Colchester parliamentary candidates on why to vote for them

Here in Colchester, there are six candidates who are fighting to be the city's next MP.

These are James Cracknell (Con), Pam Cox (Lab), Martin Goss (Lib Dem), Terrence Longstaff (Reform UK), James Rolfe (Climate Party) and Sara Ruth (Grn).

We have already featured full-length interviews with each candidate, however here is a recap from each, in their own words, why they should be the next MP for Colchester.

James Cracknell (Conservatives)

Colchester Tory MP candidate James Cracknell (Image: Cracknell4Colchester)

The 52-year-old former Olympic gold-winning rower spoke on why he was qualified to be Colchester’s MP after only living in the city since September.

Mr Cracknell said that the most “important thing is what mindset you come into a place”, adding: “I haven’t become tainted by the way it was 30 years ago, the way it was three years ago, and decisions that have or haven’t been made”.

“I look at it with a certain, almost unbiased, perspective,” he continued.

Mr Cracknell said public health, including childhood obesity and fitness, was his entry point into politics as a world-class athlete.

He wants to see “behavioural changes” with one key policy being primary schools judged on public health on the same level as literacy and numeracy.

When asked, as someone who is known for winning in sport, why he would stand in Colchester, which some polls say could go to Labour for the first time since 1950, Mr Cracknell said: “I believe in the Conservatives fiscally and that as liberally-minded, they are the best – for the country and the individual."

Click here to read the full interview with James Cracknell.

Martin Goss (Liberal Democrats)

Colchester Lib Dem MP candidate Martin Goss (Image: Submitted)

Our second interview came from Liberal Democrat candidate Martin Goss.

Mr Goss said out of all the candidates, he believes he has the most experience, having served as a councillor for 16 years and lived in Colchester for 46 of his 50 years.

He said: “I am extremely passionate about Colchester because what affects you, affects me.

“I know what the issues are around the infrastructure, around the NHS, around seeing your doctor and issues with education.”

Mr Goss said politically his interest and knowledge had grown as a councillor from seeing how the Government legislates for issues nationally, for example with Colchester’s pavement parking which comes down to police ruled by “regulations set by the government”

Another reason why Mr Goss is campaigning to become Colchester’ MP is the need to “return to having a good MP like Bob Russell when he was at his best.”

Mr Goss added: “People miss having a really good MP who lives here, knows the scaffolding as it were of the organisations, has the relationships, and has the track record.”

Click here to read the full interview with Martin Goss.

Sara Ruth (Green Party)

Colchester Green MP candidate Sara Ruth (Image: Submitted)

Our third interviewee was Sara Ruth, representing the Green Party.

Ms Ruth is currently studying for a master’s degree in social anthropology at Essex University - starting her degree in 2020 after being made redundant in 2020 due to “Covid downsizing”

As the candidate for the Green Party, Ms Ruth said the main environmental issues in Colchester were air pollution in parts of the city centre, river pollution in the Colne, and the “lack of investment in renewable energy” whether solar or heat pumps.

For Ms Ruth, housing is the most important issue of the election with “there being multiple housing crises at once”.

She also said that there is a “local council crisis” with councils being unable to afford to house people, instead having to keep them in temporary accommodation at an “enormous cost” which goes alongside the homelessness crisis.

Mr Ruth also said that the Green Party’s policies in this area include increasing funding for the NHS by at least £6billion per year each year as well as “rolling back privatisation” of the NHS through repealing the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and “abolishing the internal market”

Click here to read the full interview with Sara Ruth.

Pam Cox (Labour)

Colchester Labour MP candidate Pam Cox (Image: Steve Brading)

Next up was Labour candidate Pam Cox.

Currently working at the University of Essex, Professor Cox knows becoming MP will mean setting her academic career to one side and putting her political exploits front and centre.

Her career and social policy research, Professor Cox argues, has put her in good stead to be an MP.

Much of her work appears rooted in a determination to identify problems and fix them.

“As a councillor in the last three years, I have been involved with trying to find solutions to some of Colchester’s challenges,” she said.

“Being a councillor is a great experience - it’s like lifting the bonnet of a car and looking what’s underneath and seeing how everything works."

Ms Cox said a Labour government would look at more long-term infrastructure plans for roads and flooding and transport.

She also said wished to see the Wick designated as a local green space or nature reserve and protected from development.

Click here to read the full interview with Pam Cox.

Terrence Longstaff (Reform UK)

Colchester Reform UK MP candidate Terrence Longstaff (Image: Submitted)

Lastly, we spoke to Reform UK candidate Terrence Longstaff.

Mr Longstaff admitted he "never thought he would be involved in politics", however the lightbulb moment came in the form of someone to telling him to stop complaining about the state of the country and do something about it himself.

He said: “I was in a pub beer garden in Colchester - it was probably the Castle, and I’m gobbing off.

“People express their views and people get frustrated with what’s going on in the country - people don’t feel like the parties there are worth voting for, or they’re voting for one party to stop the other from getting in.

“It was almost like, stop gobbing off and do something about it - so I have."

Mr Longstaff argues Reform UK offer far more than a tactical option for voters, adding the party offers people the chance to vote for something they truly believe in.

When it comes to Colchester itself, Mr Longstaff grew up in the city from the age of ten. 

The future of the Middlewick firing ranges - an MoD-owned site - is therefore something which resonates with him strongly.

Click here to read the full interview with Terrence Longstaff.

The Gazette did attempt to contact The Climate Party's James Rolfe for an interview but did not receive any response.

However, on the Climate Party website, it states it is a new political movement with the aim of leading the UK to economic revival and increased prosperity for British people through a commitment to net zero 2030, in line with the science, while restoring Britain’s nature and protecting our waterways from pollution.