Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the General Election will take place on Thursday, July 4.

Here are the six candidates standing for New Forest West constituency.

Conservative Party

Salisbury Journal: Sir Desmond Swayne

Sir Desmond Swayne has held the seat for New Forest West since May 6, 2010, and will stand again in this election.

In the 2019 General Election, Swayne was elected with a 63.8 per cent vote share and a majority of 24,403.

He was private secretary to David Cameron between 2005– 2010, and two years during Cameron's time as Prime Minister. In September 2012, he was appointed as Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury and in July 2014 as Minister for International Development.

Desmond was knighted in the 2016 Birthday Honours for political and parliamentary services.

Liberal Democrats

 

Jack Davies will represent the Liberal Democrats in the election.

Salisbury Journal: Jack Davies

He is mayor of Lymington and Pennington, having represented the village of Pennington as a Councillor since 2016.

Jack is committed to campaigning for better healthcare services for the New Forest and has also used his platform in local government to campaign on wider issues from child poverty to sewage-dumping in the Solent.

Labour

Salisbury Journal: Dr Sally Johnston

Dr Sally Johnston has been selected as the Labour candidate for New Forest West.

She has lived in the New Forest for over 35 years and has worked a lifelong medical career.

Sally said: “With a long history of public service, coupled with working as a GP in Lymington for over 30 years, I have frontline experience of what needs to change and improve in our local Health Services. I am passionate about the NHS being enabled to deliver quality care for all.”

Green party

Anna Collar will be standing for the Green Party, having previously stood for election at New Forest District Council.

She lives in Lyndhurst and works as an associate professor of Roman archaeology at the University of Southampton, where she is also a member of sustainability and biodiversity implementation groups.

Salisbury Journal: Anna Collar

She said: "It's clear to everyone that 'politics as usual' hasn't worked. We need a new approach. That's why support for the Green Party has grown so rapidly."

Social Democratic Party

Paul Simon will be standing for the Social Democratic Party in the New Forest West constituency.

The Journal has contacted the SDP for further information. 

Reform UK

Salisbury Journal: Reginald Chester-Sterne

Reginald Chester-Sterne will be the first candidate in the New Forest West constituency to stand for Reform UK.

Born in Lyndhurst, Reginald has lived in the forest for his whole life, owning four businesses during that time - two of which he still retains.

He said: "I believe that the Reform Party can bring about the changes that are required and can end the drift and make Britain a fit place to live again."