building is the Chicken Hall Link Road, which has been talked about in Eastleigh

[728s] for decades and has never come to anything.

[732s] It's so important.

[734s] We just see the traffic in easily every day.

[736s] it's absolutely horrendous.

[737s] Today, for example, it took me an hour to get to Fair Oak and back just to drop off a window board to a supporter.

[745s] It really shouldn't take that long.

[747s] That's a 10-mile round trip, and it took an hour.

[750s] So the Chickenhall Lane road is absolutely vital.

[755s] When it comes to infrastructures that need filling of empty promises by both municipalities, Chicken Hall Lane Link is a sore issue.

[765s] 40 minutes to an hour to get from Fair Oak to Charles Ford every morning.

[770s] It's crazy.

[772s] Third world.

[774s] This link has been promised for so long and it's time to go under the skin and find out what it is about.

[781s] What are your thoughts on the current issues and discussions surrounding trans rights?

[787s] My stance and that of the Green Party on the matter of trans ideology is aligned.

[792s] I, we, believe in an inclusive society that fully recognises the existence and full rights of every member of LGBTQ plus community and beyond,

[801s] including those of us who identify as trans.

[804s] I'm hugely concerned about the inflammatory exclusionary narrative that certain quarters are perpetuating in this space.

[810s] It's vital that we provide a counter narrative of inclusion, respect and acceptance.

[816s] That is what the Green Party stands for.

[818s] So let me be clear, trans women are women and trans men are men.

[824s] The political debate around trans issues has been dehumanising, it's been used as a political football and I think that's wrong.

[833s] I think it's incredibly important not to get sucked into culture wars and I prefer to focus on other issues.

[840s] The toxic debate around this issue is causing huge harm and it is not addressing any of the real threats to women or trans people including poverty,

[848s] the lack of support for survivors of domestic violence and our crumbling criminal justice system.

[855s] EC has a proud tradition of being welcoming and inclusive, let's keep it that way.

[861s] In my view, it doesn't matter what gender, sexuality, religion, race you are, I think everybody should be treated equally and people should able to identify

[870s] whatever they want to be, provided there's not a negative impact on broader society.

[874s] My view on that is simple, and if I'm your Member of Parliament, that's how I'll approach matters of legislation on the topic.

[880s] Question five, what are my thoughts on issues surrounding trans rights?

[886s] OK, yeah, it's a sensitive one for sure.

[890s] But the Equalsities Act 2010 actually provides everybody with the same rights.

[897s] It's totally inclusive and I have a couple of trans friends and they both say to me, that they wish the activists would just get out of the way and let

[906s] them get on with their lives and all the activism and toxicity surrounding this subject isn't really helpful for them at all in their daily lives.

[917s] I just want everybody to be treated equally.

[920s] That's not too much to ask and I think people are.

[923s] There's no law in this country that discriminates against trans people at All and i think we should listen to their views more rather than activists.

[933s] With any human rights, equality issues, it's very important that they're treated equally.

[938s] If we respect three things, respect your right to exist, two, to respect everyone's right exist and three, you respect the planet we live,

[947s] the world will be a better place.

[950s] In my opinion, too much emphasis is put on transgender issues at schools, which is creating a lot of social unrest.

[958s] In reference to toilets, potentially disabled toilets could be rebranded as accessible and sport can be designed to have a transgender games Olympics.

[970s] These are my beliefs that too, much of emphasis has put one particular human right.

[976s] How concerned are you over the environment and climate change and what policies would you most advocate in this area?

[984s] Look, if you're not deeply concerned then you've got your head buried in an oil drum.

[988s] We're facing an existential crisis.

[991s] If we don't change tact as a race then the science is absolutely clear that the world will face ecological and societal collapse.

[999s] All the other burning areas of current concern are the cost of living, health, food security, energy security national security pollution,

[1007s] migration.

[1008s] These will all get exponentially worse as the climate crisis deepens.

[1013s] The good news is we still have a small window to stave off the worst.

[1017s] We still hope.

[1018s] And there are a raft of national and international policies I would advocate in this area.

[1023s] But in the here and now, locally, an effective way we could lower our resistance on fossil fuels and bring down our bills is to undergo a full street-by-street

[1033s] retrofit insulation programme, which is a Green Party manifesto pledge.

[1038s] Well, as potentially the first member of parliament actually to have studied climate change science, and as a scientist by background,

[1047s] I am deeply concerned with the lack of inaction that we've seen at both the Miesli Borough Council, but also the Conservative government in their actions

[1055s] to combat climate.

[1057s] What we really need is people in the room who understand the science behind climate Your vote, for me, will be a vote for putting that expertise on the

[1069s] green benches in Parliament.

[1070s] Like many EC residents, I'm extremely concerned about this issue and I've been leading the campaign to hold Southern Water to account for pollution.

[1078s] It's wrong water companies expect consumers to pay to clean up their mess and the polluters should pay and i'm calling for a sewage tax to be introduced

[1086s] on water company profits.

[1088s] Lib Dems also want to make homes cheaper to heat with a 10-year emergency upgrade programme and restore the UK's role as a global leader in the fight against

[1096s] climate change.

[1097s] As a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, and as somebody who appointed as my general election campaign manager a former campaigner for Greenpeace,

[1104s] it is quite clear that I care deeply about the environment.

[1108s] That being said, I'm not an ideologue on the topic.

[1110s] I am pragmatic, professional, mindful that in the context of a cost of living crisis, our climate targets must be achievable and sensible.

[1119s] OK, here's a reality check.

[1122s] The estimated cost by the National Grid and others to get to net zero is two trillion pounds or even more.

[1130s] That's an estimated costs, two Trillion pounds.

[1133s] We're a cost of living crisis.

[1135s] People can't put food on the table.

[1138s] Energy bills are soaring with no sign of coming down.

[1141s] Why is that?

[1142s] It's because we've subsidised the industry for over 20 years.

[1146s] Now, what other industry can you think of that has to be subsidise for 20 Years?

[1152s] Thank you.

[1153s] For me, that means that industry's failing.

[1156s] Net zero is failing, these policies are failing!

[1160s] We need to start relying on technology.

[1162s] Nuclear reactors, there's some technology we could use.

[1167s] It's clean, it's green.

[1169s] We all want a cleaner environment.

[1171s] I don't know anybody who says that they don' want to protect the environment, but we've got to be really realistic of how we do it.

[1178s] And these arbitrary targets that are set by government are just not achievable.

[1182s] My views on the environment is that we need to start to educate how to grow things organically by teaching this at schools and colleges.

[1195s] To grow your own is the way forward.

[1199s] Cutting down on pesticides and learning how things work is a great start for environmental change.

[1209s] The other environmental investment that we can do is invest into anaerobic digestion.

[1215s] Using this manure heat behind food waste combined can create methane which turns into energy through even a domestic system to a commercial system using

[1229s] the farms and industrial food wastes, commercial food waists that have within the constituency.

[1237s] This is of vital importance for environmental investment.

[1242s] How would you improve health provision?

[1246s] The NHS is broken.

[1247s] The Green Party are the only party to have shown the ambition required to tackle it.

[1251s] Through a manifesto that the BBC reported as being economically viable, we would properly fund a health and social care system fit for purpose.

[1259s] One that increased funding for mental healthcare, putting it on equal footing with physical healthcare.

[1263s] A new NHS dentist contract, so that dentists are properly rewarded for taking on new, NHS patients.

[1269s] And an immediate boost to the pay of NHS staff, including the restoration of junior doctor's pay to aid staff retention.

[1276s] How would I improve local healthcare provision?

[1279s] Well, by electing a Labour government.

[1281s] Under the last Labour Government, we had record low waiting lists and the highest ever satisfaction in the NHS.

[1290s] It's really important that we get a labour MP here to improve our local health care services.

[1295s] Only Labour can be trusted to the improve the NHS.

[1298s] Labour created the nhs and historically Labour governments have always come in and fixed the You cannot fix the NHS without fixing social care,

[1308s] so one of the things the Liberal Democrats want to do is introduce free personal care to enable people to stay in their own homes for longer and to help

[1315s] reduce waiting times in hospitals.

[1317s] We also want introduce a higher carer's minimum wage and pay carers leave to make sure our careors are treated with the respect they deserve.

[1327s] I know from talking to many of you that getting an appointment with a GP is very difficult right now and we want to give everyone the right to see a G.P.

[1334s] within seven days or 24 hours if it's urgent.

[1338s] I've been leading the fight to keep Winchester A and E open and campaigning on access to NHS dentists and I promise I will keep fighting on this in Parliament.

[1347s] We also want a mental health professional in every school to support all our children and young people.

[1354s] And we've also pledged to boost cancer survival rates by introducing a guarantee that all patients can start treatment within 62 days.

[1362s] As many of you already know, I'm deeply passionate about our local NHS.

[1366s] After all, as the guy who led our campaign to save Winchester Hospital's A&E, i organised the petition.

[1372s] I was the only candidate that turned up at any of the public consultation meetings in Eastleigh and I will fight hard if I am the MP to keep that A & A open.

[1381s] In addition, due to the huge overdevelopment of the Lib Dem-led Eastley Borough Council, I know we don't have enough doctors' surgeries or dentists in

[1388s] the area, and if I was the MP I would campaign hard to build the infrastructure that the lib dem should have built decades ago.

[1394s] So how would I improve healthcare capacity?

[1398s] This is a really big question.

[1399s] There's lots of things that we can do.

[1402s] But one of the ways to do that is to get the waiting list down.

[1406s] That's crucial, that's something we need to urgently.

[1408s] By getting the wait list done we free up capacity.

[1412s] So Reform UK's proposal is use independent sector organisations as well as the private sector whilst care remaining free at the point of use.

[1424s] Until we get the waiting list down, we're just running uphill really, it's going to be a real struggle and we aim to see zero waiting lists in two years.

[1437s] All the detail of this is in the Reform UK contract with the people which you can find on our website.

[1443s] We're an ageing and increasing population.

[1446s] The laws of economics haven't been applied over the years and the investment of the NHS hasn't happened.

[1451s] I'm looking to look at windfall tax seats, pharmacy companies that are making a lot of money for the increased demand on the NHS.

[1460s] Together with cutting funding on unnecessary wars, I believe we can find that money.

[1471s] One last call, anything you'd like to say?

[1474s] I'm standing on a platform of change.

[1476s] I believe that to see the change, you have to be the Change.

[1480s] And to that end, should I be privileged enough to voted as your MP, I shall be dedicating a third of my salary to societal and environmental causes in

[1488s] the constituency.

[1490s] i've been doing a lot of canvassing, as you can imagine, and what I hear a great deal is, i really want to vote Green, but I am going to have vote tactically.

[1497s] My question is always, why?

[1500s] Labour will win a landslide victory.

[1502s] That much is obvious.

[1504s] So for constituencies like Eastleigh, it's actually a wonderful chance for the first time in a long time to vote with our consciences.

[1512s] It's an election of change.

[1514s] Let's take this opportunity for real change and let's vote for a party who will hold the new government's feet to the solar panels.

[1521s] Because a green in the room makes a difference.

[1525s] So look, the decision here locally in your vote won't choose whether there's a Conservative government or a Labour government.

[1533s] The election here is to choose your local representative.

[1537s] I think it's really important that we have an Eastleigh, a Bishopstoke, A Fair Oak, West End, Channelersford voice and a seat at the table in the next government,

[1548s] that is going to mean that have someone who can actually get stuff done here, locally.

[1552s] A vote for any other party risks in action.

[1556s] At the General Election you have a clear choice between me and yet another Conservative.

[1561s] I've been standing up for EC residents for over three years campaigning on the issues that matter to you.

[1570s] I fought against development at the Aegeus Bowl and I'll continue to fight against the proposed development of Velmore Farm.

[1577s] I've fought to keep the rail ticket offices open at Eastley and Chalmers Ford.

[1581s] And I keep fighting for better access to GP appointments and NHS dentists to stop Southern Water from dumping sewage in our rivers and for more community

[1590s] police on our streets.

[1592s] I'm asking for you to give me the chance to fight for your in Parliament.

[1598s] And if you vote for me to be your MP, I'll always fight your corner and for a fair deal for everyone in Eastleigh.

[1606s] For this last one, I want to make a really important point.

[1610s] As you guys might have noticed over the course of the last year, my campaign has not been focused on shoving misleading bar charts through your door at

[1618s] a rate of once a week.

[1619s] Quite the opposite.

[1620s] I've consciously spent my time balancing a full-time job to do useful things for our community.

[1627s] A co-led our campaign to stop the overdevelopment of West End, stopping even more houses being rammed behind the utility bowl.

[1635s] I led our campaign to save Winchester Hospital's A&E and I secured the investment for a new PlayStation here in the Eastley Town Centre.

[1643s] Quite simply, if you want an MP that has the competence, the skill set, and the expertise to deliver and to represent you on the issues that matter most,

[1651s] I am that guy and that's why I'm asking for your vote on 4th July.

[1654s] Ok, one last call, anything else I'd like to say?

[1657s] I'll keep it short.

[1660s] Successive governments have let us down for years.

[1664s] The time for change is now.

[1666s] So if you want change, you're going to have to vote for it.

[1668s] And that vote should go to Reform UK.

[1671s] We're now polling ahead of the Tories.

[1678s] So we all face the same issue, five more years of the Same Old Same All bickering between the political parties, no empty promises or a time for change.

[1687s] I am passionate about the place I live and work and just like a salmon returning to its origin, I will commit the next five years to serving the constituents

[1697s] in Eastleigh.