News

General Election 2019: Meet the Stretford and Urmston candidates

In 2017, Labour Party candidate Kate Green won the seat with some 69.9% of the vote. Labour had a 39.3% majority, with Conservative candidate Lisa Cooke trailing in second with 27% of the vote.

This article was updated on December 8.

This is undoubtedly a Labour stronghold and Kate Green will be forgiven for expecting a similar result to the last three elections which has seen her become the Member of Parliament for the area.

In fact, Labour have never lost in this constituency and, in the 2017 General Election, Kate Green returned the highest ever percentage of the vote since the seat was created.

A remain seat in the 2016 EU Referendum, Kate Green has been outspoken about her position on the prospect of Britain leaving the EU, in which she campaigned to remain.

Mussadak Mirza – Conservative and Unionist Party

A Barrister by trade, Mussadak Mirza is urging voters to “Back @BorisJohnson to get Brexit done and unleash Britain’s potential”.

In a Q & A for the Trafford Park Conservatives website, Mirza has outlined his key policy areas as defending grammar schools, promoting innovative ideas for clean air such as electric buses, clean air zones, electric car charging points within lamp-posts and a tree adoption scheme and ensuring that Stretford & Urmston sees its fair share of this investment and funding in its public services.

Find him on twitter: @MussadakMirza

Jane Leicester – Green Party

Currently the Chair of the Trafford Green Party branch, Jane Leicester will be hoping to vastly improve upon former candidate Michael Ingleson’s showing at the last General Election where the Greens received just 1.3% of the vote. On Trafford Greens’ website Leicester said:

“I will be speaking out against the Climate emergency. I will also work for a fairer society that works for everyone and will continue to challenge Brexit chaos.

“I have campaigned many times against privatisation of our NHS and I will continue to do so.

“It is vital that we find ways forward that ensure that we all have fulfilling and sustainable lives. This includes protecting our green spaces and making our towns good places to live with good infra-structure for walking, cycling and using public transport.”

Currently the Greens are crowdfunding in order to raise the deposits in order for Jane Leicester to stand.

Find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Greensandu/?modal=admin_todo_tour&modal=admin_todo_tour_

Kate Green – Labour Party

The clear front runner for this election in this constituency, Kate Green has won every election since 2010 and this seat has long been known as a Labour stronghold: they have never lost here since the seat was created in 1997.

On her blog Green stated:

“I’m pleased Labour has been clear that, should we form the next government, we will give the final say on Brexit to the people in a confirmatory referendum.

“I couldn’t be prouder to be standing as the Labour candidate in Stretford and Urmston. You deserve a candidate who’ll work hard, speak up for what is right, and stand up for you. I’ll always put you first.”

Find her on Twitter: @KateGreenSU

Anna Fryer – Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats will be hoping that Anna Fryer is able to gain ground on the two main parties in this upcoming General Election, at the second time of asking.

Fryer received 2% of the vote last time out but will be hoping that, in a Remain seat, the prospect of another referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union, which has been offered by Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, will swing any voters who may still wish to remain, three years on.

Find her on Twitter: @annacfryer

Gary Powell – Brexit Party

Of course a first outing for the Brexit Party in this election. Interestingly this is one seat in which leader Nigel Farage has decided to stand in which perhaps indicates the fact that Labour’s Kate Green is the stand-out candidate for this seat.

Powell’s presence on social media is rather muted, however.  He will be hoping to build upon UKIP’s absence in this area, who finished third at the last election in Stretford and Urmston.

Related Articles