Leicester and Leicestershire MPs man their stalls as they prepare for the general election battle

Local MPs will fight to keep their seats when Britain goes to the polls in six weeks. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a surprise announcement last night, revealing the date of the next UK General Election as Thursday 4th July.

Nine of Leicester and Leicestershire’s 10 MPs have confirmed they will stand again. However, one – Alicia Kearns – would no longer represent Leicestershire if she won.

Ms Kearns, currently MP for Rutland and Melton, will fight for the new seat of Rutland and Stamford, the smallest county in the country to cross the border to join Lincolnshire. The rest of her constituency will be linked with parts of the existing Charnwood seat to form the newly named Melton and Syston area.

READ MORE: What is my constituency for the 2024 general election?

Only Claudia Webbe, currently MP for Leicester East, has not declared whether she intends to stand again. LeicestershireLive contacted Ms Webbe following yesterday’s announcement but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Leicester’s two Labor MPs, Liz Kendall and Jon Ashworth, used yesterday’s news as an opportunity to push for national change. Echoing the sentiments of their leader, Sir Keir Starmer, who told voters last night “the future of the country is in (their) hands”, adding: “Together we can stop the chaos, we can turn the page, we can start rebuilding Britain. and we are changing our country.”

Mrs Kendall, MP for Leicester West, told LeicestershireLive: “People in our city are desperate for change and finally my constituents can have their say on this failed Tory government and their 14 years of chaos. Keir Starmer today set out Labour’s long-term plan to rebuild Britain: for economic stability, to reduce NHS waiting times, to secure our borders with a New Border Security Command, to harness Great British Energy for reduce your bills for good, tackle anti-social behavior and get the teachers we need in your children’s classrooms.

“I have great faith in the people of Leicester and the people of Great Britain. I think we can turn the page, we can start to rebuild Britain and change our city and our country for the better.”

Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth said on social media: “A general election has been called. And after 14 years of the Tories, it’s time for a change. And we in Leicester need this change in the NHS.

“Leicester families and pensioners are being left to wait longer, often in pain, discomfort and anxiety for NHS treatment thanks to 14 years of the Tories. Leicester has been hit harder than the rest of the country by the Conservative failure on the NHS. Patients are waiting longer on average and children are more likely to have signs of cavities due to the failures of conservative dentistry.

“People struggle to see a GP and our hospital A&E is often overcrowded with patients languishing on trolleys. Shockingly, more than forty percent of cancer patients wait more than 62 days to be seen for treatment.

“Every parent wants the best for their children, but in Leicester they are forced to wait months for vital mental health care. It doesn’t have to be this way. A Labor government has fixed the NHS before and will fix the NHS again. Only by voting Labor on July 4 will we get the change we need.”

Local Tory MPs were keen to show their records over the past five years. Dr Luke Evans, MP for the new seat of Hinckley and Bosworth, said the announcement came as a surprise and conflicted with his anniversary plans, but added he was “keen to go”.

He told LeicestershireLive: “Although calling the election on July 4 was a surprise, I can understand why. With inflation at its lowest for months and the economy turning a corner, it is fair to ask people whether they support our plan for the future or want to go back to square one with the Labor Party.

“I’m keen to go as we have such a strong story to tell locally, with the £24m investment in Hinckley and District Hospital being built as we speak, £19.9m for a conservation and education at Twycross Zoo, addressing concerns about the inappropriate use of a town center hotel in Earl Shilton for asylum seekers and not to mention the millions of pounds going to schools in our community such as Hinckley School and Hastings High School. These are all the funds I fought to provide and I am proud to have secured them for our area.”

He added: “I have to admit I feel for my wife. As we were supposed to go on a ‘staycation’ to Southend for our 5th wedding anniversary this weekend, but with the Prime Minister’s general election anniversary gift, we’ve canceled our plans and are going to have to something serious to make up for it! But in this short campaign, delivering for Hinckley and Bosworth is my priority and I will be there every day to do just that.”

South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa spoke on LeicestershireLive today. He accepted that residents might “be unhappy about things” but said he did not think that would necessarily translate into “we’re going to vote Labour”. His priority if re-elected will be “maintaining a vibrant economy” in his constituency, which currently has a 98% employment rate, he said.

Mr Costa added: “By having a vibrant economy and people having gainful employment and good jobs that pay well, not only will it help people’s quality of life, but taxes are paid and by paying taxes, it pays for our health services, our education, our roads, our defense etc. So South Leicestershire has done well for the last nine years.

“We are known as the Golden Triangle for logistics. We have one of the largest logistics parks in Europe, Magna Park, which is expanding. So ultimately my job is to maintain and strengthen the economy of South Leicestershire.”

He said he remained “cautiously optimistic” about changes in his party’s election, adding: “At the end of the day, Keir Starmer in the Labor Party today is not the Tony Blair and Gordon Brown of 1997 because, frankly, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were. a formidable government in waiting. That’s not what we’re seeing here.”

Harborough, Oadby and Wigston MP Neil O’Brien also highlighted his achievements in the post, but added there was “much more to do”. He said: “I am enjoying working for the people of Harborough, Oadby and Wigston and I am looking forward to the election campaign.

“We’ve made real progress here over the last four years. Crime is down and there are 332 more police officers in Leicestershire than four years ago. We’re solving local transport, from rail electrification to half-hourly buses on the A6, and the extra £238m the council just gave to fix potholes.

“As Minister, I have been able to secure a large additional investment in GPs. We are spending more in real terms and have brought in new NHS services such as Pharmacy First for minor illnesses. Waiting lists are now shrinking.

“We have made progress on housing and planning, and the Regeneration Act that I worked on as a minister became law just a few months ago. This will mean that more housing will come through the regeneration of brownfields, not by pouring concrete over the countryside.

“So a lot to do, but a lot to do. I look forward to the campaign.”

Jane Hunt, MP for Loughborough, told us she was “both honored and delighted” to have served her constituency for the past five years. She added: “I have worked hard on behalf of the people of Loughborough, Shepshed, Quorn, Barrow, Sileby, Hathern, Mountsorrel Castle and the Wolds villages both at home and in Westminster, bringing the ideas and concerns of the electorate to Ministers. , officials and support organizations. We also advocated locally with local agencies.

“Above all, I supported the individual cases of voters, trying to help them solve the many and varied problems that arise in everyday life. I would like to continue the work I have started. For a local voice for the Loughborough constituency, please vote Conservative on July 4.”

Independent MP for North West Leicestershire Andrew Bridgen, however, took a very different tone to his former Tory colleagues. Taking to social media last night, he said: “Don’t fall for the same old rubbish from the mainstream parties.

“Party politics itself is the problem. Independents are the solution. Make July 4th Independence Day.” Edward Argar, MP for Charnwood, and Alicia Kearns did not respond to our request for comment.