Eltham Election 2019: Your candidates questioned

Thousands in Eltham will do the same on Thursday, so the News Shopper has taken a look at all the candidates running to be MP, and quizzed them on their policies and priorities.

The Eltham constituency has been in Labour and specifically Clive Efford's hands since 1997, previously being held by Conservative MP Peter Bottomley.

Mr Efford won the seat in 2017 with a 13.6% majority, but faces an entirely new round of candidates in 2019.

The area voted to leave the European Union by 51.8% to 48.2%, and Eltham comes under the Royal Borough of Greenwich Council which is controlled by Labour.

Clive Efford - Labour

Biggest issues - In your opinion, what are the three biggest issues facing Eltham?

I want to retain Victoria trains on the Eltham service, see them introduced through New Eltham and introduce longer peak-time trains. I want to end the crisis in the A&E at our local hospital - we have just seen the worst A&E performance figures on record. And finally reverse the school cuts that has seen £5.9 million taken from schools in this area since 2015.

My defining policy - What would you describe as your defining policy?

Working with local people to bring about improvements that benefit our community.

Local Public services - What would you do to improve local public services, NHS services and business in Eltham?

Our public services have been starved of resources after 10 years of Tory austerity. We need investment in training to provide the nurses, doctors and GPs our NHS needs to end staff shortages and reduce the wait for GP appointments.

Combating violence - What would you do to combat recent high levels of violence in the area?

Cuts in our neighbourhood policing has led to a rise in crime. We must restore our Safer Neighbourhood Teams and invest in youth services to engage with young people and avoid them being enticed into criminal behaviour.

Brexit - How will you or your party’s stance on Brexit help Eltham?

Taking the final decision over Brexit back to the people in a referendum is the only way to end the impasse. A decision between a final deal or remain would resolve the matter quickly and end the divisions in our communities.

Are you confident of retaining your seat?

I take nothing for granted and every vote counts. Not voting Labour will let the Tories win in Eltham.

Favourite thing - What is your favourite thing about the constituency?

My favourite thing about the constituency is definitely it’s people. After all, they make up the community in which my wife and I chose to settle and bring up our children and they are our friends and neighbours.

Louie French - Conservative

Biggest issues

Crime, overdevelopment issues linked to Sadiq Khan's dreadful London Plan and capacity pressures on public services.

What do you hope to achieve in this election?

I am standing to be a fresh local voice for Eltham after years of people being ignored by a complacent Labour Party focused more on virtue signalling than helping local people. I am also standing to stop the threats of a Corbyn-led government to your family and finances.

My defining policy

The re-opening of Eltham Police Station to help improve community safety and to continue providing officers a local base to operate from. Sadiq Khan's policy of tri-borough policing is not working.

Local public services

I will work hard to secure additional funding for frontline health services as part of the local CCG reforms and for local schools, where I fully support parental choice and improving teaching standards, unlike Labour. If elected, I will also support the government in cutting rates for local businesses and work hard to deliver better public transport such as modernised 10 & 12 carriage train services and a greener bus fleet.

Combating violence

I'll ensure that South East London sees its fair share of the 20,000 extra officers on the beat, support tougher laws and sentences to deter crime and ensure that the police have support to perform their duties. I will also support community groups, parents and schools, who all have a crucial role in teaching younger generations that crime does not pay.

Brexit

Ensures democracy is respected and that as a country we can finally move forward.

Favourite thing

The people and places such as Oxleas Woods.

Charley Hasted - Liberal Democrats

Biggest issues

Unemployment. Air pollution. Rising violent crime.

Local public services

I want to see not just housing developments but community developments. Often developers forget about the NHS and essential services and even shops, leaving people living in 'service and employment deserts' and placing additional demand on overstretched public services. We must require developers to work with local councils to make space for schools, GP’s, dentists and shops.

The Liberal Democrats will support small business owners, provide funding to help aspiring entrepreneurs create the businesses and jobs of the future and give workers a voice on the boards of large companies to ensure you get a fair wage and benefits for the job you do.

Combating violence

As an Ambulance worker and youth worker I’ve seen the impact violence can have on our communities. The Lib Dems have committed to £500 million for youth services, and I’ll fight for Eltham to get it’s fair share to support the excellent work done by youth services and charities in reducing violence.

I will back early intervention for those at risk of offending and rehabilitation to help offenders reintegrate into society instead of getting trapped in a cycle of violence. I want to see even more focus on community policing to try and stop violence before it starts.

What do you hope to achieve in this election?

I hope to put the Liberal Democrats on the map in Eltham as the best choice for you and your family because I honestly believe the Liberal Democrats have the best policies to help people in Eltham thrive. That’s why I’m asking for your vote.

Steve Kelleher - Brexit Party

Biggest issues

Transport, Mental health provision and street crime are three big issues facing the constituency. A Brexit MP can address these issues.

Why? If elected, it is likely my vote will be crucial and I will extract maximum value for Eltham just like the DUP did for their constituents. My livelihood will never depend on loyalty to the party – only on loyalty to you.

My defining policy

We need real change. The Tories guarantee no change. We need real prosperity. Labour guarantee more debt and delay. What a choice!

For 22 long years in Eltham if you vote Tory – you get Labour – it won’t change now Unless you vote for real change and vote for me. I know how it works, I get things done, I am standing for Democracy and I will hit the ground running.

Brexit

A clear and defining Brexit stance, “ OUT, then negotiate” - will end paralysis. The Tories proved they don’t care about Brexit or they would have done a deal when we stood down in 317 seats.

Combating violence

Clear leadership - influence in Westminster, together with investment in Police resourcing ( keeping Police stations open) and youth support will dramatically reduce anti social behaviour and crime.

Favourite thing

I love the tough, fair and sometimes hilarious people I have coached, played and sung with over the past thirty years. This is my town, vote for me and I will make Eltham proud again.

Matt Stratford, Green Party

Biggest issues

First, sky-rocketing food bank usage shames us all. To ensure everyone has basic dignity, the Green Party would introduce a Universal Basic Income of £89 per week per adult.

Second, the cost of housing is way too high. Long-term residents are priced out of the area and many local jobs are both low-paid and precarious, which makes paying the rent an intolerable stress.

Third, the scarcity and cost of public transport is a major issue, which has a knock-on effect in terms of causing air pollution and traffic jams from cars.

My defining policy

The Green New Deal. This programme of investment will change the way our economy produces energy, grows food and runs transport, repairing the damage that our current system inflicts on our environment and climate and creating hundreds of thousands of good, new jobs in the green economy. We can’t wait 5 more years for it, we need it now.

Local public services

The major bottleneck in providing better NHS services is funding for staff. Over 10,000 EU nationals have left the NHS over the past two years and the nursing bursary has not been restored by the Conservatives.

Combating violence

Police must be resourced to do their job properly and keep local police stations open. We would encourage community-based solutions to break the cycle of re-offending.

Brexit

The Brexit vote has been a disaster for the country, turning neighbours and friends against one another and making every political discussion toxic. But we cannot come to resolution on Brexit because all voters – whether they voted leave or remain – feel absolutely cheated. The only way to move forward with a result everyone can buy into whether they agree or not is to have a better-run vote again. Therefore, the Greens support a second referendum with remain vs. a defined leave deal.

What do you hope to achieve in this election?

I hope to show the electorate that the Greens have credible answers to the challenges our society faces. In this specific election, we hope more people will show their support for the Green agenda by voting for us. We also hope to build support for proportional representation in parliament.

Favourite thing

I spend quite a bit of time on evenings and weekends running up to Shooter’s Hill and through Oxleas Wood, enjoying the undisturbed ancient woodland and the company of our many dog owners! I think we have a great balance of access to nature and the amenities of a city, while retaining the feel of a small town. We’ve been here for 5 years now. Time flies!

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 12 December ('polling day').