Chris Altree (Labour)

ALL general elections are important, but the decisions taken by the people of Barrow and Furness at the ballot box on December 12 will have enormous consequences.

Our families and individuals need someone to represent them who knows their history, understands their problems and who has the abilities to shape a better future for us all to share.

I’m from Furness and I’m for Furness.

Among my family connections are grandad John McCarthy who was a foreman at Barrow Docks in the 1990s and my sister Steph who is a nurse at Furness General Hospital.

My job as a railway worker means I have a sound grasp of the difficulties encountered by passengers and it is long past the time when we should have introduced lasting improvements to make life tolerable for users of the A590 and the A595.

As a soldier with the Royal Signals I served my country in Afghanistan and I know the importance of defence issues – not just for our nation but for this community.

Readers will know my Conservative opponent has deployed his trusty old scare tactic, namely saying Labour would put our shipyard at risk. Most people know this is entirely untrue, but please let me assure anyone who has doubts that my party is totally committed to Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

Simon Fell (Conservative)

Barrow & Furness needs an MP who is passionate about our area, has a solid plan for what they want to do to improve it if they win, and someone who knows how to get things done.

I think I more than tick those boxes. My family have lived in Furness since the 1600s. This place is in my blood and I care deeply about making sure we are heard in Westminster and listened to. We’re crying out for recognition and investment and I want to make that case to the Prime Minister.

I also want to make sure that local people feel secure - that we deliver on the result of the referendum and get Brexit done, and that we ensure that our local economy and national defence stays strong by backing the shipyard.

My day job is working with some 500 organisations, from banks, councils, the government, police and charities, and getting them to pull together to stop fraud and some of the most vulnerable people in society from being targeted by predatory criminals.

To get that done I have to bring people together, build coalitions, understand the big picture, and - most important - deliver results.

I’m good at my day job, and I think that what I’ve learned there would make me really good local MP - fighting for Furness to be heard on the national stage and making sure that we’re listened to.

Chris Loynes (Green)

I’ve lived, studied and worked in Cumbria for 40 years, for the last 15 in Ulverston. I have been a teacher, youth worker and now, a university lecturer. I have been a Green since I was at school and campaigned at University on social and transport as well as environmental issues. Whilst the situation we are in is grim, this is an exciting time as public awareness and support for action grows. Whether this is a conversation in the street, student Friday strikes, Extinction Rebellion or the deepening concern about austerity - food banks, poor quality care, lack of affordable homes and more. Cross party collaboration is needed. It gave us the welfare system after the war. I am passionate about rebuilding that consensus on the actions we now need to restore the welfare systems and restore our environment as a safe place for all.

Loraine Birchall (Liberal Democrat)

People are tired of politics and there is no trust in traditional politicians. I’m a divorced, single parent who runs my own business, I’ve been on benefits and live in social housing. I have worked with local police to set up ‘No Cold Calling Zones’ protecting vulnerable residents. I am Chair of the Friends of X112 Charity keeping rural buses running between Coniston, Ulverston and Barrow via the Coast Road, which has since taken on the X70 Ulverston town route and the X7 routes. As a board member of South Lakes Housing, I want affordable homes for everyone. I’m a Parish Councillor in Great Urswick. My son, Jake, is an apprentice at the shipyard and we have two Chocolate Labradors. I have always supported BAE and fought to keep jobs in the constituency.

Ged McGrath (Brexit Party)

I voted to leave the EU. I didn’t vote to leave with a deal.

We are left with having to back the Conservatives and a bad deal that was negotiated by Theresa May.

We need to start with a blank piece of paper and go from there.

The EU has no incentive to give anything other than a bad deal.