In the lead-up to the General Election on July 4 the Citizen will be running a series of interviews with the seven candidates hoping to be the next MP for North East Cambridgeshire.
Each of the seven: Steve Barclay (Conservative), David Chalmers (Lib Dem), Andrew Crawford (Green), Javeria Hussain (Labour), David Patrick (Independent), Clayton Payne (Workers Party of Britain), Chris Thornhill (Reform), will be asked a series of the same questions to give voters more of an understanding of themselves and their views.
Here David Chalmers the Liberal Democrat’s hope for our area outlines what has motivated him to stand for election, and what he hopes to choose should he win the seat next month.
David currently lives in Letchworth, but has vowed to move to Fenland as soon as he is elected.
It has been a few weeks since the election was called how is your campaign going?
“It has been going really well, I have had a very good response. I don’t have huge resources, but I have been out talking to people and there is a strong feeling people want change.
“I want to offer an alternative to the Conservatives and I have been into care homes, colleges, businesses and talking to farmers and letting people know where I am on social media so they can come down and have a chat, and it appears to have been working really well.
“If there was more time I might have done door step canvassing, but to be honest it is not necessarily the best way to meet people.
“I have been listening to what people have to say, to hear their concerns and to understand the issues affecting them.”
What sort of response have you had so far?
“As I said the response is really good. Listening to people is a good way of understanding what people want. I have been supported by two local councillors Gavin Booth and Diane Cutler and they both have a very good understanding of the local community.
“I have been getting the party’s message out and making people see we really are a viable alternative to the Conservatives.
“For me the General Election is a great opportunity to raise issues like the lack of buses and trains, and put that on the agenda and hopefully get them discussed in parliament.”
Why are you running for MP?
“This is my third attempt at becoming an MP. I know I have been accused of being parachuted for this election, but I chose to stand for Fenland – I want to represent this area, I desperately want to be an MP and I feel I do understand the issues in this area.
“I currently live in Letchworth, I moved there for work, but before that I lived in North Devon and it has an awful lot of similarities to Fenland. It has only one road in and out, it has poor bus and train services. It is a rural area and has farming at its heart.
“I got into politics at university, but then life got in the way. I was inspired by Lynne Featherstone who was a minister in the coalition and I saw what a difference she could make.
“I know there is a lot of cynicism, about MPs but you really can lobby for change, and I want to make a difference.”
What will you do for North East Cambridgeshire if elected?
“My campaign has been all about listening so I understand what is important to people. I will give a voice to the local community. I want to look at the issues and to try to bring about proper solutions – that’s the real job of an MP.
“I want make sure we are looking at infra-structure, dealing with poverty and helping business. Being a minister takes a huge amount of time and it means that Steve Barclay has not been able to focus on Fenland as much. I want to make Fenland my sole focus.”
Is it a time for change?
“It is clear people want change and I want them to understand I am a viable option for that change. When a party has been in power a long time, it comes to a natural end and there is an opportunity to bring somebody else in.””
What would your key priorities be?
“Our manifesto has put social care and the NHS at the forefront of our campaign, we want it to be fair and free for all. Social care is an important part of the NHS and it needs to be properly recognised.
“We want to develop closer links with Europe, and that does not mean rejoining the European Union, we have left and that is done. What we need to do is create closer links so that for instance our children can study in Europe.
“Calling for proper parliamentary debates on things like infra-structure in this area. The Devon MPs have achieved that and I would like to do the same for Fenland. Obviously we have party political beliefs but and MP needs to dedicate themselves, regardless, to the community they represent.
“People are struggling to make ends meet, there are those who are so wealthy they can’t understand how others cannot just pay their basic bills and think that some how those people have gone wrong.
“The people at the bottom are being left with less and less and I would like to see that addressed.”
What are your hopes/expectations for July 4?
“I desperately want to be the next MP for Fenland. I want to represent this area and give it a strong voice in parliament. I chose to stand in Fenland, it was not chosen for me. I understand why I have been accused of being parachuted in, but that is honestly not the case. I truly believe I can make a difference.”
What is your final message for voters?
“I can only put myself forward, I can only do so much in a few weeks, but I promise I will do my best for Fenland, and I will move to the area so I can put myself at the heart of the community and be here for the people who need the help of their MP.”
