Candidates' last appeal to voters

SUE HAYMAN

Labour

THIS election gives people a choice – a chance for the real change that Britain needs with Labour, or yet more of the same neglect and underinvestment from the Tories.

Labour will give our public services the investment they so desperately need with the funding that hospitals, schools and police need.

We’ll ensure our economy works for everyone and not just the privileged few, give everyone the chance to own their own home, tackle the climate and environmental emergency, and deliver a million green jobs. Unlike the Tories, Labour trusts the people to have the final say on Brexit.

Workington led the world during the Victorian era, and Labour will ensure that our community is at the heart of our Green Industrial Revolution through the delivery of new nuclear power in West Cumbria and at least 1,000 jobs at a new steel recycling plant.

I’ve worked hard as your MP since 2015. If re-elected, I’ll continue to be your strong voice in Westminster, fighting to ensure that Cumbria gets its fair share. And a Labour government will deliver for you and your family, taking back control by putting wealth and power in the hands of the many, not the few.

MARK JENKINSON

Conservative

Three years ago, Workington voted to leave the EU. Since then, Parliament has been gridlocked – unable to agree on anything. Corbyn’s candidate in Workington has consistently voted against what her constituents voted for.

The Conservatives can win a majority, and Workington constituency is one of the seats Boris Johnson needs to form that majority. With a majority Conservative government, we can get Brexit done, and then focus on domestic priorities.

It’s time to invest – the Conservatives will invest £33.9 billion extra for the NHS, 20,000 extra police officers, and more funding for every pupil in every school in the Workington constituency, all enabled by a growing economy.

Locally, there’s so much we can achieve. The Conservatives will:

n Deliver more well-paid local jobs, capitalising on our proud past to build the businesses of tomorrow;

n Ensure that we have the physical and digital infrastructure we need to succeed;

n Support our town centres – delivering transformational results with the £50m-plus funding awards for Workington, Maryport and beyond from a Conservative government.

Another hung parliament would be a disaster for this country and for the Workington constituency. Your vote has never been more important. Don’t risk five long years of uncertainty – vote Conservative so we can get Brexit done and make the Workington constituency thrive.

JILL PERRY

Green Party

Ours is the most forward-thinking, long-term and radical manifesto, tackling the climate emergency, and delivering social justice.

The Green New Deal will enable us to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. It will tackle emissions from:

- Energy: by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy.

- Housing: by providing better insulation and major heating upgrades for 1 million homes a year and the creation of 100,000 new energy-efficient council homes a year.

- Transport: by delivering a public transport revolution, which will allow people to travel cheaply on new trains, buses, cycleways and footpaths.

- Industry: by supporting businesses to decarbonise and providing training to give people skills to access millions of new green jobs.

n Food and farming: including the planting of 700 million trees and supporting healthy and sustainable food and farming systems.

Our social justice policies include a Universal Basic Income, paid to all UK residents to tackle poverty and give financial security to everyone. We will reverse austerity and fund our public services properly, including the health service and education. We will end wasteful spending on vanity projects and reform our tax system so that the wealthiest pay their fair share.

Vote Green: If not now, when?

NEIL HUGHES

Liberal Democrat

I know West Cumbria well and this general election is about Brexit or no Brexit. If we leave, most things will become more expensive and many public services will be put into even more jeopardy. It’s dishonest that neither Labour nor the Conservatives will admit this and it makes all their pledges to voters extremely thin.

The Lib Dems would protect jobs through massive investment in both renewables and public transport, bringing major industry back to West Cumbria, We’d tackle climate change and flooding together with insulation – for all properties by 2030 – and effective flood barriers.

We’d commit £10 billion towards improving schools and teacher training, scrapping the hated, discredited Ofsted inspection and SATS tests.

Health would benefit from a 1p in the pound income tax increase which would pay for 5,000 more doctors and 20,000 nurses. We’d give mental wellbeing the same respect physical health merits.

There’d be universal free childcare from nine months to two years and all adults would receive £10k to spend on training of choice.

Housing would be built to last, zero carbon by 2022. We’ll aim to build 300,000 new homes a year, with one third for social rent.

DAVID WALKER

Brexit Party

A clean-break Brexit is the key to changing Britain for good.

Our priority is to leave the EU and deliver the Brexit 17.4 million voted for in 2016 and the 61.1% of the Workington constituency.

Acting on the biggest mandate in British history is crucial to restore faith in our democracy.

Leaving the undemocratic EU is just the beginning. It will be the first step in a political revolution to fix our broken system and make parliament serve the people again.

A proper clean-break Brexit can shape the future of our economy and society. We can take immediate control of our own laws, borders, money, fishing and defence. We will be able to support our strategic industries including nuclear power, coal mining and steel.

We want to cancel HS2, save 50% of the foreign aid budget and save another £13bn a year in EU payments. That money will be used to invest billions in Britain’s Northern coastal regions, cut the cost of living, and build a better future.

The mainstream parties are promising the earth but cannot deliver as the Institute of Fiscal Studies has already stated. Don’t be fooled by them and don’t split the leave vote by voting Conservative.

NICKY COCKBURN

Independent

I was brought up, went to school and got married in Allerdale. This is my home.

I have been active in the community for years, I was a First Responder for nearly 20 years and as a borough councillor I have campaigned passionately to bring about positive change.

I am not fettered by party politics and therefore can represent the constituents majority view and not party policy.

Can’t vote Labour? Won’t vote Tory? You now have a better choice. Vote Independent for someone who will represent you and not the party.

ROY IVINSON

Independent

The most important issue in this election is that sea levels are rising by 1mm every three months and most people in this constituency live on the coast where all industry is concentrated.

Rising sea levels are a product of putting carbon in the atmosphere and changing its chemical composition. The Atlantic is warming and the flooding of the rivers of Cumbria will only become more extreme.

We control our carbon emissions or we abandon every coastal community in Cumbria.

This island cannot feed the population it has, and to allow mass immigration is environmentally irresponsible.

The taxation system should be used to make producing carbon uneconomic and leave market forces to do the rest.

The choice is yours. I want a smaller human population living in balance with the ecosystems of this island and planet.