'Everything is falling apart' claim voters in Cambridgeshire's newest constituency

"Everything is falling apart" one man said on the doorstep as he explained how he spent a month trying to get a cancerous growth on his head seen by a doctor. Another person said it was “time for change” as they shared “dissatisfaction” with the current government. These are some of the things driving people’s voting decisions in this year’s general election in the new constituency of St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire.

People living in the new constituency, which stretches from St Neots to the edge of Cambridge, have the choice of seven candidates to vote for on July 4. The candidates vying for votes are Anthony Browne ( Conservative ), Stephen Ferguson (Independent), Kathryn Fisher ( Green Party ), Guy Lachlan (Reform UK), Marianna Masters ( Labour ), Ian Sollom ( Liberal Democrats ), and Bev White (Party of Women).

On one edge of the constituency in St Neots, Kenneth White said issues accessing health care were a priority for him in this election. He explained his own recent experiences trying to get a doctor's appointment after he discovered a growth on his head. He said: “I had concerns about a growth on my head, so I tried to go to the doctors. You get put in a queue and what happens when you get to the end of the queue, they say ‘sorry we have no appointments left today’.

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“I told them I had a growth on my head, but they said to call back in the morning - I had that for days and days. I had a blood test a few weeks afterwards and the nurse said ‘what is that on your head’, I said I do not know and have been trying to see a doctor for about a month now. Five minutes later a doctor came in and read my notes and said they would get someone to look at that, I got an appointment the next day, which was very quick. I did have a cancerous growth and it was sorted out in two weeks, so it can be done.”

Mr White said “everything's just falling apart” and added that he did not trust that promises made during an election campaign would be kept. He said: “I have not decided who to vote for yet, but I think they are all just the same. During the elections they make a rush of promises, but when they get into power of course things change. I will be glad when it is all over with.”

Elsewhere in the town another man, who did not wish to be named, said what parties were saying nationally was impacting his vote, particularly on issues around the environment and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He said: “I am Palestinian I think my current government and the other main opposition party are, it is hard to even express, they have made political decisions that by just existing I am the enemy. I have worked for the government, I am a very patriotic person. I have never voted for anyone other than Labour, but the extent they have abandoned me and people like me is a disgrace. I will probably never vote Labour again, certainly never this iteration Labour.”

Further into the new constituency in Cambourne, people on the doorstep shared frustration at the current government. Anthony Darby said he had already made up his mind and that he planned to vote for the Liberal Democrat candidate. He said: “It is complete dissatisfaction [with the government], not just with the policies they have failed to implement, but also the ways they have conducted themselves lately. We need to get rid of them, it is time for change.”

Jon Robertson said he was still making up his mind on who to vote for, but that the main thing influencing him was a wish to see a change in government. One young person in the town said this general election was the first time they would be able to vote. The 19-year-old, who did not wish to be named, said the economy and particularly the environment were the main issues impacting their vote this year.

‘The new constituency does not make much sense’

Whoever is elected to represent the new constituency will represent people from a range of areas that cross different district boundaries. For some in the area they did not think that would be much of an issue, Mr White in St Neots said they were all still a part of Cambridgeshire. Mr Darby in Cambourne said he believed a candidate who had lived in the area would be able to represent it effectively.

However, for others there were reservations about the new boundaries. One man in St Neots said: “The previous constituency didn’t make sense, but the new one does not make much sense either.” Another man in Cambourne added that he was not sure whether one area could end up being prioritised over others by the new MP.