Tell us about yourself and why you are standing

Chester South and Eddisbury is a very special place for me and my family, because Chester is where I fell in love with politics as a teenager and discovered the impact that an MP can have in making a positive difference to people’s lives. My focus is on being an active, visible and effective representative for everyone locally, and to work as an integral part of the community. I want to preserve what makes our area and villages so special, but I also want to make it an even better place to work, live and raise a family.

My background is in Economics which I studied at University and I went on to work for 10 years as a Senior Economic Adviser for the Government in the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

My husband, Ian, grew up on Delamere Park, not far from where we now live. He is a vet, and together we developed and ran a group of small animal veterinary clinics. So I understand the challenges for business owners, and what it takes to help high streets thrive. Family is extremely important to me and we’re lucky to have three teenage children who keep us busy! 

What personal attributes can you bring to the role?

I’m a good listener (ask my husband). I’m hard working, get stuck in, I’m reliable and conscientious. I am focussed on getting results, a problem solver, I can be persistent, and I’m community minded, caring but tough when I need to be.

What are your 3 main priorities if elected?

Locally:

1.     Ensure that we get the best local health care, with GP provision to keep pace with development, more community based care and hospital upgrades. And ensure that we have adequate mental health provision particularly for young people who need to access vital support.

2.     Sort out the roads – make sure that we get the funding needed and hold the councils to account to carry out the much needed proper long term repairs.

3.     Get better mobile phone connectivity both in the urban areas where capacity often isn’t great, and in the rural areas where connection is often non-existent. To help boost local business and for friends and families that need to keep in touch, and need mobile connectivity as well as broadband for school and work.

How would you assess the performance of the Government?

The Government has been dealing with big and challenging global issues. They demonstrated during Covid that they would support people and businesses with the furlough scheme, and responded quickly with the vaccine roll out. We’ve led the way with support for Ukraine. And focussed on getting inflation down to address the cost of living, there is still a way to go but we are seeing the green shoots as the economy recovers. There have been an additional 800 people in jobs for every single day the Conservatives have been in office.  Education is vitally important, and thanks to the work of the Government on education, our children are now the best readers in the western world, and have risen in the global league tables for maths too. We now have more Good and Outstanding schools than ever before. 

What challenges do you face representing a diverse constituency – rural/urban- different sets of priorities and challenges etc ?

Good education, being able to see your GP, the state of the roads, the cost of living, these are universal issues across the constituency. As someone who has worked in retail and small business, I understand the challenges of a city centre. As somebody with a veterinary and Defra background, I understand the challenges for a rural and farming community. 

Balancing the priorities of rural and urban areas is a key part of my plan. I see the diversity of Chester South and Eddisbury as one of its greatest strengths. Taking advantage of the opportunities of being part of Chester whilst preserving the most beautiful countryside in our country.

What would you say to disaffected former residents of City of Chester?

I am very much focussed on working for the whole constituency. I have a strong personal connection and love for Chester, so it matters greatly to me that the city is not ignored, and I have already made sure that I’m meeting and working with organisations and campaigns that affect the centre – including the repair the City Walls campaign group who I have met and joined the walk to raise awareness of the need for repairs, The Story House supporting their work and meeting with them to hear about their community outreach, I’ve attended the launch of Project Discovery at Chester Cathedral, been involved in the Chester Great and Small One Year on feedback session, supported the Hospice of the Good Shepherd, met with the head teacher at the Kings School, spoken to residents in Lache concerned about losing their green spaces – just to name a few of the things I’m doing that are focussed in Chester. 

What are the main challenges facing Chester South and how will you address them?

Making sure that we have the GPs and school places to keep pace with development. 

Protecting our green spaces, having spoken to residents in Lache I very much understand how important it is that we ensure that we protect their vital green areas.

Maintaining the roads and pavements, and ensuring that the area is well maintained. Working to enhance our city centre. Protecting our heritage sites, boosting tourism, helping the high street to thrive. 

What do you feel needs to happen for residents to adjust to climate change?

I am very concerned about Climate Change, as an environmental economist and as a parent, the future of the climate is a big issue for me. The UK has led the world on tackling climate change, having cut our emissions more than any other major economy. We are committed to getting to net zero on the fairest possible path and in a way that brings people with us. We need to cut the cost of tackling climate change for households and business, ensuring that families are given time to make changes.

What is your stance on Palestine?

Like everyone I would like to see a peaceful solution as quickly as possible. We must make sure that humanitarian aid is getting into Gaza. In order for there to be resolution it requires all sides to work towards this, and so the hostages that are being held must be released. 

What are your thoughts on housing policy?

We know we need to build more houses to match the growing demand. However, these need to be the right houses in the right places. It is important that we don’t build over our valuable green spaces, so we can preserve our beautiful countryside and nature for future generations. We must also ensure that we have the infrastructure to support any housing developments. It is essential to have sufficient numbers of GPs, schools and transport links to support and nurture growing communities. It’s important to build homes, not just houses. Creating sustainable communities where people can thrive. By carefully planning developments, we can meet housing needs without compromising the unique beauty and communities in Chester South and Eddisbury. 

I support our manifesto commitments to deliver a record number of homes each year on brownfield land in urban areas. Making sure local authorities use the new Infrastructure Levy to deliver the GP surgeries, roads and other local infrastructure needed to support homes. And retaining our cast-iron commitment to protect the Green Belt from uncontrolled development, while ensuring more homes get built where it makes sense.

What are your thoughts on our future relationship with the EU?

We want to cooperate and work with our European neighbours, as well as building relationships globally. We must look to the future now, and make sure that we are making the most of the advantages of having left the EU whilst ensuring that we work positively with our European neighbours across a range of issues.

Is a trans woman a woman?

No, a woman is a biological adult female, and whilst I do think that we should treat everyone with compassion and respect, it is vital that we protect women only spaces including women’s refuges, prisons, and protect women only sports.

What are your views on renationalising services and utilities?

What I’m interested in is getting the best run services which give value to people, we shouldn’t limit ourselves by ideology, we should be striving for the best outcomes for local people. 

What 3 key policies from the national manifesto will encourage people to vote for you?

As a working mum, I know the challenges of juggling child care with going out to work and the significant financial cost of doing so. The introduction of 30 hours of free childcare a week from the age of 9 months old until your little one starts school will be transformational. It will save families money and, I hope, will take away some of the financial worry of returning to work when you have a young family.

We’re committing to boosting defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. Both my brother and brother-in-law served in the armed forces, I feel very strongly that we must invest in national defence so that those people who go out to keep us safe have the equipment and training that they need. Now, more than ever, it is so important for all of us that we safeguard our national security. 

Everyone has been impacted by the cost of living, and as the economy begins to recover we need to make sure that everyone keeps more of the money they’ve earned. Our manifesto commits to cutting tax for workers by taking another 2p off employee national insurance, and cutting tax for pensioners with the new Triple Lock Plus, guaranteeing that both the state pension and the tax free allowance for pensioners always rise with the highest of inflation, earnings or 2.5%.

What is your stance on immigration?

We must stop illegal immigration, and have a sensible and fair policy for legal migration. 

David Cameron said recently that every village and town had something to be proud of. What are you proud of in Chester South and Eddisbury?

The People. From Handbridge to Audlem, from Cuddington to Malpas. I have met amazing people across our constituency, and in every area and every village there are good people looking out for their friends and neighbours, or helping out in their community. We are lucky to live in the best place in the UK.