Yahoo News Brexit, key issues and party leaders - what people on Farnham's streets are saying ahead of the election
Brexit has been relatively absent this election, with neither of the leading parties wanting to talk about 2016's seismic event. But SurreyLive has been taking to various high streets in the county in the run up the election to discover what residents think of key issues.
In Farnham, we asked people if they noticed any Brexit benefits. "No, not a single one," was Clara Chloe's damning assessment and the 19-year-old bartender was far from alone.
Luchia Leigh, an equality, diversity and inclusion advisor, said: "As a 26-year-old living in the UK; no I don't feel like there has been any benefit." Damon de Boer, 39, a South African-Swiss engineer, added: "I wouldn't say there's major benefits, at this stage. Economically? Definitely not."
Read more: Every General Election candidate standing in Surrey in 2024
The results are far from surprising in a town that largely voted for the UK to remain in the European Union eight years ago. Although Conservative, Jeremy Hunt's former West Surrey constituency has returned him decreasing majorities post-Brexit, with a high of 28,556 in 2015 reduced to under 8,817 in 2019.
Farnham now sits in one of Surrey's new constituencies, Farnham and Bordon, meaning this area no longer falls under Jeremy Hunt, who is standing in the newly created Godalming and Ash. Farnham and Bordon was carved out of old South West Surrey, a Conservative safe seat since its own creation in 1984. The wealthy market town, where the average house price is £515,000 is far from outright Tory blue this year, however, according to YouGov.
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Those on the streets of Farnham, were also questioned about the most important issues to them this election, with education the most popular answer, as well as environmental concerns. Also featured were: trans rights; societal fairness; conflict; special educational needs (SEN); the position of young people; and elderly care.
Engineer Damon, father of a child with special educational needs, focused on education, stating: "Education is very key in support for SEN and better use of money." Canadian Kirei Reavis, 18, who is worried about affording her education in the UK, asserted: "Having to worry about paying tuition, taking out loans, debts, that's something I worry about."
The residents were also asked to give their opinions on the leaders of the two leading parties, the Conservative's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour's Sir Keir Starmer. The general verdict was far from positive for both of the Downing Street (London not Farnham) hopefuls.
"Am I allowed to swear?" asked Luchia, who described Sunak as, "unreliable" and "disconnected from society". Starmer did not fare much better, with Luchia suggesting, "[Starmer's] diverging from Labour's ideas. Not positively." While Damon said he had "no real confidence" in the Labour leader.
Farnham and Bordon's candidates this election are:
Ged Hall (Reform UK)
Don Jerrard (Hampshire Independents)
Alex Just (Labour)
Claire Matthes (Green)
Greg Stafford (Conservative)
Khalil Yousuf (Liberal Democrat)
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