Today is the day! The general electionhas arrived! 

We at the News Shopper asked the candidates for Bexleyheath and Crayford what they thought the most important issues were for the area and how they would tackle them.

Stef Borella – Labour

NHS

With 32,000 new homes planned for Bexley over the next 30 years and I will fight for increased spending in Social services and on the NHS. In addition, Bexley has the fewest number of GPs in London. Labour is the party of the NHS and only a Labour government can ensure its future.

Trains

Commuting into London is a daily part of life for many residents in Bexleyheath and Crayford, and despite repeated increases in fares over recent years, the service has remained poor. I will fight for the railways to be brought into public ownership. Under Labours plans, TFL would run rail services in Bexley with accountability to the Mayor of London. I would fight any cuts to rail services on the Bexleyheath line and fight for improved transport links.

Affordable housing

For too many people the idea of affording their home is a dream few will realise. People in Bexleyheath and Crayford need real affordable housing and the country needs to build good quality social housing. As a MP, I will fight to ensure that the chance to afford your own home will be available to the many, not he few.

Ivor Lobo - Green

It’s unfair that 53% of Bexleyheath and Crayford residents, who voted for a party other than Conservative in the last general election, did not have their votes translated to representation in Parliament. We must make sure that Parliament accurately reflects the range of values held by all of our residents. I would fight for a fairer, proportional representation voting system (and give young people more hope by reducing the minimum voting age to 16). Obviously our Conservative MP has a range of ridiculous arguments against this.

Trains

There has been dismay at local rail services for years. I’d encourage all residents to read and respond to the government’s consultation on the future of the South Eastern rail service; this is our one chance to transform our rail service for the better. I would fight to renationalise rail, so that 100% of tax and fare payers’ money goes into the service, invest heavily in high quality track equipment and longer trains to reduce delays and ease overcrowding and reduce. All of this requires money, so we must ask the most well-off in our society to contribute slightly more in tax, which the Conservatives are too scared to do.

School spending

I would fight to reverse the Conservatives’ cut in spending per pupil for our schools, and then increase it. I don’t think this one needs much explanation!

 

Mike Ferro – UKIP

Protection of local amenities

Bexley has a green and pleasant aspect and I like it that way.  One local park has been sold off for housing development.  We don't want more of this.

Simone Reynolds – Liberal Democrats

Health and Social Care funding

I believe the Liberal Democrats idea of putting 1p rise on income tax to help fund the NHS and Social Care is properly costed plan that will benefit Bexley residents. Increasing access to Talking Therapies is needed, as there are long waiting lists for these in Bexley at present.

Housing

The Liberal Democrats would introduce a legal requirement for smaller housing developments to include affordable homes.

The party would allow local authorities to hike up council tax on empty homes by up to 200%, including second homes. 

Liberal Democrats will introduce a ‘Rent to Own’ scheme for first time buyers and those under 30 years of age and reintroduce housing benefit for young people.

South Eastern’s announcement on train routes. 

We will ensure devolution of greater powers over bus and train services to local authorities so that these improvements can be made. We will also undertake a thorough shake-up of the rail franchising system to provide a better deal for passengers and will allow public sector bodies and consortia, as well as mutual groups of staff and passengers, to run franchises.