OVER the coming months we will be speaking to the candidates for Warrington's two seats at the General Election, This week, Labour's Warrington South candidate, Nick Bent.

THERE are a few dates in the 2015 calendar all of us will have circled already.

Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries.

But for Nick Bent, Thursday, May 8 is already etched in his mind – in fact he mentioned it four times in our hour-long chat.

Because that will be the next General Election and the chance for him to finally achieve a personal ambition.

The Great Sankey resident lost narrowly to David Mowat in 2010.

In less than six months time, it is likely to be a two-horse race – only this time the Oxford and Harvard graduate is determined to win.

He said: “I think it is going to be very tight. This General Election across the country and here in Warrington South is too close to call.

“I am convinced a majority do not want a Tory MP for another five years. I am hopeful I can convince them they should vote Labour.

“If voters flirt with the Greens or UKIP or the Lib Dems, they will just end up with the Tories in power for another five years.

“I also think the Labour party has a credible offer that will make a real difference to their lives and their family’s future.”

A former special advisor to Tessa Jowell in Government, Mr Bent came to the fight late for the 2010 poll, having less than a year to try to keep a seat which has been Labour’s since 1992.

It was a fight he would lose, but instead of searching for an opportunity elsewhere, he moved into a house in Great Sankey and now says he is ready to become Warrington South’s MP.

“It means a lot. I really want to do this job because I care about this town, I made it my home, and I think I can do a lot of good.

“I really want it, I have been working really hard for five years and I will give it everything I have got,” he said.

That means already cutting his days at the Tutor Trust where he works to three days a week – he will go full time on the campaign in the new year.

It also means hitting the streets and knocking on doors as he tries to speak to as many of the 87,000 residents who can vote in Warrington South as possible.

“Financially it is not a fair fight. David Mowat has given £40,000 of his own money since the last General Election.

“A lot of people don’t like that he has moved to Macclesfield.

“I hope that I can offer people a positive alternative as someone who lives in the town and could do an awful lot more.”

And while he promotes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, he argues old fashioned campaigning is still key to success.

“I believe that face to face personal conversations is still at the heart of politics even in the 21st century. Good relationships depend on face to face conversation,” he said.

A NEW high level bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal would be ‘the biggest’ long term solution to the traffic woes of Warrington.

That’s the view of Nick Bent, Labour’s candidate for Warrington South in next year’s General Election.
And he said while the new bridge planned from Slutchers Lane to Gainsborough Road was a ‘step forward’, big issues ‘still need to be addressed’.

He added: “The biggest single long term solution is a new high level bridge. 

“We are not sure where yet but it would be in addition to the Cantilever. It would be part of a major investment package to open unused land for commercial development, for jobs and for more housing. It could be a real boost to the economy as well as single biggest solution to traffic problems.”

He also criticised current MP David Mowat.

Warrington Guardian: Bridges over the stretch of the Manchester Ship Canal running through Warrington

“He doesn’t seem able to get the commitments that we need. We have no commitment over a high level bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal which is what we really need.

“I have got some additional ideas about how we deal with the ship canal about setting up an independent tribunal so you get a fair balance between traffic on the ship canal and traffic on the roads.

“It is great to see the Manchester Ship Canal coming back to use and Peel Ports had done a lot of good but there has to be a proper balance. 

“There are other solutions Peel Ports could explore. They are an important partner but also a ruthless private business. Like many, they won’t do the right thing unless there is significant pressure on them.” 
He also said Government needs to stop Warrington residents paying tolls on the new Mersey Crossing.

ED IS 'AN ASSET'

NICK Bent says Ed Miliband is an asset to Labour who people in Warrington will vote for.

The Labour leader has come under fire in recent months, most notably when he forgot parts of his speech at the party’s conference in October.

He has also been subject to disquiet among an element of the parliamentary party in Westminster.

But Mr Bent said: “I think Ed is an asset, I really do. When he has come to Warrington people have responded very warmly and very positively.

Warrington Guardian: Ed Miliband is greeted by Nick Bent and Clr Terry O'Neill

“People are impressed by him and they warm to him.

“I have a lot of faith in the great British public and I believe they are not actually that interested in what someone looks like or how they sound.

“They are interested in does this politician understand my life and are they going to do something worthwhile and positive.

“This is in an age where there is a lot of cynicism toward politicians. Hand on heart I can say Ed Miliband will be a better prime minister than David Cameron for Warrington.”

VILLAGE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN LET DOWN

A NEW housing development on Omega must be handled right from the start and not become another Chapelford, according to Nick Bent.

He said: “I have worked very closely with residents on Chapelford who have frankly been badly let down by David Wilson Holmes.

“There are a number of important promises that have been broken by DW Homes. Some have now been fulfilled. 

“There are still things that need to be worked on. 

“We need to get a health centre built, a good community centre built, there are still roads not brought up to right standard and that is the responsibility of DW Homes. 

“I will continue to make sure DW Homes keeps its promises and treats residents with respect.

“On Omega we need to learn the lessons from that and get it right from the outset.”

The business park at Omega, on the former RAF Burtonwood site, is growing and despite criticism that some of the development is not for hi-tech jobs, Mr Bent believes it is ‘getting there’.

He added: “I am pleased that something is happening and having a business friendly Labour council has got things moving.

“The new Asda plant is a world class facility. And the manufacturing French high skilled jobs are now coming in our town, I want to see more of that.

“Also the town does need more housing. It is important to use brownfield sites like this to stop building on green field land.”

PURE PROPAGANDA

THE idea that the council is biased in favour of the north of Warrington over the south is ‘pure propaganda’.

Nick Bent said he campaigns on issues in Lymm and Appleton as much as Latchford, Bewsey or Great Sankey.

He added: “The idea this Labour council is biased against the southern bits of the town over others is Lib Dem propaganda and people should see it as it is.”