Yahoo News General Election 2024 Nuneaton candidates quizzed - this is what they said
Tomorrow voters go to the polls for the General Election 2024 and there are record numbers of Nuneaton residents registered to vote. Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council confirmed more than 1,000 extra people across the town look set to put their cross in a box.
The Town Hall said the number of people registered to vote in Nuneaton was 71,483, up by more than 1,000 on the last General Election in 2019 when 70,226 people took part. The count for the Nuneaton seat will be held at the Jubilee Sports Centre on tomorrow night.
Latest predictions are that the result could be declared at around 3am on Friday, July 5. The seat is being contested by six candidates with Conservative Marcus Jones looking to hold the position he has held as the town's voice in Parliament for the past 14 years.
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He faces competition from Jodie Gosling, who is the Labour Party candidate and John Homer, who is standing for the Workers Party. Rob Howard is the Reform UK candidate and Keith Kondakor is standing for the Green Party while Joy Salaja is the Liberal Democrats candidate.
CoventryLive putthe same questions to them all. Read what they had to say below
Tell us about your background and connection to Nuneaton
Jodie Gosling - I live in Arley, it’s my home. My children were born in George Eliot and now attend college in Nuneaton. I’ve been a borough councillor for eight years and run a small business providing Early Years Education in the constituency.
John Homer - I have lived in Nuneaton for 15 years with my wife and two sons who are now young men. They both played rugby with Nuneaton RFC and I was involved in organising events and media etc the club. I worked in the local NHS, specialising in mental health and training psychological therapists. I am still working part-time but am now committed also to local politics.
Rob Howard - I was born in Coventry but I moved away from there when I was about eight. Twenty years ago, I moved to Nuneaton to live with my partner Claire and have lived here ever since. I am captain of a local golf society which I helped create ten years ago.
This has helped two good causes in raising money for Georgie's Gift charity and the installation of a defibrillator within The Fox public house in Attleborough. I’ve remained a supporter of Coventry City all my life.
Marcus Jones - Nuneaton has always been my home town. I went to school here, my family use the George Eliot Hospital and local shops, and I obviously care deeply about our town. I have been Member of Parliament for Nuneaton for 14 years.
I am proud to have helped some 20,000 residents directly in the last five years alone and to have brought much-needed investment to our town – securing funds for our schools, our hospital, our transport, our town centre and our police. We now have better rail services to Nuneaton and I have secured funding to upgrade the A5 at the Long Shoot and Dodwells junctions.
Keith Kondakor - I was born at the George Eliot Hospital in 1965. My education was in local catholic schools, King Edward VI Sixth form and then the University of Birmingham. I spent a lot of time at Hartshill Hayes, near my grandparents.
After working in London, I moved back to Nuneaton in 1999 and became a campaigner on local issues. In 2006, I stood in the local elections and successfully stopped a planned waste incinerator being built in our town. I was a founding member of a group fighting cuts at George Eliot Hospital and a rail users group fighting cuts to our then Virgin rail service. I opposed the Borough Plan. I was elected borough councillor in 2012 and county councillor in 2013.
Joy Salaja - I’m a resident of Nuneaton with two kids at a local nursery. My background is in finance as a chartered accountant
How do you like to spend your free time?
Jodie Gosling - I love walking around the lanes and countryside, going out for coffee with friends and taking the kids out. In the summer we go surfing in Wales and wild swimming in the Lakes. The kids put me to shame.
John Homer - I am a West Bromwich Albion fan and love to watch the 'Baggies' play. I enjoy watching live music, especially progressive rock. I like to cook, entertain and walk my Newfoundland dog.
Rob Howard - I haven’t had much of that lately! I enjoy a game of golf on a nice day. I like to socialise and discuss all manner of subject – not just politics. I like a good movie on the TV. I like to travel to places I have never been before enjoying the local culture and food.
Marcus Jones - My family are very important to me and I do everything I can for them. I enjoy socialising with family and friends, watching football, gardening and angling, when I get the chance.
Keith Kondakor - I seem not to have much free time but have liked walking all my life. Back in the 1980s I was the youngest leader for Nuneaton Rambling club. I met my future wife, Michele, at an outdoor club in London and we still do a lot of walking, often in mountains with a club in Nuneaton. We also cycle a lot and, in recent years, have taken to doing the Parkrun in Bedworth.
Joy Salaja - I enjoy spending time with my children, going to the gym, playing the violin badly and creating content.
What ‘luxury item’ would you take to a desert island?
Jodie Gosling - A good book.
John Homer - Spices for cooking! I Hope you will allow me a selection but I'll start with pepper, paprika and cinnamon
Rob Howard - I guess that would have to be my mobile phone, solar charger and WiFi dongle. These days they are minicomputers that can keep you in touch with what is going on while entertaining you with music, videos and podcasts. An all-round useful device.
Marcus Jones - A few decent bottles of real ale. It was a pleasure to get the excellent Band of Brothers beer, brewed by the Sperrin family at Ansley, on in the Strangers bar in Parliament a few years ago.
Keith Kondakor - A boat.
Joy Salaja - If I had to take one luxury item to a desert island, it would be my Kindle loaded with books.
Where would you go on a day out in your constituency?
Jodie Gosling - We'd have a great day seeing the latest exhibition in the museum and then onto Louis' sandy park, usually followed by hot chocolate with extra cream in the cafe. My youngest loves Bermuda Lake, especially when there are ducklings, but by far the best day out is the Nuneaton Carnival.
John Homer - If there was a decent band on at the Crew, I'd go there but not before I'd had a curry at Crossed Khukris and a pint at Lord Hop
Rob Howard - I do love the Attleborough Ward. There are parts you can stroll down paths as though you are miles into the country but there is also the hub of The Green with the Co-Op supermarket, along with all manner of outlets – two cafes, three pubs, one restaurant, eight different take away outlets, more hairdressers than I can mention (even for dogs!).
I believe Attleborough is almost a sign of what Nuneaton could be if some imagination was applied.
Marcus Jones - I think Arbury Hall is magnificent. Hartshill Hayes has a magnificent views and wildlife. Nuneaton Museum is not only a wonderful building but always holds popular exhibitions. I was pleased to have played a role in enabling the current exhibition about Nuneaton Borough FC which has been put together by Nuneaton Borough Supporters Co-operative.
Keith Kondakor - For a day out I would go for a walk with my wife, Michele, and friends, from Weddington to Hartshill Hayes. We would start from St James Church and look out for kingfishers at the balancing pond at Churchfield's developement. We would then take the path past the alpacas and riding stables to Caldicote. The bridge over the Anker near Caldicote Hall is a great photo stop and then we head along Leathermills lane and up Grange Road into Hartshill Green, then wandering through the Hayes to the four counties viewing point. The return would be via Windmill Corner nature reserve, down the track to Coventry Canal towards Abbey Green. Return to Weddington via Stoney lane and cross Anker again at Sandon Park.
There is option of extending to Church End brewery.
Joy Salaja - On a day out in our beautiful constituency, I love visiting Riversley Park with my family.
What are the major challenges and opportunities for Nuneaton in the next decade?
Jodie Gosling - Being able to get a GP or dentist appointment. Getting the 17,000 people stuck on waiting lists seen and supporting GEH to be a centre of diagnostic excellence.
Rebuilding the High Street, it should be the beating heart of our town. It should celebrate our rich culture and incredible history. At the moment it feels like it’s in cardiac arrest.
Addressing poverty and bring better jobs with decent pay back to Nuneaton. Providing infrastructure for housing.
John Homer - Local public services need sorting out! NHS, Police and schools are a priority. We have to address shortages in decent affordable housing, community facilities and the cost of living. We need to protect local sports clubs like the Boro and the Nuns.
The opportunities are in making use of local peoples' experience and skills to rebuild local industry, addressing corruption and finding ways of increasing public funding rather than spending it on arms.
Rob Howard - Ten years is a long time and there will be challenges. Whichever party forms the next Government will be inheriting a massive problem within the overall country and these problems will percolate down to all villages, towns and cities. I believe the biggest challenge will be budgeting sensibly. Government after government have used increases in taxes to pay for errors and waste and this needs to stop.
The same can be said of the local council as well. Get the use of taxpayers money right and a lot can be put right as a result. This dovetails with the opportunities because with more sensible use of taxpayers money the area should benefit from more investment in the town and surrounding areas to help it emerge from the depression it is in at the moment.
Marcus Jones - The major challenges are improving our town centre so we can be proud of it again. I’ve secured the funds to do so but they need to be spent by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. With a rising population we need to continue to invest in our schools, hospital and roads.
Again I have secured the funding and want to ensure the money is spent speedily and effectively.
Keith Kondakor - We have many challenges around health, cost of living, education and transport. We die far too early and have too many years of living in poor health. We need to sort out pay and staffing in the NHS. We need to do more to increase incomes, raise wages, scrap the two-child limit on child benefit and protect PIP. On education, we need a serious plan to staff and fund special education needs and disability (SEND) and restart sure-start centres. We need better funding for post-16 education and better transport to our local universities in Coventry.
We need to be part of West Midlands transport authority, have cheap, frequent and reliable bus services plus high frequency local trains. We must fix the pinch point between The Long Shoot and Dodwells on the A5, the junction at Woodford Lane onto A5 and make roads safer for everyone.
Joy Salaja - Nuneaton faces major challenges in the next decade, including the need for better healthcare, improved schools, affordable housing, and safer neighbourhoods.
We also have incredible opportunities to grow our local economy, enhance our green spaces, and empower our community with more local decision-making.
Tell us 3 things you would aim to achieve as an MP in the next parliament
Jodie Gosling - NHS back on its feet, waiting times down, end the 8am scramble and support our incredible key workers to stay in the critical jobs that they do so well.
A safe, welcoming Town centre we can all be proud of. We need to bring back local businesses and nation shops and tackle crime and Antisocial Behaviour.
More opportunities for all. Bringing better jobs, banning zero hour contracts, fire and rehire and make work pay. Building business and making sure our schools and colleges have the tools they need for our children to thrive. Address the SEND crisis to ensure all children are give the best opportunities.
John Homer - Speaking up to address complicity in the inhumanity of war, particularly in Gaza right now. Putting the wealth gap firmly in the limelight, and holding other politicians to account.
Rob Howard - Being realistic, it looks likely according to the polls that we will have a Labour government for five years so I would want to be part of a strong and focused opposition working hard to condition and adapt the sorts of bills and policies the Labour party will want to pass through Parliament. I will want to confer with more of the residents of Nuneaton to find out what are the main concerns and use my position to direct attention to these matters as being important within the county council and local council. If additional funding is required for right reasons, I will do what I can to secure them from whatever centrally controlled budget I can.
Overall, my objective would be to raise the overall profile of Nuneaton town within Westminster to ensure we are not just taken for granted.
Marcus Jones - A major upgrade and regeneration of Nuneaton town centre. A continuing rise in standards for our schools. Ensuring they are run by the best Trusts and that investment is secured for buildings, teachers and facilities. Every young person must have access to a good school where ever they live.
Ensuring the George Eliot Hospital continues to thrive and meet challenges. When I was first elected it had been under threat due to the policy of the last Labour Government. Now it is continuously placed in the highest places in NHS data tracking polls
Keith Kondakor - We should make the population have healthier, secure and happy lives. Poor health, physical or mental, has a massive impact. Services have not kept pace with a growing population and more complex needs. It will take two parliaments to get back to having the world’s best health service but want to be well on the course.
Average full time job in Nuneaton are paid around £100 less a week than jobs in Coventry. We need to have increased wages in Nuneaton and better transport connections. We potentially have one of the best railway stations in the West Midlands but suffer from lack of services, poor reliability and expensive, complex fares.
We need to be a town on the up, be a far happier, more understanding and less aggressive place. Part of that is reducing poverty and part is improving the vibe. That will take a lot of work over five years.
Joy Salaja - As an MP, I would aim to achieve three main things: securing better funding for our NHS to ensure timely GP appointments, improving educational opportunities for our children, and investing in affordable housing to ensure everyone has a safe place to call home.
What are the biggest problems residents in your constituency face and why?
Jodie Gosling - Endless chaos of not know what comes next. Cost of living Crisis & mortgage mayhem because of inflation due to the disastrous mini budget. Unaddressed crime and antisocial behaviour, 95% currently unprotected because the justice system is overstretched.
Lack of opportunity and services. Low wages (£100 less than the rest of Warks and the UK).
Poor travel infrastructure - the roads are shocking, traffic, dangerous junctions, the A5, potholes because of under investment. We need another station and more bus services.
John Homer - Ambulance, consultation, operation and treatment waiting times. Paying fuel bills, childcare and getting food on the table. Having no affordable transport. Finding decent wages and working conditions.
Lack of community facilities particularly for youth, elderly and minority groups. Cost of childcare, and potholes, litter, and polluted waterways.
Rob Howard - There are several problems the residents of Nuneaton face. For instance, general cost of living is now meaning families are going without essential things due to rising costs. There has been an explosion in the cost of energy and fuel, massive increases in food prices but very little concession in income tax levels to help afford them.
Another problem is NHS waiting lists due to a lack of front-line care workers and doctors and a population increase due to excessive legal immigration numbers requiring housing, schools and medical treatment. The nurses and care workers were let down in the latest round of pay increases following the fantastic service they provided during the pandemic which resulted in many of them leaving the NHS.
Crime is slowly increasing and we are now experiencing incidents we normally only hear about on the news from places like London, Liverpool and Manchester – stabbings in the town centre by minors considering it as some “rite of passage”. If this is not checked and stopped Nuneaton may not a place anyone wants to visit whatever it might have to offer.
Marcus Jones - There is a rise in anti social behaviour due to malign trends and gang membership. We need police officers on the beat with the will and resources to tackle these issues. As I have always done I will pay close attention to this if elected and regularly walk on the beat with police to ensure the best response. If re-elected, I will also campaign for tougher penalties for those who carry knives.
Keith Kondakor - We have lots of residents with very few problems and a lot with everything against them at the same time. Common themes are money and health. These often overlap and people with good incomes and health can see both fail with job losses, hikes in rents or mortgage rates and unexpected health problems. Our safety nets are broken after 14 years of cuts. We have a lot of families who are working poor. We have lots of the public services just “signposting” to other services and charities who are over loaded. We have too much politics and not enough solutions.
Joy Salaja - Residents are struggling with long wait times for GP appointments, underfunded schools especially SEND funding, a lack of affordable housing, and rising crime rates.
These issues stem from years of under investment and mismanagement.
