The candidates standing for election in East Wiltshire have answered our final questions.
On Thursday, July 4, people across the county will head to the polls to elect a new MP.
With the new boundaries, the majority of East Wiltshire is formed by the old constituency of Devizes, which has been represented by Conservative MP Danny Kruger since 2019.
The following people are standing for election:
- Pete Force-Jones: True & Fair Party
- Emily Herbert: Green Party
- David Kinnaird: Liberal Democrat
- Danny Kruger: Conservative
- Rob Newman: Labour Party
- Stephen Talbot: Reform UK
We asked every candidate the same questions which address child safety, youth clubs, sports provisions, and what they would do on day one.
Take a look at what they had to say below.
Rob Newman - Labour
What would you and your party do to protect children online?
Young people are dealing with an onslaught of misinformation, disinformation, misogyny, and bullying thanks to the prevalence of social media. I see the stress that this causes in my role as a school governor. We need to deliver proper mental health support in every primary and secondary school, and teach children how to navigate the online world safely - and resiliently. The Government's Online Safety Act doesn't go far enough in transparency about the algorithms that the big tech platforms use, which are serving up the kind of unacceptable content which has led to tragic losses like that of Molly Russell and Brianna Ghey. New legislation should force them to explain why and how children are seeing it.
A recent study has shown that almost 2,000 children's centres have closed down in the UK since 2010. What facilities would you like to open in this constituency, and how would you fund them?
Sure Start was one of the proudest achievements of the last Labour Government, and it made a difference. It tackled disadvantage, helped parents gain advice and a support network, and studies show that it improved school results and social mobility. Its closure, starting with the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition government, hollowed out support for children and families. Restoring it will take time, but we can make a start by working with primary schools to provide wraparound childcare, expanding the Conservatives' allowance. We will also provide free breakfast clubs in all primary schools, ensuring that no child comes to school hungry and unable to learn.
Other facilities, like sports pitches and swimming pools have also been in decline since 2010 - what could be done locally to encourage the next generation of Olympians and future Euros stars?
Access to sports facilities - as well as music and the arts - shouldn't be the preserve of just a few pupils, but the right of every child to enjoy a well-rounded education that lets them explore their talents. State schools have lost more than 200 playing fields in the last decade as the crisis in education funding has bitten. I'd like to see schools continue to partner with one another to ensure widening access to sports facilities, and the Government ensure that we maintain investment in grassroots sport. Competitive sports tournaments between schools and colleges, arranged locally, should also be maintained as great for young people's mental and physical health.
Which unique feature is this area's greatest unsung asset? And how would you use it to improve the local economy?
Every community has its unsung assets: the businesses and enterprises which are the backbone of the local economy; the civil society groups who are the glue which binds an area together; and the small community groups taking action on nature who are improving our environment for the better. I see a key role of an MP as elevating the work of all of these and putting them up in lights, telling the story of the communities which make up East Wiltshire and driving attention, investment, growth, and pride.
If elected, what local change will you make on day 1?
I'll be a visible and accessible MP. Time and again, I've heard from voters in East Wiltshire how they've tried to contact their MP but received no response, or that they've lived in an area for years and seen nothing of them. Throughout this campaign I've been responding to hundreds of voters' emails and knocking on doors across the constituency; I'll continue in that vein, holding surgeries in different communities and putting in place online appointments for people to seek advice.
Stephen Talbot - Reform UK
We are committed to launching an inquiry into social media harms within our first 100 days in office and will promote child-friendly, App-restricted smartphones for children. This will be followed by a review of the Online Safety Bill.
A recent study has shown that almost 2,000 children's centres have closed down in the UK since 2010. What facilities would you like to open in this constituency, and how would you fund them?
Funding is the critical question here. Until reform is implemented at the national level - drastically stopping waste and axing policies which make us all poorer, and reducing the constant increase in demand, fuelled by uncontrolled immigration - local communities will struggle to obtain the funding for services they require. I would like greater engagement and transparency between the local communities and those who represent them so that the facilities they need are the ones they receive, rather than a top-down approach.
Other facilities, like sports pitches and swimming pools have also been in decline since 2010 - what could be done locally to encourage the next generation of Olympians and future Euros stars?
My answer to question 2 is equally applicable here.
Which unique feature is this area's greatest unsung asset? And how would you use it to improve the local economy?
East Wiltshire is a very rural constituency and the beauty of the landscape is often taken for granted. What is too frequently forgotten is those working hard to maintain it and, indeed, making their living out of it. Reform UK recognises the huge importance of the agricultural sector and country pursuits and the contribution they make to food security and the economy. Our policies reflect our desire to boost the industry and culture while tackling rising crime and connectivity issues.
If elected, what local change will you make on day 1?
To advocate for the reform we seek nationally to be replicated locally, preferably through the implementation of some form of direct democracy, so that local people feel they have a choice when it comes to their children's education, healthcare and transport options.
Danny Kruger - Conservative
What would you and your party do to protect children online?
Many parents are concerned about the impact of the internet on children, many of whom are now using social media from as young as eight years old. Over the past ten years the Conservatives have done more to protect children online than any other country. From next year it will be a legal requirement of social media firms to protect children from illegal or harmful content, and we will hold those who fail to do so to account through fines.
We will work with parents and social media companies on introducing further parental controls, including age verification. This is a complex policy area and we will work with other countries considering similar measures to develop the most effective technology.
Personally I believe there should be much stricter restrictions on the use of smartphones for children, and am pleased the Conservatives will put their guidance on banning mobile phones in the school day on a statutory footing which will require all schools to operate a ban.
A recent study has shown that almost 2,000 children's centres have closed down in the UK since 2010. What facilities would you like to open in this constituency, and how would you fund them?
I am very keen for communities to provide more support for local children. My background before politics was in charity work, including setting up and running an organisation which identified children at risk and put support in place to help them in their community.
During my time as an MP I have worked closely with the Family Hubs Network - a model of hubs supported by local authorities and the community (schools, leisure centres etc) to provide support for children and their parents. They are funded through a mix of local authority contributions and support from private sector partners. I’m pleased Wiltshire Council has begun exploring plans to put this model in place.
Other facilities, like sports pitches and swimming pools have also been in decline since 2010 - what could be done locally to encourage the next generation of Olympians and future Euros stars?
There has been a significant investment in grassroots sports across the country (with more than £320 million being delivered between 2021 and 2025) aimed at building, renovating and maintaining sports facilities. We will maintain this pace of investment, if elected, through the continuation of the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme to encourage more people to take advantage of better facilities.
There is also a drive to improve equal access to sports for women and girls, and I’m proud we established the Board of Women’s Sport and delivered the £30 million Lionesses Futures Fund.
Which unique feature is this area's greatest unsung asset? And how would you use it to improve the local economy?
The opportunities for the Wiltshire economy are huge and I am enormously optimistic for young people growing up here - if we can get the infrastructure right. I believe we should be utilising our agritech sector more efficiently, and improving our local economy by putting in place local means for food processing/distribution. Currently, our farmers and food producers have to send their products away to be packaged, and they are then sold on outside of our local area. We should have a Wiltshire-based system which means local farmers can sell their products here, and boost our local economy.
If elected, what local change will you make on day 1?
I will immediately begin a programme of visits and surgeries in new areas of the constituency (Wandsborough and Wroughton in the North and Amesbury, Till Valley and the Woodfords in the South) to ensure I hear the voices of everyone I represent.
Pete Force-Jones, Emily Herbert and David Kinnaird were all contacted to answer the final five questions.
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