In the run up to this year’s general election we wanted to find out a bit more about some of our local candidates and share with you what they had to say. Laurence Robertson of the Conservative party kindly agreed to speak to us. Here’s what he had to say. If you wish, you can ask him and the party more questions on their Facebook Page, Twitter or Website
What’s your view of the UK as part of the outside world? Do you think that we’re better off in the EU and if so why?
Better off out, so that we can make all our own laws and control our borders, thereby controlling EU–generated immigration. We could renegotiate trade deals with the rest of the world. We would then be less troubled by problems in the Euro zone.
Did you go to university? If so, did you have to pay tuition fees and/or did you receive a grant? How would you change the current tuition fee system?
How would you change the current tuition fee system? I didn’t go. I would restructure so that we encourage people to go to university to study issues which are needed to get jobs and which employers are seeking, eg engineering, maths, science, law etc, with scaled charges being made for other subjects.
A lot of younger voters often feel patronised or overlooked completely, which of your parties policies do you feel specifically benefit young people and why?
Apprenticeships, higher personal allowances before paying tax, more jobs and lower unemployment, falling crime etc all benefit young people.
A lot of music venues are getting closed down to noise complaints from people who just moved to the area. Do you feel this is an issue? What solution would you propose?
Not a big issue in my area
Prime Ministers questions have made a mockery of the political system in recent years, like watching jeering school boys attempting to one up each other – how would you change the current system to turn it into a useful debate rather than an incessant insults throwing and question dodging?
I don’t agree with the original premise – very many people ask for tickets to come and see PMQs. And such scrutiny keeps politics clean and relevant. That said, I don’t think it’s as useful a session as it should be. However, most of the questions on other subjects, and the debates, are very orderly – the media just pick up on PMQs.
A minimum turnout for strike ballots has been proposed recently – do you think this is fair? If we need a minimum turnout for a ballot strike should we also have minimum turnouts for all elections and referendums?
If we need a minimum turnout for a ballot strike should we also have minimum turnouts for all elections and referendums? Yes, it’s fair because of the history of intimidation which has taken place in some Union activity. Not the case with elections.
House prices are still rising yet salaries generally aren’t – young professionals can only dream about home ownership while giving money every month to landlords – what do you think should be done about this? What would you propose?
Salaries are rising now, slowly but above inflation rates.house prices have always been a problem for first time buyers. Difficult to come up with a solution; perhaps more affordable houses to be built, and not just large houses.
The NHS appears to be struggling these days and is most likely underfunded – how would you go about resolving the issues the NHS faces or do you believe we’d be better off moving to a system based around private medical insurance?
It provides a fantastic services that’s not to say it can’t be improved. I think the way to do this is not by Insurance, but perhaps vouchers, in order to relate the service to the people who ultimately pay the bill, ie the patients, but this would be publicly funded as now. I think there is a shortage in some connectivity, although again this has always been the case.
What’s your opinion on tax money being used to fund arts?
As far as possible I think it should be through the National Lottery
What is your view on renewable energy? Should we push for more renewable sources? What is your view of nuclear energy?
Both should be encouraged, we need them
Did your parents buy you a car when you were in your teens or early twenties?
No!
Did you have a part time job during A-levels and/or Uni?
No
Have you ever held a minimum wage job before going into politics?
No
Outside of politics, what do you do? What are you hobbies?
Golf, horse racing, the countryside and reading, mainly about history, sport and English classics.
For people who are reluctant to vote, for whatever reason, why should they take part in the General Election?
The country, Parliament and the government belongs to them.
Which of your party’s policies do you hold most dear?
Probably the fact that over 2 million apprenticeships have been created; and the pledge to hold a referendum on our membership of the EU.
In your opinion, what is the number one priority of your local constituency?
Protecting the countryside.
If you could only listen to 5 albums for the rest of your life, which albums would they be?
Don’t know exactly, but Elvis Presley albums, Tchaikovsky, etc
Which film, released in the last year, would you awarded ‘Best film’ to if you could have curated this year’s Oscars?
No idea!
Do you ever attend live music? If so, what was the last gig you went to?
Rarely. Saw the Eagles a while ago, and Michael Buble before that.
Do you play video games? If so, which game are you currently playing?
No
Are there any TV shows you just can’t miss? Or any shows you’re upset have been cancelled?
No
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