Local residents will have the choice of five candidates when they go to the polls for the General Election on Thursday, May 7th.
Candidates for the Tatton Constituency are: Stuart Hutton (UKIP), George Osborne (Conservative Party), David Pinto-Duschinsky (Labour Party), Tina Rothery (Green Party) and Gareth Wilson (Liberal Democrats).
Over the coming week we will be publishing brief interviews with each of the candidates that respond to our request. To read the interviews with other candidates click on the 'General Election' tag at the bottom of the article.
First of all I caught up with our current MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.
George told me "Representing Wilmslow, Handforth and Alderley Edge in Parliament these last fourteen years has been a great honour. I now put myself forward again to be your local MP, offering you a strong voice, a track record and a clear plan for the future."
Speaking about his work in the area, George said "I've championed jobs - here in the Tatton constituency the numbers claiming unemployment benefit has fallen by a staggering 65% thanks to our plan. I have backed local businesses and will carry on offering advice to local firms who want to grow. I was especially pleased to open the magnificent new buildings for the Waters Corporation on the outskirts of Wilmslow, where over 400 jobs have been created. I'm proud to have worked with Cheshire East Council to attract new businesses to Alderley Park to create more employment for local people."
George continued "I have championed faster broadband to deliver better internet access for local families and businesses and will continue working for improvements.
"I have visited many local schools and was especially pleased to open the new classrooms at Dean Oaks Primary School which provide the children there more space to work and play. I have visited the wonderful Wilmslow Artisan Market with my wife and children and bought delicious local produce and am a huge supporter of the volunteers at the Wilmslow Charity Card Shop."
When asked about the future, George said "I will continue to campaign for better transport links – I promised at the last election that the A6 Manchester Airport Relief Road would be built, and now this project is underway. I delivered direct train services from Wilmslow to London enabling local people to reach the capital in under 2 hours.
"I've championed the less advantaged parts of Wilmslow such as Colshaw Farm and helped countless people when they contact me with their problems. I will encourage local GPs to continue the Colshaw flu clinic with the Snow Angels charity.
"All of these achievements demonstrate the benefits of a strong local MP working hand-in-hand with a strong community to improve things. People can see what we've achieved together, and know I've got a plan for the future. With another five years as your MP there is so much more we can do together."
