General election 2024: The candidates standing in Newport East

The Newport East seat is merging with a large chunk of the existing Newport West seat from this election. The boundaries of all but one Welsh seat have changed, only Ynys Mon (the island of Anglesey) remains untouched, all others have seen changes which could impact the results on election night. You can read the background to the changes here.

Instead of 40 constituencies, there are now 32 in Wales and the idea behind it is to make all Westminster constituencies the same size. Using figures from electoral calculus, we can see how this constituency is changing. The new Newport East will be made up of 77% of the current constituency and 45.8% of Newport West.

Both are Labour seats with Jessica Morden the Labour MP for the east of the city and Ruth Jones for the west.

READ MORE: What is my general election 2024 constituency - as 90% of areas hit by boundary changes

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Where does the constituency cover?

It includes areas such as Bettws, Caerleon, Langstone, Liswerry and Llanwern.

You can also find your constituency by entering your postcode here:

What happened in the General Election in 2019

Who is standing?

• Pippa Bartolotti (Independent)

• Rachel Buckler (Conservatives)

• Jonathan Thomas Clark (Plaid Cymru)

• Mike Ford (Heritage Party)

• Lauren James (Green Party)

• John Miller (Lib Dem)

• Jessica Morden (Labour)

• Tommy Short (Reform UK)

The candidates

All candidates are being asked the same questions, and their answers will be added here once received.

Pippa Bartolotti (Independent)

Long believing that water, like food and security, is a human right, and not a means for profit, Pippa Bartolotti’s political awakening came in a bombshell when Margaret Thatcher privatised water. There followed an exciting, and entirely unexpected ride as Wales Geen Party Leader.

Pippa Bartolotti has been a director of several companies. She has worked for the WDA and Amnesty UK, driven in a convoy which broke through the siege of Gaza, and backpacked round India and Cuba. She was imprisoned in Israel whilst trying to visit the West Bank.

A published author, Pippa Bartolotti has 3 adult children and six grandchildren. She is a lively 70 years old and is married to a US citizen. Her hobbies are politics, upcycling clothes, writing and growing her own food. Appalled at the corrupted state of Westminster politics, she is standing as an Independent MP for Newport East.

Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP

Inequality Reduction Act. Inequality in the UK is growing. With a Gini coefficient of 0.351,the UK has one of the highest levels of income inequality in Europe. Millions of working families have been thrown into food and energy insecurity.

I would like to see it enshrined in law that UK governments of every political persuasion, including coalitions, must ensure that none of their policies and subsequent laws can add to inequality. An independent and dedicated scrutiny body should look at all proposed legislation and partial legislation. This body must be given the legal power to return infringing proposals to Parliament with recommendations to either scrap the law or change it to meet the parameters set for equal wealth and income distribution.

What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?

Poverty. More than a third of children in Wales are living in poverty, more than anywhere else in the UK. The current cost of living crisis is making the situation worse

If they truly cared about changing this, Welsh MP’s, regardless of political affiliations, would form a bloc for the purpose of bringing more money from Westminster to Wales. Since leaving the EU, many funding streams have disappeared leaving Wales materially worse off.

The Barnett Formula needs to be revisited in the light of our growing population. Wales was poorer than England when it was developed, thus we are kept in a state of perpetual relative poverty. In a test to see if Welsh MP’s cared more about Wales than their political parties, I would work to form a Welsh bloc.

As an Independent MP with no party affiliation I would be well placed to make this happen. This would be good for my constituency as well as Wales as a whole.

Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?

They are all flawed. It would be much easier to say who was the worst!

Rachel Buckler - Conservative

I am Monmouthshire County Councillor for Devauden and have lived on a farm in Monmouthshire for over 35 years. I run a tourism-based business and am a partner in the family farm. I am also a writer. In 2021 I ran as a Conservative Candidate in the Senned elections and ran as a regional candidate in Mid and West Wales.

I was born in Oxfordshire and as a child lived in the north of Scotland. I lived and worked in London in my twenties. I have a keen interest in the environment and farming, and love literature, writing, art and our beautiful countryside.

Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP

To stop the last discrimination in law against women and end male primogeniture.

What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?

It's hard to choose just one thing, as we lag behind in almost every aspect in Wales because of the mismanagement of the Welsh Labour Government for the last 25 years, but I think the fact that our educational attainment is lower than any other part of the United Kingdom is extremely worrying. The new curriculum is narrowing our young people's choices in the future, and we need to open up their potential and not stifle it. The last 25 years has been a real decline in our young people's ability to compete in the United Kingdom and beyond.

Our young people are the future of Wales, they will run our businesses, work, and bring up their families here. I'd like to see a complete overhaul of the education system in Wales. As the education system is devolved we need to change the Labour run Welsh Government. It's time to wake up to the fact we need to have much more balance in Wales.

Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?

Again, it is incredibly difficult to choose just one, as the times in which each prime minister served shaped what good they did for our country. Winston Churchill was a remarkable wartime prime minister, but less successful as a peacetime prime minister. Margaret Thatcher has to be number one for me, to become the first woman prime minister was an incredible feat at the time, and her ability to have a vision, and a determination to do the very best for this country is remarkable. She is also one of the most divisive figures in our political history, and not every decision she made was I believe the right one, but she has to be admired for her unshakable belief in the United Kingdom and her service to our country.

Tommy Short (Reform UK)

Energetic and dedicated married father of two with a vision for a thriving Wales and a prosperous UK. With over 14 years of experience as an entrepreneur in the waste and environmental sector, I've collaborated with some of the UK's largest commercial, retail, and hospitality companies. I'm committed to bringing fresh, innovative solutions to address our current challenges and lay the groundwork for an even brighter future. Let's remove the waste from politics and build a cleaner and more prosperous country for all.

Name a policy you want to see become law if elected as an MP

If elected as an MP, I will champion an NHS Reform Policy. This policy aims to address critical issues within the National Health Service by increasing funding, improving efficiency, and ensuring better patient care. The reforms will focus on reducing waiting times, enhancing mental health services, and investing in state-of-the-art medical technologies.

The reason for this policy is clear, the NHS is the backbone of our healthcare system, and it is under immense pressure. Current funding levels and outdated infrastructure hinder its ability to provide timely and high quality care. By reforming the NHS, we can ensure it remains sustainable and responsive to the needs of our growing population. This policy aligns with broader UK reform initiatives that prioritise public service efficiency, accountability, and innovation. By modernising the NHS, we can build a healthier, more resilient society, ensuring that everyone has access to the care they need when they need it.

What's the biggest issue facing Wales and what will you do to fix it?

The biggest issue facing Wales is economic stagnation. Many communities struggle with high unemployment and limited opportunities. As an MP, I will implement an Economic Revitalisation Plan in line with Reform UK policy. First, I will push for significant investment in infrastructure projects to improve transportation, digital connectivity, and energy efficiency, creating jobs and attracting businesses.

Second, I will support vocational training programs and apprenticeships to ensure our workforce is skilled and ready for future opportunities, partnering with local businesses and educational institutions. Finally, I will advocate for reducing business taxes and regulations to make Wales an attractive place for enterprises, fostering innovation and economic growth. Together, we can transform Wales into a hub of prosperity and opportunity.

Who has been the best British Prime Minister and why?

In my view, Harold Macmillan stands out as the best British Prime Minister. His leadership during the late 1950s and early 1960s brought significant economic growth and social progress to the UK, including Wales. Macmillan's government focused on housing, health, and education, significantly improving the quality of life for many.

Macmillan's approach aligns with Reform UK's values of economic prosperity, social responsibility, and pragmatic governance. He famously declared that the British people "had never had it so good," reflecting his success in boosting the economy, reducing unemployment, and raising living standards. His commitment to building millions of new homes helped address housing shortages and improved living conditions for countless families in Wales and across the UK.

Macmillan's legacy of economic growth, investment in public services, and dedication to improving the lives of ordinary citizens continues to inspire our mission to build a better future for Wales and the entire UK. His practical and compassionate leadership provides a powerful example of how effective governance can transform a nation.