Residents of Hazel Grove will take to the voting booth on 4 July to decide who represents them in parliament.
Who is standing?
Candidates for this year’s election include Liberal Democrat candidate Lisa Smart, Labour candidate Claire Vibert, Conservative candidate Paul Athans and Green Party candidate Graham Reid.
Reform UK’s candidate is John Kelly and the Social Democratic Party candidate is Tim O’Rourke.
You can see the full list of Hazel Grove candidates here.
Political history
The constituency of Hazel Grove consists of areas including Bredbury and Woodley, Bredbury Green and Romiley, Hazel Grove, Marple North, Marple South and High Lane, and Offerton.
In 1997, the Liberal Democrats won the seat under Andrew Stunell. The Conservative share of the vote fell in Hazel Grove in the 2001 and 2005 general elections, from a (winning) peak under Tom Arnold of 44.8% in 1992 to a low of 29.7% in 2005.
Stunell held the seat until his retirement in 2015, when the Conservatives’ William Wragg was voted in, achieving a 33.6% share of the vote and 2.4% swing from the Lib Dems to the Conservatives.
Wragg held the seat from 2015 to April 2024 as a Conservative until he resigned from the party after a sexting scandal. He held the seat as an independent MP after that, and is not seeking re-election.
Key issues
Sewage dumping in rivers has been a huge focus for this year’s candidates, particularly with the River Goyt, which runs through Marple Bridge, and its poor ecological rating in 2022.
Public transport throughout areas of Hazel Grove is another focus for most candidates, especially with the promises of the Bee Network making its way around Stockport with updated bus and potential tram systems.
Improved NHS services, in particular at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, has been a focus across most parties. The Lib Dems are fighting for a new hospital ward to be built while the Conservatives are campaigning for more car parking spaces.
Voting intention and turnout
From polls, it’s expected that Liberal Democrats will gain from Conservatives. At the moment, polls indicate Lib Dems are predicted to have a 36.52% share of the vote.
Conservatives follow with a 28.67% share and Labour with 23.06% share of the vote.
That makes the seat a rare thing in general elections: a three-horse race.
Information from Polling Report is here.
Election information
In order to vote in the upcoming election the requirements are that you have to be:
- Over 18.
- A British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen living in the UK, or a British citizen living overseas who has resided in the UK within the previous 15 years.
- Registered at an address in Hazel Grove.
Registration to vote is still open but the deadline is Tuesday 18 June and you have to apply for a postal vote by Wednesday 19 June.
Polling day is on 4 July and you can cast your vote between 7am and 10pm. If voting at a polling station you will need a valid form of photo ID.
Results will be announced on 5 July usually in the early hours of the morning.
Feature image: The Romiley Arms, © Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
