You decide who will be next MP for Hastings & Rye

The Hastings & St Leonards Observer asked UKIP candidate Andrew Michael why the residents of Hastings and Rye should vote for him.

Here is Mr Michael’s statement:

My main campaign theme is to secure more resources for Hastings and Rye.

Of the 20 wards in the constituency, eight are officially designated as deprived.

Although, central government regeneration funding is available, Hastings is simply not getting its fair share and I would push far harder for cash for the deprived wards to help with health and social deprivation. I would prioritise an increase in funding for health services in Hastings and Rye.

UKIP are pledging £3 billion a year more for the NHS nationally directly into frontline clinical services.

Plus, £1 billion a year more into social care funding for the elderly and £130 million a year more into dementia research and treatment.

So our constituency would get more badly needed GPs, community nurses and mental health workers.

In addition, the Conquest Hospital would receive more senior doctors and nurses in order to significantly improve the current condition of “inadequate” as recently assessed by the Care Quality Commission.

Another local priority is affordable housing for everyone in the constituency.

Although I agree with the Selective Licensing Scheme in principle, these funds should be used to increase the available stock of badly needed social housing.

I support the struggle of the Hastings and Rye small-scale fishermen in trying to get a proper quota from the EU and earn a decent wage, saving the largest beach-launched fishing fleet in the UK.

As a strong supporter of small businesses, I want to properly reduce the burden of business rates and red tape.

As a former hotelier, I appreciate the many fantastic tourist gems that Hastings and Rye offers and I propose a Grand Tourist Strategy to properly market the area’s attractions which would greatly boost both local businesses and employment.

I want to see more local students fulfilling their dreams of higher education and it’s great that UKIP is pledging no university fees for science and medical students.

UKIP’s proposals will be funded by withdrawing from the EU, saving our exorbitant membership fees and reducing the foreign aid budget.

Hastings is the classic case of where ‘charity should begin at home.’