These are the seven candidates standing for election in Fareham for the General Election.

Matthew Winnington Liberal Democrat

“FAREHAM needs a fresh approach, a change from the tired stagnation of Conservative representation for the town. It has left Fareham with a lack of investment in infrastructure, a loss of skilled jobs, planning decisions made to benefit other parts of Hampshire and part time MPs, more interested in doing their party’s bidding rather than standing up for the people of Fareham.

“The Liberal Democrats are the only ones who can change this. We are the only effective opposition on Fareham council in this constituency and we were second in Fareham in 2010.

“As MP I would fight for the people of Fareham because that is what an MP should be for: standing up for your constituents and sorting out what is important for them. I have the experience to do this, serving as a councillor and dealing with day-to-day issues of my ward constituents. I worked for 12 years front-line in the public sector helping people who found themselves in very difficult situations. I know and have campaigned for years in Fareham.

“I also know that everything that goes on in parliament affects local people so I would be a strong advocate in Westminster for the people of Fareham and its strong community values.”

Harvey Hines Independent

“THE Conservatives are out of touch, the Westminster elite have been alone too long living in a fantasy world of possession obsession, they just don’t change. Suella Fernandes is the clichéd successor to Mark Hoban, a rich girl talking all night about the missed opportunity of a generation in recession, it’s uncanny.

“I’m a man on a mission: to end the 100 plus-year Conservative streak in Fareham. Everywhere I look, I see a town to be proud of, a town I’ve grown up in. If you vote for me, I’ll keep the NHS public, invest in both 16-19 and adult education, and I’ll give young people a chance.

“Welborne threatens to add 6,000 ill-fitting houses that will destroy the local infrastructure.

I can’t go for that; my intuition says no, so I will work tirelessly to put a halt to any further development. A promise isn’t enough, so I’ll be around to listen to your concerns and to give Fareham everything your heart desires.

“Without you and your imagination, some things are better left unsaid. In this constituency, it’s a one-on-one with Suella; be brave, be an independent thinker. Don’t look back in hindsight, look forward, in Hines-sight.”

Miles Grindey Green Party

“GENERATIONS of my family have lived in Fareham for over half a century; I went to Hook- With-Warsash Primary School and Brookfield Community School. A couple of years ago I started working with residents to help solve local problems such as yellow lines, buses and speeding.

“We want to bring back our railways into public ownership, close tax loopholes that allow large corporations to get away with paying their fair share, ban fracking and so much more – all available on our policy website.

“The fact of the matter is that I offer a radically different approach to the way that things have been done before in Fareham, I offer proactive representation.

Who was there for retired people, young people, and businesses in Whiteley when Hampshire County Council slashed bus services? Who stands shoulder-to-shoulder with residents in North Fareham against the socially, economically and environmentally catastrophic development that is Welborne?

Who is calling for an end to austerity?

“It has always been us, the Green Party – let us work towards a fairer Fareham.”

Malcolm Jones UKIP

“I AM STANDING because our elected MPs routinely disappear to Westminster, vote the way that they want or the way that their party wants, without the common decency to ask us what we want.

“I believe that enough is enough and it’s time for change, it’s time to vote for a local person who actually cares about our area, who will listen to your views and be your voice both locally and in Parliament, unlike the Conservative candidate who lives and works in London as a Planning Barrister and has no connection to our area.

“This election is not about voting for left or for right, it’s about voting for the person behind the rosette – before you put a cross in the box please make sure that you are convinced that you will be voting for someone who will represent you, your views, and our area – not just disappear and collect a wage for five years “I am the only person who will represent your views both locally and nationally – Please vote Malcolm Jones on May 7 so we can work together.”

Suella Fernandes Conservative

“I’M DELIGHTED to be living in Locks Heath and passionate about being an effective spokesman for Fareham in Parliament.

We have thousands of people who run their own business, volunteer in the community, have served in the Royal Navy or work in our local public services in Fareham and I want to champion this great part of South Hampshire.

“Through my varied work, I have defended the Home Secretary in immigration cases, the Parole Board in challenges by prisoners, the Ministry of Defence in the Guantanamo Bay Inquiry, victims of domestic violence, pub landlords and farmers.

“Having helped to set up a Free School, I am passionate about education and will work for more opportunities for our young people.

Far too many sixth formers travel outside Fareham for A-levels, and I hope to work to increase provision in Fareham. I’m keen to see more apprenticeships as young people can gain so much personally and businesses and employers win too.

“Having set up a community justice charity, I want to celebrate our volunteers and support charities in Fareham. And as the daughter of a nurse and having cared for my elderly grandmother towards the end of her life, I understand how vital local health services are: I will work to ease the pressure on Queen Alexandra A&E and increase the usage of Fareham Community Hospital.”

Stuart Rose Labour

“I WAS born in Portsmouth and have lived in Fareham for 30 years.

“I have served on Fareham Borough Council as vice chairman of the Environment Committee where I was instrumental in introducing the Leisure Card scheme that has prospered and now has several thousand members.

“I am determined to make Britain fairer and more prosperous, and I say Britain cannot afford another term of Tory led politics with division between the very rich and the rest of us. People in Fareham deserve jobs that provide an income they can live on so I support the banning of the type of zero-hour contracts that so exploit particularly young people and strengthening the minimum wage. I do not wish to gamble with something as precious to us all as the NHS by allowing it to become underfunded and devalued under a potential Conservative government.

“I work locally as a print manager having spent the majority of his career in the printing industry, and I am married with four grown-up children and four grandchildren.”

Nick Gregory Independent

“MOST of us have experienced what is wrong with Fareham; we’ve been trapped in the traffic gridlock, waited hours to be seen at hospital, waved goodbye to our green spaces.

“Unlike the main political parties who claim to have all the answers for our country, I am focused on what we need to do to fix Fareham’s problems.

“As both a local independent councillor for Fareham and a resident, I know the problems our residents face, and the restrictions placed upon politicians belonging to the main political parties.

“Queen Alexandra Hospital has around 1200 beds, with a catchment population of 600,000 people. No wonder waiting times are so long, and yet still we build more houses!

“The M27, A27 and A32 are almost completely gridlocked each day during peak hours, and yet still we build more houses!

“I believe in fighting for better justice with our benefits system, supporting graduates who go on to contribute to our economy, and ensuring our armed forces are properly provided for.

“I also believe that two minds are better than one; in Fareham there are over 110,000 minds, so together we can make a difference. Vote for Fareham, vote Nick Gregory, independent MP candidate.”