Cheryl Gillan, Conservative, Chesham & Amersham

Name: Cheryl Gillan

Candidate for: Chesham & Amersham

Party: Conservative

Votes: 31,658

Profile:

I give all residents my pledge that I am actively opposing the HS2 route proposals. The proposed route is Labour’s choice. Conservatives will look at alternatives. I have already held a wide range of meetings to consider the business and environmental case and I will fight for an alternative to the Labour Government’s preferred route which crosses the widest point of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

When I met the Transport Secretary I asked for the environmental impact of any route to be properly assessed, as well as the commercial, financial and structural considerations. I have already asked many detailed questions on the proposed scheme and will be developing the case for an alternative which does less damage to the Chilterns and our environment.

Since I was first elected to Parliament in 1992 I worked hard in partnership with many local organisations to defend the Chilterns – particularly from over-development, to defend our Green Belt, protect the environment against aircraft noise and pollution and preserve our chalk streams.

On our local NHS, we cannot forget there is no replacement yet for our much-loved Chesham Hospital. We want to make the NHS work for patients not bureaucrats, whilst ensuring it has the funding it needs.

I am enormously proud of our local schools and the start that they give young people in life, but across the UK we need to raise standards, give teachers the power to restore discipline and create new, smaller schools.

Conservatives will support flexible working, recognise marriage in the tax system and fight back against crime.

The next Conservative Government will act to raise state pensions, deliver justice to Equitable Life policyholders as quickly as possible. We will get rid of the tax on jobs through the National Insurance hike, and reduce waste in government.

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