Rayleigh & Wickford news from the Echo

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		Mark Francois - Conservative I have lived in Rayleigh for 15 years. In the General Election you will have an important choice about both the future of the country and the area in which we live. I want to see a strong economy - to help fund vital public services - which will be delivered via our Conservative long term economic plan. I have encouraged a number of local schools to become Academies and I will continue to promote further Academies and the creation of new sixth forms. I believe we must Keep the Pound and that we need an In/Out Referendum on Europe but I also want to see English votes on English laws in Parliament as well. I also believe there should be no major house building locally unless the necessary infrastructure is provided (and I have recently objected to two major planning applications in Rayleigh and Hullbridge on that basis).
		John Hayter - UKIP In 2010 the UK National Debt was £811 billion. It is now £1.45 trillion (an 80% rise) due to Budget Annual Deficits. UKIP by 2018/19 will bring the Annual Deficit to zero. UKIP will: leave the EU saving £20 billion a year and reduce the foreign aid budget by £9 billion a year. The NHS will be free at the point of delivery and have an extra £3 billion a year for frontline services. UKIP want to leave the EU and bring in an Australian points-based system for limited time work permits. The people will have the final word on local housing and Traveller development by introducing binding local referenda on major development issues. UKIP will free police from excessive form filling, more real police officers on the beat and stop scrapping of frontline police jobs. Finally, UKIP will switch on streetlights during hours of darkness.
		David Hough - Labour My priorities are to stand up for hard-working families, the NHS, and the small and medium-sized businesses that are at the heart of our economy by: Freezing energy prices, to help hard-pressed local families and businesses, and give the regulator the power to cut prices. Recruit 20,000 more nurses, 8,000 more doctors, integrate physical, mental and social care into a single system better to meet patients’ needs. Cut taxes for 24 million people with a lower starting rate, and reverse the coalitions’ millionaires’ tax cut. Provide 25 hours free childcare a week for 3-4 year olds and double the number of SureStart places. Raise the minimum wage to at least £8 an hour by 2020, and end exploitative zero-hours contracts. Stand up for small business by tackling unfair charges, give the FSB the right to represent its members in court, and cut business rates this year and freeze them next.
		Linda Kendall - Independent As an Independent candidate in the forthcoming General Election seeking your support. I do not have a party machine similar to the other candidates who will have had ‘focus groups' working for months how to present their programmes and policies in order to secure your vote. I can only truthfully explain to you how I believe the next Government should proceed. We must secure our right to a free and unfettered press. Make the NHS, Police, Fire, Schools and Security services a priority. Stop meddling in the affairs of other sovereign states causing more mayhem. A referendum to decide whether a place in the United States of Europe is what the British people choose. Stop the yearly arrival of 500,000 low wage immigrants. Require medical insurance and a points system similar to Australia. Protect our Greenbelt. Order the return to night time lighting of our neighbourhoods.
		Sarah Yapp - Green I pledge, if elected the following:- Creation of over 250,000 well paid jobs in Green energy and home climate defence. Funding renewable energy which will include the creation of community energy co-operatives. Close tax haven loopholes and secure the UK economy by taxing corporations properly. Stop NHS privatisation, services to be free at the point of use, funded by taxation. Stop the benefits cuts to the sick and elderly, abolish the unfair bedroom tax. Scrap Trident. Why spend billions on something we are told they will never use? Scrap University tuition fees, Education should not be just for the wealthy. Invest in public transport, and reduce fares by renationalising the railways. Make achieving a global deal on climate change the most important priority of our foreign policy. Oppose the TTIP Agreement Ban all UK fracking.