1.Tell us about yourself and why you are standing

This is my home. I was born at the Countess of Chester Hospital – when it was called the West Cheshire. I live here now – in Hoole. I’m a councillor here – the most rewarding thing I do – for the Saughall and Mollington Ward on the outskirts of the city. I’m in this constituency, doing things, every single day of the week. It’s the place that I care about most.

I’m not just another politician. Although I have broad experience working in politics in frontline campaigning roles (so I know how to campaign to ‘get things done’) and for a former Member of the European Parliament, I now work in industry in the maritime sector in the Liverpool City Region. My job is entirely focused on creating jobs and growth and supporting businesses to succeed. It’s an industry that makes a massive financial contribution to the North West and, crucially, supports many thousands of people in highly skilled and rewarding careers.

Being a councillor is the best thing I’ve ever done. I hope my residents think I’ve done the best possible job for them. But it is also the most frustrating job I’ve ever done. That’s another reason why I’m standing to be the Member of Parliament for the new Chester North & Neston constituency.

I want to make a difference on those things that I know matter in this community – because I use the same services, enjoy the same heritage and places of worship, use the local roads, the doctors surgery, the dentist, and the coffee shops, restaurants and other local businesses here – everything that makes this a fantastic place to live.

Chester is a wonderful place, but it can also be better still. Yes, this election is about what happens nationally. But it’s also about our home. And people deserve to have a local MP who will always put them first.

That’s why I’ve put together a simple six-point plan. It isn’t rocket science; – it’s ambitious but deliverable. I’d like the opportunity to deliver on my plan for our great city and the wider constituency. More about that later in this blog!

2.What personal attributes can you bring to the role?

Cynicism in politics has soared in recent years. The electorate expect politicians to demonstrate the highest possible standards, hard work, loyalty to causes, passionate issue advocacy and values-based actions. They also want someone who will put them first. These expectations reflect my values and are at the heart of what I do. As a councillor in a large rural ward, I treat every issue with equal concern, articulating causes verbally and in writing, because what matters to you matters to me. From planning to potholes to litter to tackling school transport challenges, I deal with issues personally, thoroughly and where appropriate in partnership with parish councils and residents to deliver results. As our Member of Parliament, I would bring the same diligence and commitment to seeing things through to a successful conclusion on behalf of the electorate.

I am a strong advocate for teamwork and am actively involved in a number of local campaign groups, particularly focused on the environment, helping to deliver change by working together. I am loyal to causes I take up, for example, I’ve actively campaigned against single use plastic and support projects like tree planting by rolling up my sleeves and picking up a shovel! This work is focused on improving communities and the lives of local people – something I feel strongly about.

I have a compassionate and pastoral concern for the welfare of others and am a Church of England ‘Reader’. This isn’t just about having a religious conviction; it is about helping people, providing trustworthy leadership, listening and putting principles into action. This role, like that of an elected representative, demands the highest possible standards and commitment.

3.What are your 3 main priorities for Chester if elected?

I’ve developed a ‘six point’ plan which I’ve been campaigning on in this general election. In short, it focuses on:

· Levelling up investment in local skills and jobs to deliver the skills we need – I’ll use my experience in industry to do that.

· Making our streets safer for every resident in every community – I’ll build on the fact we’ve now got more Police officers here in Cheshire than any time in the force’s history.

· Delivering better transport and travel connections – not just talking about it – or being negative towards the Government all the time.

· Making the most of our unique heritage assets across the constituency – and that includes securing more resources for the city walls – not joking about them.

· Protecting and improving our environment – one of my greatest passions – the biggest challenge of our times.

· Securing the resources we need to deliver and improve our communities – I believe we’ve missed out here because we’ve had a string of politicians that have talked a lot but delivered little.

I believe all six of these points matter and have resonance across Chester but this constituency now also covers the area from the city up to the Wirral border. If I had to pick just three, I’d go for safer streets, better transport and backing our local heritage (to which I’d cheekily add improving the River Dee as it’s one of our most significant local assets).

You can find out more about my plan for Chester North & Neston here: http://www.simoneardley.uk/ourplan

4.How would you assess the performance of the Government?

In recent years, we’ve experienced unprecedented challenges which it must be admitted have caused turmoil in the performance of the Government at times. The Covid-19 pandemic was a time of incredible turmoil and upheaval for everyone – including the Government of the day. It required a massive response on the part of everyone but it also meant that ‘business as usual’ wasn’t possible from a government perspective. We are still dealing with the ramifications of that time and will be for many years to come.

And then we’ve had one of the worst major conflicts on European soil since the Second World War with the war in Ukraine. Unlike some political parties standing in this election, i.e. Reform, I am absolutely clear who bears the responsibility for this conflict – Putin and Russia. The war in Ukraine has had a massive impact on rising energy costs and higher inflation across Europe, not just in the UK. We are only now back to the point in recent weeks where inflation is at the Bank of England target level of 2%. This turmoil inevitably added to the ability of government to undertake ‘business as usual.’

I regret the short premiership of Liz Truss and, as a Conservative Party member, voted for Rishi Sunak to be Prime Minister in the 2022 leadership contest. I am pleased that he eventually took over – it would have been much better for the country if he had succeeded Boris Johnson originally. Since then, I know the Prime Minister has worked tirelessly to take bold actions and bring stability to the country. This hasn’t been easy, nobody can dispute that. But he set out a clear plan and he’s been delivering on it ever since. I don’t believe now is the time to change direction and take a punt on Labour who during the general election campaign have become renowned for what they aren’t saying as much as what they have said!

Despite this, let’s not overlook some of the positives, like how over 14 years we’ve driven up school standards so 90% of schools are either good or outstanding, we’ve doubled the personal allowance, taken 3 million people out of tax altogether and supported many millions of people to find the security of a job – including protection of them through schemes like furlough during the worst times of the pandemic.

5.How would they like to see the NHS run and funded going forward?

I was born at the Countess (when it was called the ‘West Cheshire’). I use the NHS now. My family use the NHS too. I know how important it is to everyone, just as it is to me. My mother suffered a terrible stroke over 10 years ago – she owes her life to the care she received when that happened and the support she has received since. I fully support the principle of the NHS being free at the point of use and will always support it but that doesn’t mean to say it has to always remain exactly the same. If we can bring about improvements to the services it provides and the care it is able to offer, then we should. That doesn’t mean ‘privatisation’ but it does mean being honest about what might not be working as well as it should and being pragmatic about what can be done to address this, like the introduction of ‘Pharmacy First’ which has expanded which conditions pharmacists can treat.

NHS funding, under the Conservative Government, is higher than it has ever been. And we’ve committed to increasing its funding going forward above inflation every year. Our manifesto contains a commitment to recruit 92,000 more nurses and 28,000 more doctors. We are also committed to expanding mental health provision, a subject close to my own heart owing to direct personal and family experiences in this area, by investing £730 million extra a year by 2029-30.

6.What do you intend to do about sewage dumping into the Dee river? What will you do to help get bathing water status?

Everyone who loves Chester loves the River Dee – the health of it and the future protection of it matters to us all. It is one of my priorities in my ‘Our Plan’ campaigning that I’ve been doing as part of my campaign to become our MP.

I was proud to serve on the original Cheshire West and Chester Council committee that recently carried out an investigation into water quality in the River Dee. Its most important recommendation was that as a Council we seek to achieve bathing water status for the Dee and I am disappointed that that hasn’t been possible. The change of criteria during the application process by the Government was regrettable and I hope we can still pursue this going forward. This committee met on a cross-party basis and rightly so. Its work is continuing with a broader review of other rivers in the CWaC area and I am proud to continue to serve on it so we can ensure our rivers are of the highest quality. I believe strongly that we need to address this issue on an ongoing cross-party basis and I’m therefore incredibly disappointed that I wasn’t included (perhaps specifically excluded, I don’t know) in the Labour candidate’s recent ‘Summit of the Dee’ activities. This issue is too important for us to play party politics with – it wasn’t invented by a Conservative government!

I am pleased that under a Conservative Government, strong steps have been taken to address this problem and I support:

– The requirement that water companies continue to invest substantially into environmental improvements to stop discharges (beyond the £56 billion that has already happened)

– The fact that we’ve increased the monitoring of storm overflows in England from 7% to 100% (more than any other nation in the UK)

– The introduction of unannounced water company inspections (which have been quadrupled in recent times) which will mean 4,000 a year by April 2025 and then to 10,000 a year from April 2026

– The banning of bonuses for bosses of water that have committed criminal breaches

– The introduction of unlimited penalties for environmental breaches and giving the regulators of water companies more powers – the Conservatives have already scrapped the cap on civil penalties

Yes, there’s more to be done. But these are important and positive steps that are making, and will continue to make, a difference.

But this isn’t just about the water companies. There are other steps we can take to improve the health of our precious River Dee and rivers more generally. That means building sustainable drainage systems when there’s new housing development; exploring natural flood management which has already been used to good effect in the wider county area; creating more wetlands – like the proposed one at the Countess of Chester Country Park which I have backed; and acting responsibly when we dispose of products such as ‘wet wipes’ that if flushed down the loo cause blockages in the system. I’d go further too,on things like banning artificial grass which does nothing for biodiversity and actively encourages excess water run-off into the drainage system rather than capture in garden settings.

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

Along with nearly 17.5 million people, I voted to Leave the EU in 2016. This might surprise you given that I was working for an MEP at the time! But I’ve always believed that the sovereignty of our own Parliament sits at the heart of our democracy and that the decisions we make in Westminster should be what ultimately govern the future destiny of our country. The reality was very different whilst we were members of the European Union, where European law took precedence. Under such circumstances I wouldn’t have stood for election to the Westminster Parliament – what would be the point!?

Our European neighbours are amongst our most significant trading partners and our relationship with the EU should be built on strong mutual co-operation and respect. The UK has always been an outward-looking country which champions collective security (with NATO as the bedrock of our European security), human rights, free trade, anti-corruption efforts and the rules-based international system.

Since 2019, the world has changed considerably and is now the most dangerous it has been since the end of the Cold War. Our relationships across the world matter, and that includes with the European Union, the Commonwealth and the United States. I want our focus to be as broad and ambitious as possible.

8. Is a trans woman a woman?

I appreciate this is a very sensitive issue for many people but fundamentally I believe there is a clear distinction between biological sex and gender. Biological sex matters and should be respected. A woman is an adult human female.

I believe that single sex toilets and changing facilities should be protected, that there should be single sex protection for women in prison and refuges, single sex sports and same sex care in hospital, home and care settings.

I also strongly believe that tolerance of differing views on this subject is important. I would always wish to approach the matter from a starting point of sensitivity and compassion.

9. What is your stance on immigration?

To be honest, I find so much of this debate troubling.

The rhetoric is something I worry about – I worry about the messages we send out to people when people like Nigel Farage, for example, use the word ‘invasion’ when referring to immigration issues. The tone is extreme, divisive and unnecessary.

Chester is a city of great diversity, with many different communities represented – I applaud that. But I also recognise that many people are worried about immigration and immigration numbers. We should never forget that Britain has always been a tolerant, open and welcoming country. Our values as a country have often led the world by example.

A nasty, radical and inflammatory approach on immigration isn’t something I support. It’s not the sort of person I am. And I won’t ‘play to the crowd’ on this issue just to win votes.

I’m proud that we’ve supported those fleeing war in Ukraine and China’s actions in Hong Kong. We have to do those things; it’s the right thing to do. But we do need wider migration to be sustainable.

A Conservative Government will cap immigration based on what the British economy needs and the costs to public services. Net migration is coming down. There’s more to do.

But please, let’s have moderate and sensible language in this debate!

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

The Conservative Party Manifesto is around 80 pages long so it is quite hard to choose three key policies. But these are the three I think stand out:

1. The first duty of any government is the security of the British people. There’s no question that our world is increasingly dangerous and unstable – just look at the brutal war inflicted on Ukraine and the impact that has had on us all. I strongly support the Conservative proposal to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. This really matters, both to our national security and the defence support we provide abroad.

2. Our economy thrives when people have more money in their back pocket – that has a direct impact on the health of our high streets like in Chester itself, the town of Neston, and in the various other communities across this constituency where clusters of smaller shops and businesses matter so much, like Hoole, Upton and Willaston. I want to see taxes cut for working people, through ongoing reductions in National Insurance, and incomes protected for pensioners, through guarantees like our Triple Lock Plus, so that the State Pension doesn’t get dragged into tax.

3. As a local councillor, I know that residents care deeply about the basics in life and get very frustrated when they don’t function or are simply deficient. Things like the state of local roads and pavements, poor transport services and the need for investment to boost jobs and growth opportunities. I want to see the Government deliver on its commitment to invest £36 billion overall in roads, rail and buses – and the £168 million we’ve been allocated here in Cheshire West and Chester delivered fully and quickly, so the maximum number of people as possible benefit from it.

11. What improvements to active travel and public transport in the area will you make?

I’ve supported Active Travel in Chester for a number of years. I volunteered for the Active Travel Festival in 2023 and would have done so again in June, but wasn’t able to as I’m a candidate in this election.

I know that in my own ward,places likes Saughall have a great bus service. But it doesn’t really exist in places like Backford or Capenhurst or Lea-by-Backford or Puddington. And that’s despite the very successful HMG £2 fare scheme – which the Conservatives introduced and are committed to continuing. We need to ensure people can get around in both urban and rural areas.

I was critical of the Covid-19 pandemic ‘active travel lanes’ implemented in the city. They were badly introduced, probably in the wrong place and in places like at Waitrose in Boughton likely made air pollution worse for residents. The Council thought again on them but only after a major outcry from residents. For me, that illustrated that we need to take people with us on this issue – working with residents to improve active travel which will reduce pollution.

This can include things like improving local public rights of way too. I’ve got a track record on things like that – in February this year I tried to add an additional £200,000 to the council budget to do this. Labour just said no.

We’ve also been able to do things on supporting the Park & Ride locally – thanks to Government funding – subsidising travel on it at the start of the year. We might need to continue to do that but need to ensure we’re focused on what local people want to use.

And of course, we need to continue investing in alternatives to petrol and diesel cars – in a sensible and proportionate way – that’s about ramping up investment in EV charging points and exploring at pace other alternatives to carbon intensive fuels.

In terms of rail, Chester should be one of the best-connected cities in the whole country. It isn’t. The so-called glory days of British Rail weren’t that glorious – so I’m not sure nationalising our railways as the Labour Party effectively plan to do is the answer either.

When the Government announced the cancellation of part of HS2, it committed to reallocating that money for key transport projects. That included electrification of the Crewe / Chester / North Wales line. This will be a game changer for people in and around Chester,and I’ve already been working with colleagues such as Dr James Davies in North Wales to ensure that this long overdue infrastructure change is delivered.

Too often politicians just TALK about these things. The job of an MP is to get things done, and ensure those responsible are delivering for local people. That’s precisely what I’d do if elected.

12. What is your stance on fox hunting?

This isn’t really an issue that affects the Chester North and Neston constituency, despite the fact that we have significant rural communities within it, including the CWaC ward of Saughall and Mollington that I represent. I am not in favour of a change to the law to reverse the provisions of the current Hunting Act. Many hours were spent on the original legislation at the expense of other pressing matters.

Members of the hunting community in Cheshire should stick to the current rules which I believe are clear and not flout them in any way. Having grown up on a small Cheshire dairy farm, where we also kept a small flock of hens, I know first-hand the devastation that uncontrolled fox populations can cause, but that doesn’t mean I would wish to see a change in the current law.

13. Would you support the introduction of a business rate on owners of student HMO and purpose built student accommodation ?

I am not opposed to this approach in principle, but it is not something I have considered in great detail and would wish to take wider soundings from those potentially impacted before arriving at a definitive position. I would be concerned if such a policy were introduced that an unintended consequence, although logical if you are the landlord, would be to pass the cost implications on to the students themselves. This wouldn’t be helpful for those putting most of their resources towards furthering their education – especially in a city like Chester where our university is increasing in importance, success and reputation. Growing demand in this sector due to increasing student numbers, and the need for more housing to meet this demand, is likely to require significant private investment too. Increasing the tax burden on those in a position to invest in these properties will act as a barrier when we know there is an overall need for more accommodation in Chester and beyond.

14.What are your thoughts on housing policy and substandard social housing ?

We need more homes in our country but they also need to be in the right place. Although 2.5 million homes have been delivered since 2010, more needs to be done. Conservatives have always prioritised making the ‘dream of home ownership’ a reality and we remain committed to doing so in the next Parliament, including building 1.6 million new homes on brownfield sites in cities and town centres. I strongly support protecting the greenbelt from over-development – house building should be in the right place and this rarely includes in the open countryside. But building homes is one thing – people also need the means to ‘get on the housing ladder’ which requires practical support from government. That’s why we’ve committed to a new ‘Help to Buy’ scheme to provide first time buyers with a loan of up to 20% towards the cost of a new build home and enabling them to get on the housing ladder with a 5% deposit on interest terms they can afford.

Home ownership won’t always be possible for everyone. As a local councillor, I deal with cases relating to social housing, sometimes blighted by unacceptable conditions, including the presence of mould and damp. I’ve always been a strong advocate for residents on these sorts of issues, working to help get them resolved as quickly and robustly as possible, and pressing social housing providers to take swift and immediate action to remedy problems when they arise. It is the duty of an elected representative to act on behalf of constituents and ensure these sorts of issues are dealt with, and I’ve always taken that approach at a local council level and would do the same as our MP.

15. How would propose to solve the current social care crisis which takes up a high % of council budgets?

We need an honest debate on this vitally important subject which is likely to affect us all at some point in our lives. Sadly, too often discussion around it has been dominated by party politics and point scoring which has gotten in the way of a realistic and consensus driven long-term strategy. I recall Theresa May’s proposals in the 2017 general election being labelled a ‘Dementia Tax’ by the opposition – we need to get away from this approach and find a way forward that we can all get behind. There’s been talk of a Royal Commission on the subject in the past – a form of major, independent public inquiry to investigate the issue. This would bring together the best minds to find solutions and I’d back this approach as I genuinely believe we need to take ‘party politics’ as far out of the equation on this as possible.

In the short term, local authorities do need more certainty around social care funding which the Conservatives have committed to delivering in the form of a multi-year funding settlement. I also support the commitment to a cap of social care costs (£86,000 over someone’s lifetime).

16. What are your plans for dealing with the cost of living crisis and the rising need for foodbanks?

Economic stability is the key to dealing with the cost of living crisis and the need for foodbanks. Progress has been made in recent months – inflation is down, real wages are rising, growth has returned and taxes are being cut to put more money in people’s pockets. I appreciate that times have been tough – I’m not immune from the impact of the cost of living challenges we’ve all faced; few of us are.

I believe – and Conservatives believe – that the best way out of poverty is through work. As I’ve said, my work in industry is entirely focused on delivering jobs and growth, each and every day. And it’s in some of the most challenging and deprived places in the country –– like Knowsley and Bootle and around parts of Liverpool. But I believe that having a good job, a skilled job and a well-paid job is the key to having security in life.

As a councillor, I’ve voted against increases in council tax locally, and I know these increases are a concern for many when they see their bills rise by nearly 5% as standard each year. I’m concerned that we might see changes to council tax bands (an increase in them) or even a council tax revaluation like in Labour-run Wales in the future – this would increase pressure on household budgets.

I welcome the Conservative manifesto commitment to cut National Insurance for 27 million working people, building on progress already made on this in recent months.

17. Building on recent success, Storyhouse, Northgate etc what are the next steps in revitalising the city centre?

My heart sinks when I see people criticise what’s happening in our city. ‘Another coffee shop’ they cry – so what! A business, giving it a go in the city and doing their best; I’m 100% behind anyone who wants to set up a business here. So much of our strength as a city lies in the independent offering that we have and the diversity of that offering. There’s literally something for everyone and I’m a positive and enthusiastic advocate for all that makes us good.

The reality is that the way people shop has changed and it’s unlikely to go back to how it used to be. But we have so much to be proud of – a fantastic and successful market, the brilliant Storyhouse and Picturehouse to name just a few. But let’s not forget all the other assets locally that make us so unique too – like the Cathedral who are always innovating and are one of the most significant destinations that we have here in Chester. Our history spans centuries – and we should play to all these strengths, like our incredible city walls (yes, they do need greater investment – they aren’t something anyone should be joking about), our unique Rows, Chester Castle – the list is endless.

Revitalising the city centre isn’t something an MP can tackle alone; they must work in partnership with a range of other organisations. I’d like to see more ambition on the delivery of initiatives such as the One City Plan (too often we seem to just talk about it all), for Northgate Phase 2 to become a reality (this shouldn’t take decades to deliver), a realistic future for iconic buildings such as the former Browns of Chester department store, and real partnership working across the range of groups we have locally – from heritage to environmental causes – to ensure all voices and interests are fully represented. Above all – let’s be positive!

18. What are your views on renationalising services and utilities?

I’m nervous about the idea that ‘government knows best’ on everything. My experience working with government at a national and local level is that it rarely does, and that in any case, there is often a limit on what publicly funded bodies can achieve. Money (tax!) doesn’t just drop out of the sky – it comes from somewhere – usually from you and me.

In practical terms, I think the wholesale renationalisation of services and utilities is unrealistic and prohibitively expensive. But that doesn’t mean that privately owned companies should have some sort of ‘free for all’ and take an irresponsible approach to management of services and the costs associated with them. Government has a unique and essential role to pay in ensuring full, proper and accountable regulation of services and utilities that are not under public ownership. I’d strengthen the bodies responsible for regulating, rather than assume that the Government actually running them is the better option