FAREHAM’S political limelight has been dominated by four core policies surrounding health, transport, education and housing which the five candidates have highlighted in their manifestos.

Fareham has been a Tory stronghold since it was created

in 1974 after the Gosport and Fareham constituency split into two.

Until 2017, Fareham has seen four conservative MPs: Sir Reginald Bennett from 1974 to 1979, Sir Peter Lloyd from 1979 to 2001, Mark Hoban from 2001 to 2015 and Suella Fernandes since.

The Conservatives have always enjoyed strong support which their majority increasing from 7,009 in 2001 to 22,262 in 2015 but can Suella Fernandes hold the seat?

Suella said: “As the MP for Fareham I have worked hard for the last two years.

“I have helped hundreds of local people who have got in touch – whether it was about problems with pension payments, welfare, issues with housing, healthcare or education – and got great results. For me, this is what being an MP is all about, helping local people and being your champion.”

While the support for UKIP has more than quadrupled from 1,175 votes for UKIP candidate William O’Brien in 2001 to Malcolm Jones in 2015 who achieved 8,427

votes.

However, in 2017, Tony Blewitt for UKIP could have a big task on their hands. UKIP failed to gain any seats in the local elections in Fareham last month but could he win voters back with his pledge on developing water infrastructure?

Tony said: “Hampshire needs to build two new very large surface water storage reservoirs to ensure adequate water supply and the risk of flooding to central Fareham is significant due to high fluvial flow down Wallington River meeting a high spring tide.”

Labour enjoyed strong support in Fareham during the Blair and Brown era with an average of 27.1 per cent share of the vote; however, since 2010 their support has halved with an average share of just 14.2 per cent with candidates James Carr in 2010 and Stuart Rose in 2015.

But with Labour’s policies to reverse many Tory cuts and introduce a £10 statutory minimum wage for all workers Matthew Randall is confident that he can take Fareham.

He said: “With cuts to public services, making life difficult for many people in our community. It is clear that we must elect a Labour government to deal with these issues fairly.”

Before they went into coalition with the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats enjoyed strong support in Fareham averaging 21.4 of the vote until 2015 then their support fell to just eight per cent.

Their candidate Matthew Winnington, who has been a particular critic of the 6,000-home

‘garden village’ Welborne, said that it could have a devastating impact on local communities including Funtley, Knowle, and Wickham.

Meanwhile, the Greens, who only started running candidates in the constituency in 2010 want to put somebody in Parliament who will the constituents at the ‘heart of decision making’.

Miles Grindley, as part of his manifesto pledge, is to abolish tuition fees and to achieve this he is encouraging young people to vote.

He said: “We want to completely abolish everything about tuition fees, not just in part but fully as it burdens students leaving them in ridiculous amounts of debt.”

  • Suella Fernandes

Conservative

Suella Fernandes, 36, will be looking to retain the seat which she gained in 2015 with a 22,262 majority.

She said: “We need better roads to ease congestion in Fareham. I have worked with the national and local government to secure investment for M27 upgrades and the Stubbington Bypass, and I will continue work with the Government to secure further investment for our roads.

“I believe strongly in improving health services for local people. I set up a Taskforce to work with local GPs to build a plan for better use of Fareham Community Hospital, by speaking up for patients.”

“I have helped hundreds of local people who have got in touch – whether it was about problems with pension payments, welfare, issues with housing, healthcare or education – and got great results.”

  • Miles Grindey

Green

Miles Grindey, 22, a student at Brighton University, is looking to build bridges with the local community through his key policy areas of health, transport and housing.

Miles said: “Fareham is an area with great character, a fascinating history and some truly inspiring people that I have come to know my time growing up here.

“I have met residents who are battling the council to preserve the great character of our areas from destructive developments, residents who are tirelessly campaigning for better bus routes to link our communities together and help local businesses who are suffering right now.

“Fareham needs someone in Parliament that will put you at the heart of decision making, someone in Parliament representing them - because this isn’t happening.”

  • Matthew Randall

Labour

Matthew Randall’s focus is all about creating a fair society for everyone across the borough Fareham focusing on housing, education and the local economy.

Matthew, 22, said: “If I am elected, I will fight for the people of Fareham in Parliament and in the constituency.

“Fareham has a shortage of housing so we need to balance the demands of housing in the local community to meet the requirements of families and younger working age people alike.

“Cutting funding to schools need to be addressed as well as abolishing tuition fees completely to ensure that everyone has fair access to all levels of education?

“I am also supportive of Labour’s £10 national minimum wage which a labour government will deliver.”

  • Matthew Winnington

Liberal Democrat

Matthew Winnington, 37, is hoping to win back voters after the liberal democrat’s fell back into fourth place in 2015.

Matthew who is a charity support worker and Portsmouth city councillor will focus on housing, education and transport.

Matthew said: “I have been supporting local residents against the development of Welborne which will have a devastating impact on local communities and against other negative develop-ments across the constituency.

“I continue to campaign for better transport links, especially bus and rail which has been too often forgotten by the government and Conservative controlled Hampshire County Council.

“I want to see sensible, level-headed, liberal policies instead that will safeguard the best interests of the people of Fareham and the UK.”

  • Tony Blewitt

UKIP

Tony Blewitt is hoping to enhance the party’s presence in Fareham following a second placed finish in 2015.

Tony sees water infrastructure and transport as key issues for the constituency: “Welborne’ s development needs new road capacity, two lanes each way east- west- south, not just tinkering with J10. The Stubbington Bypass will only move the Gosport traffic bottleneck to its junction with the A27 at Titchfield and exacerbate delays at Junction 9.”

“The chalk stores Hampshire’s water and the recent lack of rain may see hose pipe bans soon. To ensure adequate future water supply Hampshire needs two new large reservoirs, both proposals have been delayed.”

“The risk of flooding of central Fareham is significant and it can be reduced by building a tidal flood gate near Fleetlands.”