Ashfield Neighbour News has put questions to the candidates in the two constituencies that cover the Ashfield district: Sherwood Forest, which includes Hucknall; and Ashfield, which includes the rest of the district and a small part of Mansfield.
These are the responses of Jeremy Spry, an Independent candidate for Sherwood Forest. Click here to see other responses in Sherwood Forest, or here to see the responses from candidates in Ashfield.
We began by inviting all candidates to set out their pitch:
Independent candidates do not get very many opportunities to speak out and be heard. Independent candidates are a minority group, but we may sometimes voice the concerns of a majority.
I want a fairer democratic system of government. I have a long held belief that each constituency must have two MPs. One female MP and one male MP. Both elected on the same day.
I want our parliament and its ministries to be moved out of London and established in the centre of our country in buildings that are fit for purpose, and accessible to all of our citizens.
I want an end to the House of Lords. I want to see it replaced with a non-executive house of elected representatives. I want true representation, and defined voices for all of our citizens.
I believe that if we want fair and just government, then we must demand it. They won’t give it to us. I am standing in this election to add to the conversations about our current systems of government. I don’t say that I have the answers, or a better system, but I know that there is a better system of government, than the one we have.
We must have a written British constitution that defines who we are as a country and as a parliamentary democracy.
We must be independent of all other countries, and subject to no international organisations or treaties, or laws, that would place restrictions on the good government of our own country and our own territories, and our freedoms.
Our government must act in the interests of Great Britain above all other considerations, according to the British constitution.
The British constitution must guarantee the right to free speech to all British citizens. Free speech brings with it responsibilities that will be enshrined in Law.
As your MP I will establish a permanent parliamentary office in a central area of our constituency. The office will be staffed with 24 hour contact facilities, surgery rooms and a meeting and conference centre.
Your MP will be a spokesperson in parliament for you, and for all of your elected representatives within the Sherwood Forest constituency, regardless of their political party, or their independence.
Your MP will be your gateway to parliament and to all the machinery of government.
We asked the candidates to list the three main issues they are hearing from local voters, and how they would deal with these
Policing and crime; anti-social behaviour; NHS, GP and Dental issues; education issues; housing issues; social care issues for the vulnerable, a marginalised and aging population; pensions; roads; our environment; business and employment; solar and wind farms; and, of course, the immediate national issues of immigration and population, and the looming visions of a dreadful and a needless World War Three, literally on our horizon.
To pick just three issues, would be like putting a pin into a large world map with a blindfold on to try to choose a holiday. All of our local issues and national issues are the fault of our central government and the fault of the failures of every political party in parliament. It’s time for change.
One of the roles an MP has is an ambassadorial function for the constituency. We asked the candidates to set out what they thought the biggest selling point for Sherwood Forest constituency is when describing the area to outsiders.
Sherwood Forest is a countryside county. We have amazing towns and villages. We have holiday parks and venues, theatres and concert venues, festivals and fetes. Pubs and Restaurants. Nature reserves and open countryside. Rivers and streams and lakes. A good road network. A commitment to our environment. Vibrant communities and of course our people. We want a national government that respects us. We want an elite establishment that respects us, and we want those who have power and authority over us, to respect us.
We asked the candidates a little cheeky question: to let us know a little-known fact about them that people might find interesting?
Some years ago, I was a runner up in the touring show of Bullseye, in the final at Leeds. I have the photographs with Jim Bowen and Eric Bristow and all, to prove it. And I still have my slightly dented Bullseye tankard, minus the darts set, and of course my prize possession, my bendy Bully, presented to me by Jim Bowen. Sadly, both Jim and Eric are no longer with us, but a great memory and a great weekend.
And we finished with a difficult question: if they and their party weren’t standing in the election, which of the remaining candidates would they vote for?
Sadly I have to echo the words of Sheila Greatrex-White of the Greens. The reason I am standing as an independent candidate, is because the Labour Party and the Conservative Party, and even the Liberal Party have overseen the destruction of our nation and our communities, from north, south, east and west, since the year 2000. Twenty four years of failures and let downs and broken promises from all three.
- This article was corrected on 29 June. The originally published version contained a reference to Lee Waters, another independent candidate standing in Sherwood Forest. We apologise to Jeremy Spy and Lee Waters for our error.
