WITH just one general election under its belt, this year could be exciting and unpredictable for one Hampshire constituency.

Meon Valley gained a place as a constituency in Parliament for the 2010 elections because of Winchester’s growth.

It is one of the most scenic parts of the county, made up of rural villages packed with independent businesses, schools applauded by Ofsted and close-knit communities from the edge of Portsmouth to the outskirts of Alresford.

Previously looked after as 18 wards by Winchester City Council, the decision to offer a parliamentary seat came as the area expanded and became a hotspot for people to live in Hampshire.

The seat for Meon Valley was created using ward data from city council elections which left an uncertain swing for two parties.

With territory from a Liberal Democrat-held Winchester and a Conservative-held East Hampshire it was hard to tell who would win the district but in the end Tory candidate George Hollingbery (see below) was elected with a majority of more than 12,000.

The first MP for Meon Valley, who had been runner-up in Winchester in 2005, had won many people over by joining the fight against a leading supermarket chain moving into Bishop’s Waltham.

Daily Echo:

Since winning the seat he has continued to support residents in Bishop’s Waltham as they fight the prospective opening of a Sainsbury’s and earlier this year the store revealed campaigners may have won their battle as the development was under review.

With the controversial proposed town at Welborne near Wickham and Knowle and Meon Valley having a few of its own home-building sagas, such as proposals for a 3,500 property development near Whiteley, housing – and where to build it – will be a major issue which each of the parties will look to address.

Mr Hollingbery will face challenges for his seat from Labour’s Gemma McKenna, who works at young person’s charity Fixers; UKIP’s David Alexander, a businessman and parish councillor; business expert and former councillor Lib Dem Chris Carrington; and Green Party candidate and press officer Diana Korchien.

 

Daily Echo:

MEON VALLEY will be going into its second year of representation in the House of Commons.

The county constituency is a rural part of Hampshire which has had a seat since 2010.

It is made up from former parts of the Winchester, East Hampshire and Havant constituencies including rural villages like Bishop's Waltham, Denmead, Droxford, Soberton, Hamble, Owslebury and Curdridge, Shedfield, Swanmore and Newtown, Upper Meon Valley, Whiteley and Wickham.
George Hollingbery was the first elected MP for the district, winning by 12,125 votes.

General Election Result 2010:

  • Conservatives: George Hollingbery, 28,818 votes, +10.4 per cent
  • Liberal Democrat: Liz Leffman, 16,693 votes, -8.4 per cent
  • Labour: Howard Linsley, 3,266 votes, -4.2 per cent
  • UKIP: Steve Harris, 1,490 votes, +0.4 per cent
  • English Democrats: Pat Harris, 582 votes, NA
  • Animal Protection: Sarah Coats, 255 votes, NA
  • Independent: Graeme Quar, 134 votes, NA

MEET THE CANDIDATES:

  • George Hollingbery, Conservative

Daily Echo:

“THE simple fact is strong public services are inseparable from a strong economy.

“Getting people back into work and getting the deficit down doesn't just help those who have found jobs and the dignity it gives them and their families, it helps everyone who relies on public services.

“But there's more to do and I hope people who have seen the Conservatives achieve an extraordinary turnaround since 2010 will recognise those results and trust us to deliver even more progress over the next five years.

“Locally, I have worked hard to be an MP who is visible and in tune with what the residents of the Meon Valley constituency are concerned about and that is housing overdevelopment, rural crime and internet access, to name but a few.

“My promise at this election is to deliver much more of the same and that means running regular street surgeries and public meetings so I can be told what I need to hear.

“As an experienced MP I have achieved results at a local and national level, especially through my work at the Home Office, and I very much hope you'll allow me to carry on doing so.”

  • Chris Carrigan, Liberal Democrat

Daily Echo:

“AS A Liberal Democrat I care passionately about creating a fairer society.

“Personally I believe that many of the country's problems are the result of a broken politics that is crippling our democracy.

“That's why we work so hard to achieve political reform.

“The housing issues in Meon Valley are an example of how politics is failing to deliver what people want.

"We need new housing to help grow the economy and provide homes for our young people.

“But builders are often more interested in profit than in providing well designed affordable housing, valuable green spaces and key services.

“We have a choice about the type of houses that are built, where they are built, and the schools, roads and other services that people need.

“These are political choices and we need politicians of integrity to get those choices right; choices that turn development sites into real communities that can flourish and grow.

“Far too often in our current political system it is the vested interests that win over what people want.

"If elected for Meon Valley I will be a tireless campaigner at Westminster and locally for a better future, with a stronger economy and a fairer society.”

  • Gemma McKenna, Labour

Daily Echo:

“MY VALUES centre around equality, fairness and community. I believe only the few and not the many in Meon Valley have benefitted under the Tory led government.

"Tax breaks for the well off condemned working families and the elderly to struggle with living costs. This affluent area has food banks and poor transport. Shameful!

“The housing crisis means many young people are stuck in over-priced rented accommodation, forced away from family and friends' support.

“Coalition public services' cuts in social care make it difficult for the elderly and disabled to receive proper support. Consequently they may visit A&E, putting pressure on our NHS.

"Cuts in police numbers are dangerous in many ways and we're supporting road safety measures across Meon Valley to protect people from speeding motorists.

“I pledge to work to change these things. I want to represent the many. I want to care for our environment, safeguarding it for our children.

"Introducing the living wage will be a priority as well as freezing business rates.

“I remember Thatcher's rule when my family struggled and the few prospered. Debt and homelessness increased.

"Unless Labour win in May the Tories will do the same again.”

  • Diana Korchien, Green

Daily Echo:

“HAVING more than quadrupled in size since January 2014 and at almost 60,000 strong, the Green Party is now the third biggest political party in England, larger than the Lib Dems and UKIP.

“The Green Party's motto 'For the Common Good' means that we believe in a caring and democratic society which respects people and the environment, not one at the expense of the other.

“Under the 'greenest government ever', we have seen little evidence of respect for either.

“But Greens have been standing up for both: our single MP, Caroline Lucas, was one of just 52 MPs to vote for a moratorium on all fracking.

“She recently presented the NHS Reinstatement Bill. And she introduced a motion to bring the railways back into public ownership.

“In this General Election, Meon Valley constituents will be able to vote Green for the very first time.

“An election should be about policies, rather than personalities.

“MPs' basic salary of £67,000 plus generous expenses and subsidised bars is well over twice the average wage in this constituency.

“In May this is due to rise to £74,000, an 11 per cent increase. If elected as the MP for Meon Valley, I will not take the pay rise.

“Instead, I will distribute it to local charities, and I challenge the other candidates to do the same.”

  • Dave Alexander, UKIP

Daily Echo:

“THE UK Independence Party was formed to save our country from external control by unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.

“We believe that only by leaving the European Union can we return to a fully independent British government that puts the British people first, and saves at least £8 billion per year.

“Perhaps the biggest election issue of all is controlling immigration, which has had a drastic effect on wages, housing, and the NHS.

“All other major parties now say they want to control the numbers of people coming into the UK, but they can do nothing while we remain in the EU.

“An Australian-style points system that treats all applicants fairly would drastically cut numbers while ensuring that we get the skilled migrants who share our values and help our society.

“UKIP is the only party that would reduce foreign aid spending while maintaining essential humanitarian aid. Some of that money would properly fund our Armed Forces.

“We are the only party pledging to meet the NATO minimum requirement of 2 per cent of GDP to be spent on defence, and we'll do far more to support military veterans.

“Only UKIP is offering the radical changes and commonsense policies that Britain desperately needs.”