South East Cambridgeshire goes to the polls - who should you vote for?
We asked candidates 12 contentious questions to help you make your choice on June 8.
The Cambridge Independent asked the candidates who want to represent the South East Cambridgeshire constituency 12 questions to help you decide who to vote for in the General Election on June 8.
Lucy Frazer, Conservatives
1. Should tuition fees be scrapped?
I am in favour of funding for education generally. But any policy promises have to be paid for. The tuition fees proposal costs over £9bn annually and this is not currently affordable.
2. What would you do in a free vote on repealing the fox hunting ban?
I would listen to the views of my constituents and bear in mind the nature of our constituency.
3. Would you support the legalisation of cannabis?
No.
4. Would you support scrapping zero hours contracts?
I support a review into employment practices.
5. Will you support renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system?
Defending our nation is one of the most important roles of any Government. I support the renewal of Trident.
6. Should there be a cap on immigration numbers?
Immigration benefits our country and our area and I value living in a tolerant and fair society. However, immigration does need to be controlled.
7. Is current NHS funding sufficient?
As we live longer and discover more treatments the cost of the NHS rises. We have committed £8bn to the NHS. We spend £11bn a year on mental health. We need to invest and spend wisely.
8. How should we pay for rising social care costs?
There will be two million more people over 75 in Britain in the next decade. We cannot ignore the issue of how we fund social care. I am in favour of an absolute limit on the amount people pay.
9. What kind of Brexit do you favour?
I want an outcome in Europe that ensures co-operation on security, supports common frameworks to enable many sectors we operate in locally to thrive, with limited trade barriers.
10. Do we have a fair funding deal for Cambridgeshire schools?
Cambridgeshire schools have been historically under-funded. Campaigning for more funding has been one of my top priorities. I am pleased with a further £4bn commitment in our manifesto.
11. How would you support our science/research sector?
I have already supported the sector by raising their concerns in the Commons with ministers in relation to immigration, the need for regulatory frameworks and funding.
12. Should there be changes to income tax – and if so, how?
We should continue to ensure those on the lowest incomes pay no tax and that those with the broad shoulders pay the most. We must ensure working pays and Britain encourages investment.
Huw Jones, Labour
1. Should tuition fees be scrapped?
Yes.
2. What would you do in a free vote on repealing the fox hunting ban?
I would vote to keep the ban.
3. Would you support the legalisation of cannabis?
Yes. More importantly I would press for all drug policy to be centred on harm reduction and give people access to programmes that help them recover from addiction.
4. Would you support scrapping zero hours contracts?
Yes.
5. Will you support renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system?
No. I’ll be alongside Jeremy and other Labour rebels!
6. Should there be a cap on immigration numbers?
No, plucking a number out of UKIP’s hat is pointless and heartless. Theresa May’s targets have failed time after time. Immigration decisions should follow the needs of the economy.
7. Is current NHS funding sufficient?
No, no, no.
8. How should we pay for rising social care costs?
Labour will reverse the £4.6bn cuts to the care budgets that the Tory/Lib Dem coalition introduced and work toward a National Care Service in a total package worth £8bn.
9. What kind of Brexit do you favour?
I don’t favour Brexit but the people have spoken. I will fight against any Brexit that sacrifices the needs of the British economy on an altar of xenophobia.
10. Do we have a fair funding deal for Cambridgeshire schools?
No. This was one of Lucy Frazer’s promises in 2015. Under the deal Lucy delivered, the county moved from 137 to 130 in the funding league. The schools where Lucy lives are in the top five best funded.
11. How would you support our science/research sector?
I will fight for continued access to European research collaborations. I would seek increased funding for ‘public good’ long-term research in areas science and tech firms consider too risky.
12. Should there be changes to income tax – and if so, how?
The top 5% will pay their fair share under Labour. We will radically overhaul the tax system to reduce the scope for tax avoidance and evasion. I’ve never evaded a penny of tax.
Lucy Nethsingha, Liberal Democrats
1. Should tuition fees be scrapped?
Tuition fees should be reduced, not scrapped altogether. More critical is to make sure loans are only charged at inflation, and there is more support for students’ living costs.
2. What would you do in a free vote on repealing the fox hunting ban?
I would not vote to repeal the ban.
3. Would you support the legalisation of cannabis?
I would not vote to repeal the ban.
4. Would you support scrapping zero hours contracts?
I wouldn’t want to ban them, but they should be a choice and workers must have their rights protected.
5. Will you support renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system?
The money would be better spent on ensuring we have proper equipment for our conventional forces.
6. Should there be a cap on immigration numbers?
No. Migration is a huge benefit to this country, we need skilled workers in many sectors, particularly in the NHS.
7. Is current NHS funding sufficient?
No. 1p on income tax provides £6bn per year for the NHS and social care – including £1bn for mental health, neglected for too long.
8. How should we pay for rising social care costs?
The Dilnot recommendations were a good start, and had previously had cross-party support. Tory dementia tax is most unfair on those most in need.
9. What kind of Brexit do you favour?
It is crucial that people are given a fair chance to assess the options once the Brexit deal is known. A bad deal is not better than no deal; we need the option to stay if leaving looks damaging.
10. Do we have a fair funding deal for Cambridgeshire schools?
No. Cambridgeshire’s schools are some of the worst funded in the country, and the current Tory proposals would lead to further cuts.
11. How would you support our science/research sector?
We need to ensure research funding grows above inflation, including replacing any lost EU funding. We need to ensure people can easily come to work and study in the UK.
12. Should there be changes to income tax – and if so, how?
We should charge an extra 1p for our NHS and social care to ensure these services can meet future demand and we can all feel safe.