WE look at the candidates in the Bury South ward ahead of the General Election.

Bury Times:

Peter Wright, Independent

THE 66-year-old, a former coach and taxi firm operator, says he is ‘on a mission’ to tackle corruption among MPs and the civil service.

Mr Wright, from Radcliffe, was previously the deputy chairman of the Bury South Conservative Association and stood for election to Bury Council as a Tory on a number of occasions.

Mr Wright, who previously ran Bradley Fold Travel Ltd, has been involved in a number of long-running legal battles with the government and says that he wants to “introduce integrity into politics and to those who serve our politicians, the civil servants, both at local and national government”.

He has not taken a position on any other policy issues.

Mr Wright added: “I am of the opinion that if we were to clear out the corruption in government there would be no need for any special policies.

“I think the world would become a much better place if we were able to do that.”

Bury Times:

Andrew Page, Liberal Democrats

MR Page is a photographer who has previously worked in the NHS.

The Lib Dems have pledged to plug funding gaps for health and social care by putting a penny on income tax, a policy which they say will raise an additional £21.6 million for Bury.

Mr Page said: “Right now in Greater Manchester we are seeing patients lying on trolleys in hospital corridors, urgent operations being cancelled and the elderly being denied the care they need.

“The Liberal Democrats are prepared to be honest with people and say that to secure the future of the NHS we will all need to chip in a little more. A penny in the pound would allow us to invest in improving local services and ensuring the elderly receive the care they deserve.”

The Lib Dems also say they would invest an additional £27 million in schools and colleges in Bury over the next parliament.

Mr Page added: “If you want a strong opposition to fight for an open, tolerant and united Britain, this is your chance.”

Bury Times:

Ian Henderson, UKIP

MR Henderson stood in Bury North at the last General Election in 2015, finishing third with 5,595 votes.

The 43-year-old, who lives in Tottington, also stood in Radcliffe West at last year’s local elections.

Mr Henderson, who is an IT consultant, said: “I got into politics to try to make the town I live in a better place.

“People hear a lot of noise from the traditional parties but when you look around it doesn’t seem to have made much difference. There is a lot of disillusionment.”

He added that voters have “lost confidence” in Theresa May during this election campaign and maintained that UKIP still has an important role to play after Brexit.

Mr Henderson said: “There is a need within the UK for a strong opposition, both to the Tories and to the Labour Party.

“What is absolutely critical for me is the issue of social mobility.

“There is a gap between the rich and the poor that is getting bigger and that needs to be addressed.”

Bury Times:

Robert Largan, Conservatives

MR Largan, from Whitefield, has stepped down from his role as a councillor in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to stand in his home constituency.

He says that areas like Radcliffe and Prestwich have not been given their “fair share” of funding by Bury Council, adding: “Labour has promised a new school for Radcliffe and failed to deliver.

“The cuts have been felt hardest in the south of the borough, where places like Radcliffe in particular have been neglected.”

He has also urged Bury NHS CCG to reverse its decision to shut Prestwich Walk-in Centre and said that the Tories would put more funding into the NHS.

Mr Largan, a former Philips High pupil, said: “The biggest issue at this election is who is going to lead us into Brexit negotiations. There are a huge number of lifelong Labour voters who tell me they are going to vote Tory because they don’t think Jeremy Corbyn is fit to be Prime Minister of this country.”

Bury Times:

Ivan Lewis, Labour

PRESTWICH-BORN Mr Lewis has served as MP for Bury South since 1997, during which time he has held a number of government and shadow cabinet posts.

He has pledged to fight to keep Prestwich Walk-in Centre open, as well as continuing his campaign for a new high school in Radcliffe.

The 50-year-old also believes that the future of social care provision will be a key factor at this election.

He said: “There is growing outrage among older people and their families about the Tories’ ‘dementia tax’ and the removal of the winter fuel allowance.

“People who have worked hard all of their lives feel that Theresa May and the Tories are hammering them. They are being punished for having done all the right things and that has provoked a massive reaction among the voters I have spoken to.”

Mr Lewis, who unsuccessfully sought his party’s nomination for Greater Manchester Mayor, called on Jeremy Corbyn to resign as Labour leader last year.