Here's who will be standing to be Salisbury's next MP at the General Election

A GENERAL election has been called for the summer by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, ending months of speculation.

Whoever wins in Salisbury will be representing a new constituency, after boundary changes were approved last year. 

Here are the six candidates confirmed to be standing in Salisbury on July 4.

Conservative Party

The current MP John Glen will once again represent the Tory party.

He has said he believes he has always done his best and "will continue to do so", should he be re-elected. 

Mr Glen has been Salisbury's MP for nearly 14 years.

When asked what his priorities would be locally and nationally should be re-elected, Mr Glen said he would continue to push for further investment in Salisbury, pointing to recent "significant investment" in Wiltshire College, and the success of the high street.

Labour Party

Army veteran and clean energy strategist Matt Aldridge has been selected as the Labour candidate for Salisbury.

Mr Aldridge says his family has lived in Salisbury for generations. He was previously a Scout in the city, as well as Head Boy of Bishop Wordsworth’s School.

He then served in the army in 16 years, including in Afghanistan, and worked as a civil servant on the climate crisis.

Liberal Democrats

Victoria Charleston (Image: Victoria Charleston)

Salisbury’s Liberal Democrats have chosen City Councillor Victoria Charleston as their candidate for parliament in the next general election.

Cllr Charleston also stood as the party’s candidate in 2019, coming in second against Conservative MP John Glen.

The Liberal Democrats said she has planned to focus her campaign on issues such as the state of the NHS, the cost of living and climate change.

Green Party

Barney Norris, who grew up in Salisbury and now lives in Milford, has been selected as the Green Party's candidate for Salisbury.

Mr Norris is known for his novel Five Rivers Met On A Wooded Plain, which is an exploration of life in modern Salisbury, and became a best-seller following its publication in 2016.

Mr Norris, 37, is an ambassador for local homelessness charity Alabare, a patron of Studio Theatre, the city’s amateur theatre, and the Salisbury Literary Festival, as well as being the coordinator of Salisbury Green Party.

Reform Party

Julian Malins (Image: Adrian Fisk)

Julian Malins KC, 73, will stand as the Reform Party candidate. 

Renowned barrister Mr Malins had previously put his name in the hat for the Salisbury seat in the 2019 election, representing the Brexit Party,  but was withdrawn at the last minute as part of a deal his party made with the Conservatives.

Independent

King Arthur Pendragon will once again stand as an independent candidate for Salisbury. 

Mr Pendragon told the Journal last year: "I live here in Salisbury and work hard challenging the authorities herein at and around Stonehenge."