The Mercury asks? Bridgwater election candidates vye for your vote

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on polling day.

The Green Party candidate Julie Harvey-Smith was also approached for a piece.

Theo Butt

Theo Butt Philip, Liberal Democrat I AM 32 and have lived in Somerset all my life. Educated at Wells Blue School and Lancaster University, I live in Bridgwater and work as a public affairs consultant.

I have previously served as a credit union director, school governor and parish councillor.

I was the Liberal Democrat candidate for Bridgwater and West Somerset in the last General Election, coming second with 15,426 votes – over 6,000 votes ahead of the third-placed Labour candidate.

I will be fighting for a fair deal for our communities - pressing for better transport infrastructure and dealing with Bridgwater’s current traffic problems caused by the failure to build a Bridgwater bypass.

I am a former Mayor of Wells and am used to working across party divisions.

I believe we need an MP who can work with councillors, residents, businesses and others, regardless of political affiliation, to get the best for our area.

Ian Liddell-Grainger, Conservative IF YOU want stricter control over our national borders, far less interference from Brussels, more secure jobs for local people, a properly-funded health service and an MP who will stand up for Bridgwater through thick and thin I sincerely hope you will support me on May 7.

I live in the constituency, know the area extremely well and have fought for everyone for the past 14 years. I worked flat out to win decent compensation and effective flood prevention after the disaster a year ago.

I have always backed the construction of Hinkley C because of the huge economic benefits it will bring. I have argued successfully for higher standards in our schools and a new community hospital for the town. I believe in an honest no-nonsense approach to getting things done.

I want a safe, prosperous nation and I want Bridgwater and its people to reap the benefits.

Mick Lerry, Labour I HAVE worked and lived in the constituency since 1976. I left school at 15 and worked in engineering. Later, I obtained the necessary qualifications to go to university. I worked as a teacher at the Blake School from 1976 and later as a lay officer for the National Union of Teachers.

In 2011 I was elected as a Labour councillor for Victoria Ward on Sedgemoor District Council and Bridgwater Town Council.

Labour will make sure that there is a strong National Health Service. Working people will benefit from skilled employment, higher wages and apprenticeships for all school leavers with the qualifications, plus a new minimum wage of £8. Labour will ban the misuse of zero-hours contracts and internships.

If elected as your MP I will tackle the standard of living by freezing energy prices and private rents and Labour will reduce tuition fees; abolish the cruel Bedroom Tax and support small businesses.

Stephen Fitzgerald, UKIP I am a semi-retired management consultant who has undertaken a lifetime of voluntary work including social issues such as domestic abuse and equal parenting.

I spent much of last summer undertaking a social survey on behalf of UKIP to determine the wishes of the electorate which I fed back to UKIP HQ.

Issues raised included concern over the high levels of immigration and absence of border controls, unacceptable employment practices, including zero hours contracts, insufficient affordable housing, childcare costs, homelessness and the need for food banks and surgery waiting times All of this can be found, and more, in the UKIP Manifesto which was issued last week, including withdrawal from the EU and strong border controls.

As a UKIP MP I will hold regular surgeries and will play my part in investigating unacceptable employment practices and in supporting local business, farming and youth employment.