Vote 2015: See who's standing as a parliamentary candidate for Bournemouth West

Conor Burns, Conservative

Conservative candidate Conor Burns was born in Northern Ireland but grew up in Hertfordshire and went on to study Modern History and Politics at the University of Southampton. He was elected to Parliament for Bournemouth West, Alderney and Branksome East in 2010. 

Website: conorburns.com

Email: mail@conorburns.com

Twitter: @conor_burns2015

Dick Franklin, Patria

Dick Franklin, who lives with his wife in Wimborne, had a long career with HM Customs and Excise and subsequently with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, before taking early retirement a few years ago. He has lived in Dorset for the past 28 years and has a grown-up daughter. 

Website: patria-uk.org/patria-candidate-dick-franklin/

He answered the Echo's seven questions as follows: 

Why did I stand for this election?

I think this is going to be a more important election than in the past since it may be the last one in which British nationalists will be able to spread the word with even the modest degree of freedom we have at the moment.

The Home Secretary was recently grumbling that she would crack down on so-called "right wing extremists" irrespective of the law and democracy. The establishment parties have been trying to silence British nationalists for many years. They have failed so far but that will not stop them from trying.Their pretensions to be democrats seem to be being thrown out of the window along with the rest of the British Constitution.

I am standing because I want to make a real difference  helping to rejuvenate this country as great nation.  I would like it to be more self sufficient and less dependent on imported goods and services, I would like to see it safe within its own borders and most of all I want our racial integrity retained (if not lost already) and Britain and the British put first and always.

What are the key issues?

I believe the key issues to be immigration, getting out of the European Union and the restoration of national sovereignty and the rule of law under the Queen in Parliament.

Where do I stand on reneweable energy and fracking?

I believe wind farms have largely proved to be a costly failure. However in general terms I am very much in favour of renewable energy provision. We are an island surrounded by  tides which we know will come in and out every day without fail expending great power which can be harvested in the technology is in place.

This is an areas where so  much more  could be done. I am also a great proponent of solar power and I just do not mean solar panels on roof tops. Much could be done for example by collecting solar power in orbit.

As regards hydraulic fracturing, I am for this, provided environmental and public health concerns are satisfied. This potentially could strengthen our energy security and provide cheaper and more reliable power.

What could be done to improve the housing situation in Dorset?

Wherever possible and building and re-building should be on brownfield sites. All public sector housing should be brought under the control and ownership of locally elected councils.

Local residents with at least five years continuous residence will be given priority in the in the allocation of social housing. No one will be eligible for social housing unless they have been a British citizen for at least 10 years. The proceeds from any sales of social housing should be ploughed back into further social housing.

Regarding the the private sector we will make more attempts to help first time buyers. The building societies should exist to provide buyers with mortgages and these should be provided without upfront costs, provided the buyer has a good record.

We also believe that deposits required are far too high and we would be looking for buyers to to be able to buy without having to pat massive deposts. This makes house buying almost impossible for many couples and is ultimately self defeating.

We would be looking at the provision of the private rental sector both to protect the buyer and the landlord. We  believe that "squatting" in private residential properties should be made a criminal offence. As with the rest of the economy, we would like to see houses in Britain and indeed all other properties, constructed by British builders using British materials and equipment.

What three things could be done to improve education provision in Dorset?

Abolish the current system of student loans and introduce a new state funded grant for higher education in respect of tuition fees and subsistence. I would like to see a wide extension of genuine apprenticeship schemes with real jobs and careers at the end of it. At the moment there are a number of so-called apprenticeships which are just used as an excuse the avoid the minimum wage. Finally I would like to see a return to teaching of mental arithmetic and a widening in other subjects especially British history.

How would I tackle the issue of mental health treatment?   

This is something  close to my heart having lost a son to mental illness. MH treatment is often said to be the poor relation in terms of NHS provision and this is certainly true.

It needs far more resources than it has at present and people often have to wait long periods for treatment which is of  short duration. I think that MH treatment needs to be "person centred" rather than locality centred as seems to be the present case.

CMHTeams and the Crisis Service needs to be beefed up considerably and they need to work with other NHS services in a joined up manner. So if an individual is identified with an MH problem they could be given intensive treatment irrespective of where they happen to live in Dorset or elsewhere.

All though not strictly a Parliamentary matter, I would like to see the voluntary sector act in the same way. Local charities are often locality based and can provide overlapping services. They are often reliant on funding from local authorities who are too focused on whether or not a client lives within their area rather than on the needs of the client themselves. They need to coordinate their activities.

What is my red line policy?

I have only one red line and that is the whole purpose I am standing. I just want to keep Britain British.

Martin Houlden, Ukip

UKip candidate Martin Houlden is a local businessman, husband and father. He's been the MD of his own company for well over a decade and was a former local councillor in Wiltshire.

Elizabeth McManus, Green

Green candidate Elizbaeth McManus was born and raised in Poole and moved to Bournemouth 10 years ago. She is involved in Slades Farm and The Brownsea Open Air Theatre.

Website: http://southeastdorset.greenparty.org.uk/

Facebook: facebook.com/mcmanusbournemouthwestgreen

Twitter: @greenmcmanus

Mike Plummer, Liberal Democrat

Mike Plummer is married to wife Janet and they have two daughters. They have lived in the area for more than 20 years. Mr Plummer has been trustee of several local charities and an LEA governor of several schools.

Website: libdems.org.uk/mike-plummer

Email: mike.plummer@bournemouth-libdems.org

David Stokes, Labour

David was born in Boscombe Hospital in 1961, grew up in a family of six children in the Springbourne area of Bournemouth and attended St Andrews Primary School, Nortoft Road, Beaufort Secondary School, Southbourne and Bournemouth and Poole College.

At 18 years old he went to Hatfield Polytechnic where he studied Civil Engineering.

David is married with three grown up children and still lives in Bournemouth, now in Strouden Park, near Castle point. He is involved in his local church and is a member of ‘Christians on the Left’ and is a keen supporter of Hope FM community radio.

David works for a local construction company. Prior to this, he worked overseas for 12 years, living and working in Australia, Botswana, Sultanate of Oman and Seychelles Island for around one year and Malawi for 8 years. He constructed roads and dams in some of the most remote parts of the African continent. David returned to Bournemouth in 1997.

He joined the Labour Party in late 1978 when Jim Callaghan was Prime Minister and stood for Parliament in Bournemouth West in 2001 coming 2nd. In 2005 and 2010 he fought the Bournemouth East Constituency.

David says: “I passionately believe that the Labour Party is the only political force that has the welfare of the majority of people at its heart and is the only party that will stand up for hard working families in Bournemouth West. Labour does have a chance in Bournemouth West, where we will be fighting for every vote.”

Website: labour.org.uk/people/detail/david-stokes

Twitter: @dave4bmthwest

Facebook: facebook.com/BournemouthLabour

He answered the Echo's #sevenquestions as follows:

Why did you decide to stand in this election?

I have been deeply upset at the way this country has been governed over the past 5 years. I did not want to stand by and let them be re-elected without a genuine local alternative. I firmly believe that we need a labour Government with policies that will help the many and not the few.

What do you believe the key issues of this election to be?

Nationally the NHS and the economy, locally affordable housing for young people and primary school places

Where do you stand on renewable energy, fracking and climate change?

Strongly support renewable energy, oppose fracking, as it is just another carbon fuel to burn and believe we are right to be concerned about Climate change. We should look after our planet for the future generations.

What do you believe could be done to improve the housing situation in Dorset?

Build more local authority affordable housing.

What three things do you think should be done to improve education provision in Dorset?

1.  Reinstate Labour’s ‘Building Schools for the future’ programme.
2. Protect and even expand the ‘Sure Start’ programmes for pre school children.
3. Strengthen local accountability with new Local Directors of School Standards

How would you tackle the issue of mental health provision in Dorset?

Improve access to mental health support, with a new right to talking therapies enshrined in the NHS Constitution, just as people currently have a right to drugs and medical treatment.

What’s your “red line” policy?

More local affordable housing for young families