These are Erith and Thamesmead candidates' views on the NHS, education, crime and local issues this General Election 2017

Teresa Pearce for the Labour Party, Edward Baxter for the Conservatives, and Simon Waddington for the Liberal Democrats are standing in Erith and Thamesmead for election.

In the first half of our questions, we asked them for their stances on key policy areas from the NHS, education, crime and local issues ahead of the vote on June 8.

Left to right: Simon Waddington for the Liberal Democrats, Teresa Pearce for the Labour Party and Edward Baxter for the Conservatives.

• NHS?

Teresa Pearce: Labour created the National Health Service - our proudest achievement, providing universal healthcare for all on the basis of need, free at the point of use. We need an NHS fit for the 21st century and that means properly funding and staffing our hospitals to stop the routine breach of safe levels of bed occupancy, and we will end mixed-sex wards. We will deliver the Cancer Strategy for England in full by 2020, helping 2.5 million people living with cancer. And, by properly resourcing ambulance services, we will end the scandal of slow ambulance-response times.

Edward Baxter: The NHS is a wonderful institution. I think that universal healthcare for everyone who has contributed to our country is the right thing. The NHS at its best delivers the very highest quality of care. The NHS's scale means that the UK can negotiate better prices for many drugs than other countries. I am delighted that Theresa May will increase real NHS spending by at least £8 billion and increase spending per person every year - in a budget that adds up. We will deliver the most ambitious programme for buildings and technology that the NHS has ever seen.

Simon Waddington: The NHS is one of the most precious and cherished institutions we have, protecting it and enabling the medical staff to get on with the job should be an issue beyond party politics. Which is why at this election the Liberal Democrats are committed to introducing a 1p rise in income tax - across all tax brackets - which will generate approximately £6 billion per year which we are committing entirely to public health. Not only increasing funding to the NHS but related services such as mental health care and social care for the elderly.

• Education

Teresa Pearce: When education fails, it isn’t just the individual that is held back, but all of us. When we invest in people to develop their skills and capabilities, we all benefit from a stronger economy and society. I am the mother of a teacher and I could not be prouder. Labour will cut class sizes not teachers. To aid attainment, we will introduce free school meals for all primary school children, paid for by removing the VAT exemption on private school fees.

Edward Baxter: Education is extremely important for many people to achieve their potential and their dreams. Education has given me my chances in life, including being a powerful voice for everyone in Erith and Thamesmead. My parents were both teachers, and I care deeply about education and volunteer in schools and universities. Every child is different, and I think that education should be flexible to bring out the best in each young person. I am delighted that Theresa May will increase real schools funding by £4 billion by 2022 - in a budget that adds up.

Simon Waddington: The introduction of the Pupil Premium by the Liberal Democrats after the 2010 general election is one of the things which made me proud us about our achievements in coalition - the Tory party is now threatening that achievement. Over the course of the next five year parliament the Liberal Democrats will invest £7 billion into our schools and colleges. Not only do we plan to triple the Pupil Premium for early years education but also investing in our teachers by removing the 1% pay cap which is making it harder to retain teachers of quality in the public sector.

• Crime

Teresa Pearce: First of all we need to properly fund the police force so that we can restore the community policing model that proved so successful prior to 2010. Labour pledges to recruit 10,000 more officers which will put extra police in every neighbourhood. We must all work together to tackle the rising knife crime in London where our young people are falling victim. The police cannot solve this alone. I support Sadiq Khan’s call for the whole of London to work together to combat the rise in knife crime.

Edward Baxter: I support tougher enforcement on so-called lesser crimes, because this can prevent behaviour escalating to more serious criminal activity. This means neighbourhood policing engaging with everyone. For example, we need to identify and prosecute rogue landlords. When things go wrong, we also need compassionate support for people and families suffering with drugs, as the best way to reduce drug-related crime. We need one society in our constituency so we can all help reduce crime. I support families staying together as our area changes. I support controlling immigration to a level so that our community is well integrated. For longer term solutions, I'm passionate about education because it gives people options that are better than crime. Planning house building and regeneration in Erith and Thamesmead with crime in mind is very important.

Simon Waddington: The Liberal Democrats have announced the intention to boost police funding by a £300 million a year nationwide, compared to the Conservatives who have cut police budgets and have begun to dismantle the fabric of community policing. Further investment in our police at this time is absolutely vital, the Tories under Theresa May first as Home Secretary and now Prime Minister have betrayed our police, who worked tirelessly to keep us safe and secure.

• Local issue

Teresa Pearce: Housing. The housing crisis effects everyone from the people in their 30s still living with Mum and Dad or the family in of 4 crammed into two rooms or the street with numerous houses converted into bedsits for 8 single people. Housing is not just about bricks and mortar it’s about health, wellbeing and life chances.

Edward Baxter: Transport. We have no tube, and a real need for joined up connections by road and rail. At the same time, some communities are divided by tracks and major roads. I will lead joined up thinking on bridge, road, rail and cross-rail. This links with housing solutions that work for everyone.

Simon Waddington: The job of an MP mandates caring about and advocating for many different things usually at the same time. However, I do intend to particularly focus my attention on tackling the housing crisis, in conjunction with the other MP's who represent the Greenwich and Bexley areas.