Yahoo News General election 2024: Full list of candidates vying for votes in Tewkesbury constituency
Voters head to the polls in Tewkesbury next month to elect their MP.
There are five candidates vying for votes in the largely rural constituency which covers areas such as Bishop’s Cleeve, Elmbridge, Longlevens, Springbank, Swindon Village, Prestbury and Winchcombe.
Conservative Laurence Robertson who has been MP since 1997 is standing for re-election. Candidates also standing include Labour’s Damola Animashaun, Green Party’s Cate Cody, David Edgar of the Christian Peoples Alliance and Liberal Democrat Cameron Thomas.
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The candidates have set out below why they believe voters should back them on July 4.
Damola Animashaun - Labour Party
I am proud to be running to represent Tewkesbury community as a Labour Member of Parliament. I have dedicated my career to making a difference and have a track record of making things happen.
I have professional experience of managing large teams and projects as a senior proposal manager in the health, technology, energy, manufacturing and finance industry. I received my first degree at the University of Liverpool in Economics and a Masters in Oil and Gas management at the University of Aberdeen.
As a councillor and member of the children and young people committee, business support commitee and employee matters committee I have helped deliver better outcomes for our children, businesses, housing, and better community facilities. I am a mother to a five-year-old Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) child so I understand the first-hand challenges that parents of SEND children have.
In between balancing work, being a mother, in my spare time, I do enjoy pilates, tennis and pottery.The best thing about this community is the people, I have had the great opportunity to meet many people from all walks of life, great conversations, I can see how passionate people are about the community, and the local issues. I will be bringing a fresh approach and objectivity, I see the potential in Tewkesbury, fresh perspective and energy.
Some issues that I will address if elected:
Addressing the cost of living crisis, our families should not be worse off.
Ensuring free and timely access to the NHS and dental care, also reducing waiting times making sure residents have access to face to face appointments with their GPs when they need them.
Also addressing the housing supply issues in the area, addressing the flooding issues affecting houses and businesses and working with environmental agencies.
Prioritising young people especially SEND and encouraging organisations and schools to empower and equip the next generation of leaders.
Creating proper clean up squads to take flytipping seriously.
Investing back into our high street, helping tourism to boost more business on the high street. 7. Improving public transport routes in the community
Cate Cody - Green Party
I’m Cate Cody, an elected member of Gloucestershire County Council, I’m also as Tewkesbury Borough and town councillor and a professional musician too. I have lived in the borough for over three decades.
I was selected to be Tewkesbury Green Party’s general election candidate as I am already experienced in politics and creating positive change, and I’m also a well respected and energetic community champion who cares about people and place; involved in numerous nature-based projects, (including helping to save 2,000 trees from being felled), I also lead the constituency Dementia Action Alliance and am a trustee of the Roses Theatre.
I speak regularly to young people in schools and universities, run daytime dances for anyone to enjoy, talk about easy ways to live a more sustainable life and am involved in various projects regarding flood mitigation and cleaning up our polluted rivers.
We’re a political party; we run in elections and people want to be able to Vote Green; for the last six months my constituents have been asking if they will be able to vote for me in the general election, here are words from two of them;
“I'm voting for Cate, I love her authenticity. She walks her talk, generous with her time and energy, taking care of people, community and the planet with such inspiring dedication. Go Cate!”
“I’m voting for Cate Cody because she’s what you’d want a parliamentary politician to be: highly driven to make life better for her constituents and working hard the whole time to get that job done.”
Green voices are needed across the UK to provide real hope and real change. As a Tewkesbury Borough and Gloucestershire County Councillor I am highly committed to protecting our area and giving a voice to the strong feelings of residents. I am a firm believer in equality, justice and education. We need radical Government policy change and much more support for people. As Tewkesbury’s potential MP, I will extend my passion, continuing to make this parliamentary constituency a better place for everyone.
Byron Clifford Davis - Reform UK
I have a strong track record for getting things done. Previously, I was a member of the Conservative Party, driven by a strong desire to see Brexit delivered.
However, after witnessing the party's repeated failures to achieve this crucial goal, I decided it was time for a change. My dedication to public service saw me stand for council twice as a Conservative candidate, where I narrowly missed election by just three votes each time.
Undeterred, I ran as an independent councillor and again came close to victory. I have grown to love our community and have become deeply invested in its well-being.
It is clear to me that we have been let down by our current MP, and Tewkesbury is in dire need of real change—someone who truly represents the needs and interests of the people.
One of the most pressing issues we face is the recurring flooding that has plagued our town. The current MP has shown a lack of concern for this matter, and it is time we had a representative who prioritises effective flood management.
Additionally, I believe it is imperative to ensure that housing is made available to our own citizens before accommodating illegal immigrants. Brexit has not been delivered properly, and this has left many in our community feeling disillusioned.
Furthermore, as a mental health nurse, I have firsthand experience of the NHS crisis. Our healthcare system is struggling, and urgent action is needed to address these challenges.
David Edgar - Christian Peoples Alliance
Standing for election in the Tewkesbury constituency is David Edgar, representing the Christian Peoples Alliance party. Mr Edgar works for a charity and also as a long-distance driver.
He is a member of a Pentecostal church. He has lived at his current home in the Tewkesbury constituency for 30 years. He says, “I love our locality, with its heritage, but I want to see it grow in significance.”
The party as a whole sees the need to apply God’s wisdom, as discovered in the Bible and through prayer, to the practical dilemmas of society. Mr Edgar says, “It has become deeply unfashionable in the UK to add God’s name into any discussion of values in family, education, media, entertainment and business. But that needs to be reversed.
"I see this change as urgent, and see the Christian Peoples Alliance as the way to start. We say that God can be honoured in all aspects of policy, and in all activities.”
Amongst those values, Mr Edgar’s largest concern is with schools and universities. In practical terms, if he were an MP, this would involve him promoting Christian content in everyday schooling, and encouraging the Christian schools.
Also, he would like to see established at least one Christian university in the UK, hopefully in our locality. This foundation would study the typical university subjects.
But it would incorporate prayerfulness and the values Jesus taught, not only into its social contexts but also into its tutorials, lectures and research. He wholeheartedly agrees with this party policy: “CPA stands by Israel and its right to defend its citizens.”
The Bible’s language tends to be very black-and-white. This is what it says in Proverbs chapter 29 verse 2. “When the Godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.” Mr Edgar is aware that such language sits uncomfortably with modern thinking! But he says, “If the wisdom of our secular political parties currently seems to lack any direction or coherence - or happiness - then this must be the time when God wants to give us something better.”
Laurence Robertson - Conservative and Unionist Party
It has been a privilege to have represented the Tewkesbury constituency in Parliament since 1997 and I again offer myself for re-election. The Tewkesbury constituency is very diverse. It has industry and farming, some affluent but also more challenged areas, rivers, two military bases, an historic Abbey, a racecourse, an airport and so much more.
It is also a large constituency, taking in Tewkesbury town itself, Ashchurch, Northway, Bishop’s Cleeve, Winchcombe, Prestbury, Swindon Village, Longlevens, Innsworth and now Springbank and Elmbridge, as well as all the villages in between. Given the diversity and size of the constituency, I believe it needs someone with experience to properly serve the people and all the areas in it. I put myself forward as the person who has that experience.
I have lived in this constituency since 1995, and continue to do so with my wife, Annie. Before being elected in 1997, I worked in the textiles industry and also charity fundraising. I raised funds to create a hostel and day centre for homeless women in London, and have raised much money for charities since being elected.
Politically, my proudest moment was when I played a major role in saving Alderman Knight school from closure by the then LibDem/Labour controlled County Council, almost twenty years ago. That school now thrives and I am in regular touch with the head and others there.
I’ve also played a leading role in securing almost half a billion pounds to provide the solution to the Air Balloon roundabout and Missing Link problem. Funded by the Conservative government, work has already started on this project and will be completed in 2027. This will end the congestion on these roads and save lives.
I’ve kept in regular touch with business, health services, schools, charities, farmers and individuals during the last twenty seven years. I’ve raised many issues on their behalf in Parliament and with Ministers, including with a number of Prime Ministers. I hope to continue to do this.
As we go forward I’m aiming to do more of the same. We have thriving businesses in this constituency, and unemployment is very low, with just 2.2 per cent of people claiming unemployment related benefits as against 3.8 per cent nationally. Strong employment is vital to the prosperity of our area, and helps to pay for public services, so I want to keep it that way here.
I hope that you will give me your support on July 4. Thank you.
Cameron Thomas - Liberal Democrats
I attended various state schools throughout a modest childhood, which was spent moving between military units, before joining the RAF at 17. I travelled extensively, worked with and befriended people from myriad backgrounds, and gratefully shared in their cultures.
I came to stand up for others, as well as for nature and the environment, joining conservation initiatives from the UK to South America. I learned to respect public service, diversity and responsible leadership, and later commissioned as a RAF Police Officer so that I could inspire those values in others.
Looking back, I had travelled my entire life before my career took me to Imjin Barracks. Only once I arrived in our piece of Gloucestershire, did I feel ready to raise my family.
Over the past decade I had proudly served our country whilst irresponsible politicians undermined our most courageous and selfless public servants. I watched ministers treat public money recklessly whilst I delivered food parcels to struggling families.
I saw friendships and families fragmented by divisive language and irresponsible leadership. Eventually I felt I could no longer serve our people under this government.
In December 2023 I resigned my RAF Commission to stand up for our people alongside the Liberal Democrats. I am standing to give Tewkesbury a fresh start. Our people deserve a dynamic Member of Parliament who is available and ready to serve, will proudly represent them to the country and celebrate and support our communities across our constituency.
I will fight to resource local authorities to invest in General Practices and support the families of SEND children. I will tirelessly work cross-party to end the sewage scandal and bring down the cost of living, and I will fight relentlessly for electoral and education reform.
To my neighbours across Tewkesbury, I offer this: I will proudly represent you with courage and integrity, however we may agree or disagree. Not as a career politician, but as a public servant.
However you have voted in the past, a vote for Cameron Thomas is a vote to return our faith in politics and to transform the future of our country.
