The Conservative , Liberal Democrat and Labour parties have announced their candidates for December’s Parliamentary By-Election. The vote to select a new MP will take place on Thursday December 1st, following the resignation of Labour’s Chris Matheson over sexual misconduct charges.
The Conservative party have selected Elizabeth Wardlaw as their candidate. Elizabeth from Congleton currently serves as a councillor for Cheshire East Council’s Odd Rode ward. Elizabeth told local media on Saturday that she ” understands the pressures on local people” and that she believes she would be the ideal candidate to represent the city in Westminster.
She said: “Chester is such an iconic city and if elected as the Conservative MP I will fight for the issues that matter to local people, ensuring their voices are heard in parliament.”
She added that she would be “best placed” to work with the Government to ensure the city doesn’t miss out on funding opportunities and incentives from the Government’s Levelling up agenda.
She said: “Across Cheshire I know that such things as housing, employment, education, renewable energy, food security and the rural economy are all things that matter to people, but I also want to hear what other issues residents have here in Chester.
“I’m under no illusions, there are difficult times ahead for everyone, but it’s more important now than ever, to get on with delivering our manifesto. We need to invigorate the city of Chester and energise our local economy which I believe only the Conservatives can do.”
Samantha Dixon has been chosen today by the local membership to represent the Labour Party in the upcoming Chester by-election.
Samantha is a local councillor who has lived in the Chester area since she was four years old. In 2015 she became the first woman leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council. Earlier this year she was recognised with an MBE for her services to Chester.
Samantha said: “It is an honour to be representing Chester as Labour’s parliamentary candidate. Chester is my home, where I brought up my family, and where my heart is. We have so much to be proud of in our historic city, but we’ve been let down by this Conservative government.
“In the cost of living crisis, people in Chester face soaring mortgage rates, fuel and food prices, as a result of the chaotic Conservative government destroying our economy.
“My life has been dedicated to helping local people, and I will take the fight to the Tories on behalf of all Chester residents. The Conservatives have put party first, country second and left working people to pay the price. We need a Labour government to grow the economy, keep energy bills down and rebuild the country for a fairer future.”
Teacher Rob Herd, 38, is standing for the Liberal Democrats, having previously been announced as the prospective parliamentary candidate back in September.
Rob is a Law and French graduate from the University of Leeds, who went on to study the Legal
Practitioners Course at Nottingham College of Law. Whilst at the University of Leeds, Rob was President of the Erasmus Society. He later qualified as a teacher with a postgraduate certificate in education and a Master’s in education from Liverpool John Moores University. Rob first came to Chester in 2009 to work for The Living Room on St Werburgh Street and was General Manager there for two years. He now lives in Great Boughton with his partner, Mark.
Rob’s passion for social mobility, social equality and the next generation is clear through his work in schools as a Head of Modern Languages in schools in St Helens and in Chester. Rob has served the population of Chester as a governor at Boughton Heath Academy in Great Boughton for four years and he is currently a trustee at Cheshire, Warrington and Halton Race & Equality Centre. He has been a member of the Liberal Democrats since the age of eighteen.
Rob would like to see Chester better promoted on the national stage and a more robust response to the really worrying cost of living crisis. He is a passionate advocate for education and social mobility, environmental standards, electoral and voting system reform and bringing integrity, transparency, and openness back to politics.
Rob says: “It is an honour to be selected to represent the liberal voices of Chester and to be able to stand in the next general election. I have been moved to stand for election because I am fed up with the level of public debate and the mismanagement of things like the cost-of-living crisis, sewage, track and trace and social care. I am committed to a Chester where we won’t have to worry about sewage in the river Dee and where the Countess of Chester Hospital isn’t straining under the weight of under-funding and stressed-out employees. I fully intend to conduct myself with integrity in being a voice for everyone from every section of our diverse community.”
The Green Party candidate will be announced this week. The Monster Raving Loony Party, Reform party and Rejoin EU have also announced their intentions to stand.
The Chester blog 