WITH the General Election rapidly approaching, the Journal has spoken to the five Cotswolds parliamentary candidates to discover their aspirations and priorities for the rural constituency they each hope to represent following the May 7 vote.

The seat has been held by Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown for the past 23 years.

This is what each candidate says they aim to do to contribute to the wellbeing of the district and the areas of concern they hope to improve.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Conservative.

"I have been the Member of Parliament for the Cotswolds and its predecessor constituency since 1992. Since then I have campaigned tirelessly on a huge range of issues in this large and diverse constituency. Recent issues include the redoubling of both the Cotswold and Kemble rail lines, roll out of broadband, solving the A417 Missing Link, ambulance response times, new and better hospital facilities in the Cotswolds, access to defibrillators at various locations, improvements to flood defences, fighting for funding for the National Star College and trying to prevent excessive development in the Cotswolds. As a fellow farmer I have always championed agriculture in the Cotswolds particularly in view of the dairy crisis. I have helped a huge range of businesses to thrive.

"In addition to these constituency-specific issues I have campaigned on many national issues such as the roll out of a Meningitis B vaccination for all babies, early access to medicines for terminally ill patients, abolition of the 15-year rule for overseas voters, improving our immigration system and the F40 fair funding campaign for all schools including the Cotswolds."

Paul Hodgkinson, Liberal Democrat.

"I have lived in the Cotswolds for 26 years and am standing for Parliament as the voice of the many who feel disconnected from decisions made by both district and county councils, as well as the current MP.

"I am a successful local businessman - setting up my executive coaching practice in 2004 - and have a record of getting things done for local people as a Cotswold district and Gloucestershire county councillor since 2007, such as fighting against high parking charges, leading numerous road safety campaigns and lobbying the NHS to re-open Cheltenham hospital A&E 24/7.

"My priorities are to protect the countryside from predatory developers and to get 21st century services for our area like decent roads, a proper phone signal, faster broadband and ambulance response times on a par with the big towns.

"I will be a full-time MP and will stop my business if elected on May 7 so I can concentrate totally on standing up for the Cotswolds."

Manjinder Singh Kang, Labour.

"I was born in Tamworth, Staffordshire where my family own a local convenience store. I am 27 and studied for my undergraduate law degree at Nottingham Trent University. I continued my studies and completed the Professional Diploma in Legal Practice in 2010.

My frustration towards the manner in which young people were being treated was aggravated by the difficulties many graduates were experiencing in securing appropriate employment.

These events acted as a catalyst to my active involvement in politics. I became involved in politics because I want to be the voice for the people that have suffered at the hands of this coalition government, I wanted to voice these concerns to the public and hold the Government to account.

Over the past few months I have campaigned extensively throughout the Cotswolds and I have on numerous occasions been made aware of unsuitable housing developments, inadequate public transportation and stretched healthcare resources as a result of this government, I plan to resolves these issues if elected as the Member of Parliament for The Cotswolds.

Chris Harlow, UKIP.

"I am a politics graduate with a business background and I am hoping to represent the Cotswolds for UKIP. I have lived in the constituency for twelve years and I am married with adult children and an increasing number of grandchildren.

"I feel the Cotswolds needs to be represented by someone with a fresh view of politics, who is committed to the area, and who will challenge the old parties who have held power for too long. I want to see Britain as a self-governing nation with secure borders, effectively defended, and financially responsible.

"My local priorities include ensuring a rapid and comprehensive roll-out of faster broadband, better mobile phone reception and improved road infrastructure. I am concerned that many places in the Cotswolds are distant from medical facilities, and that those facilities are under pressure.

I know that UKIP represents the only real alternative to the Conservatives, and only UKIP reflects the true but often concealed views of the electorate."

Penny Burgess, Green.

"I went to Deer Park School in Cirencester and have lived most of my life in the Cotswolds; it's where I call home.

"I would be a truly local MP, with no second job, dedicating myself to helping the people of the Cotswolds. I have lots of real life experience – I’m not a career politician. I’m a mother; I’ve run my own company and have had senior management jobs including being the manager of the Abbey National in Cirencester. I now work for Ecotricity.

"The things most important to me are: An NHS that is run for people, not for profit; a fair economy, where taxes can't be dodged and everyone pays a fair share; no one should be in fear of poverty and no one should need to choose between heating and eating; everyone should have access to a warm, affordable home with secure rental tenancies, regulated landlords and security if your home is repossessed; free education, where your local school is an excellent one, and there are no university tuition fees; improved and affordable rural transport; a planet where people live in a sustainable way - there is no planet B.