Meet the Wealden candidates standing to be your next MP

Below are statements from each candidate. The nomination period closed at 4pm on Thursday, November 14. The deadline to register to vote in the General Election was Tuesday, November 26.

Angie Smith, Labour

Wealden has been my home along with my husband, two children and various dogs for the past 14 years. During that time I have built a career in the domestic violence sector and now work full-time in London for a national domestic violence charity, commuting every day from Uckfield.

My work in the domestic violence sector has enabled me to see first-hand how austerity policies impact on real people’s lives: women who are destitute after leaving abusers, because of barriers to claiming benefits; people with disabilities excluded from benefits because of unfair fit-for-work assessments, or people who cannot access emergency housing because there is not enough temporary accommodation to meet the increasing need.

Austerity is now beginning to bite across Wealden. We have seen huge cuts in social care provision, including the dismantling of early help, meals on wheels, respite for families with caring responsibilities, to name just some of the losses. Universal Credit is now live across the area – directly impacting on rising foodbank use. Our housing situation is dire, with a lack of decent, affordable provision across the area. I have become involved in politics to do what I can to resolve these issues. I am now an Uckfield Town Councillor, I have been a shop steward and am an active anti-austerity and pro-NHS campaigner, but with a national platform I could do so much more for the people of Wealden. It is for that reason that I am standing as Labour Candidate in this General Election.

Nus Ghani, Conservatives

I am standing on a positive ticket to deliver Brexit and manage a strong economy with low taxes, which invests in our NHS and front line public services.

My priorities for Wealden are the same as yours, makin