ONE month today voters will go to the polls to select their parliamentary representative for Bracknell.
Local parties have been announcing their candidates in the run-up to the poll.
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Over the coming weeks, Bracknell News will be meeting each candidate to discuss their vision for the constituency.
Here’s who we know will be standing in Bracknell for each party (NB: this article originally contained the four candidates who had confirmed to the News they were standing. This updated version now includes the fifth confirmed candidate).
Olivio Barreto
Bracknell Forest Council confirmed this candidate's nomination after the deadline closed at 4 pm on Thursday, November 14.
The candidate is an independent nomination not attached to any party.
Olivio stood in Bracknell in the 2017 general election and gained 437 votes.
He is currently a councillor at Winkfield Parish Council and in 2017 he told the News he had lived in Bracknell for more than 17 years while working as a financial and management consultant with international and government organisations.
Speaking about his vision for Bracknell in 2017, he said: "Like all the residents of Bracknell, I have often voted for the main political parties only to discover that it really does not make a difference.
"What we need is an MP who represents Bracknell in Westminster but more importantly an MP who lives and understands the local community while working very closely with the council who have made a tremendous effort to regenerate the area over the last few years."
Kaweh Beheshtizadeh (Liberal Democrats)
The Lib Dem candidate is an award-winning human rights lawyer who was previously a refugee.
Born in Iranian Kurdistan, he came to the UK in 2004 aged 23 and speaking no English.
He claimed asylum in the UK after facing persecution in Iran for demanding democracy.
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Kaweh said: “We desperately need to work together to have better systems of education, health and justice.
“We must strive to ensure that respect for human rights, equality, and fairness is upheld within this nation, and work hard to change the tone of the debate around immigration. We have to tackle the housing crisis and rise in crimes.
I am delighted to be the @LibDems Parliamentary Candidate for Bracknell for the next General Election. pic.twitter.com/k9zsQIkMpZ
— Kaweh Beheshtizadeh (@Beheshtizadeh) October 30, 2019
“Each of these issues is extremely important to this constituency and to me and as your MP, I promise that I will work tirelessly to promote the liberal values.”
Paul Bidwell (Labour)
Labour’s man is a town councillor for Priestwood and has lived in the borough for more than 20 years.
He is the chair of Age Concern, a trustee at Priestwood Community Centre and at an elderly day centre in Wokingham.
Paul stood for Labour in the 2017 general election, in which he came second with more than 16,000 votes.
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Paul said: “It is really important to reverse the trend of having an absent MP for Bracknell for the past 20 years.
"There have not been any surgeries in the Bracknell Forest area, which I think is appalling.
I am delighted and honoured to have been selected by @SELabour as PPC for Bracknell. In 2017 we doubled the vote, if repeated Bracknell would have its first Labour MP. #forthemanynotthefew #peoplenotpriviledge pic.twitter.com/BZPY6gZxGb
— Paul Bidwell (@PaulforMP) November 6, 2019
"My focus is to engage more with the community and meeting with groups, businesses and organisations to bridge the gap between parliament."
Derek Florey (The Green Party)
Green Party representative Derek Florey, 35, has lived in Bracknell all his life and has worked at South Hill Park Arts Centre in various roles for twelve years.
Mr Florey stood in the local elections earlier this year and also put himself forward as the Green Party candidate in the 2015 general election, collecting 2,200 votes.
He has campaigned on climate-related issues previously, including against the transatlantic trade and investment partnership in the past.
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Derek said: “It is now more important than ever that we have a dependable and distinctive Green voice in the election process.
“I want a secure and positive future for all residents living in Crowthorne, Sandhurst, Wokingham Without and Bracknell and I believe sincerely that the Green Party has the range of policies and the dedication to achieve this.
I along with three brilliant Candidates from @EastBerksGP are standing for @TheGreenParty @SEGreenParty in Bracknell Maidenhead Windsor and Slough please take a look share and if you can donate to help us stand in our wonderful communities Thank You https://t.co/EhTVKQIWf5
— Derek Florey (@Derek_Florey) November 6, 2019
“Over the coming weeks or months, I am looking forward to sharing the many life-enhancing exciting new opportunities our plans can deliver.”
James Sunderland (Conservative Party)
Tory candidate James Sunderland is an army officer at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst and is soon to be retired.
His nomination comes after former Bracknell MP Dr Phillip Lee defected from the Conservative Party to join the Lib Dems in September.
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After being selected by the Bracknell Conservative Association, Mr Sunderland met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is rumoured to potentially visit Bracknell in the coming weeks.
Humbled to be welcomed as the new Conservative candidate for Bracknell by the PM in London today. He hopes to visit our superb constituency during the campaign... pic.twitter.com/byn2vK0qSI
— James Sunderland (@JamesSunderl) November 11, 2019
James said: “I am excited about the future, will robustly support every constituent if I am entrusted to be your next MP and look forward to making Bracknell my home.
“Bracknell is already a great place to work and live but there is more we can do to make it even better.
“I will help to ensure that we are best-placed to take full advantage of the global opportunities offered by Brexit.”
Here’s who definitely won’t be standing in Bracknell…
David Winsper (Brexit Party)
Mr Winsper was set to stand for Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party in Bracknell, but now won’t after the leader pulled all candidates from seats won by the Tories in 2017 (including Bracknell).
Brexit Party PPC David Winsper @DavidwinsperB in Bracknell today! pic.twitter.com/7aPRWX2b2S
— The Brexit Party (@brexitparty_uk) October 5, 2019
NOW READ: Brexit Party candidate apologises for not standing in Bracknell
It gives me no joy to share the below breaking news 👇👇👇
— David Winsper The Brexit Party (@DavidwinsperB) November 11, 2019
I will never vote again.#Bracknell#Winsperhttps://t.co/n6xzZe9VkN
He told the News: “I, David Winsper, wish to apologise to all the great individuals who came along to the meetings and the showed their support not on behalf of the Brexit Party, but on behalf of me. Unfortunately, we have not delivered.”
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