Leicester West General Election candidates tell you why they think they deserve your vote

Candidates in Leicester West have set out why they believe they deserve your vote. With the General Election looming, LeicestershireLive has approached parliamentary hopefuls across Leicester and Leicestershire’s 10 constituencies to give them the chance to address local voters.

In Leicester West, seven candidates are vying for your backing when the country goes to the polls on Thursday, July 4. Among them is Liz Kendall who has held the seat for Labour since 2010 and currently serves as Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet.

She will be going up against candidates from the Conservative Party, the Greens, the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition and One Leicester, the city’s newest party, with polling suggesting Labour will hold the seat. Find out what your candidates have to say below.

READ MORE: All the Leicester and Leicestershire General Election 2024 candidates

Green Party candidate Aasiya Bora

“I am [a] teacher and project worker. I am an excellent listener and have always tried to do my best for the people around me. I really want to be a grounded, approachable MP who will take Leicester West's concerns to Westminster.

“Communities in Leicester West are longing for positive change. After 14 years of Tory misrule, the climate crisis, the inequality crisis and cost of living crisis have all worsened immeasurably. In Leicester, our playgrounds look set to close due to political choices and priorities set by Labour politicians.

“The Greens are looking to raise revenue through a wealth tax for the very richest members of society so we can invest in our NHS, youth services, Green jobs for example retrofitting skills to help insulate homes so bills are lower.

“We are the only ones to demand public utilities like gas, water and electricity come back into public ownership. A clean-flowing River Soar to paddle and canoe in is something Leicester's children really deserve as they live furthest away from the coastline.

“Addressing the climate crisis, we would take the necessary long term steps to ensure flooding and heat waves become more moderate. We need to help farmers become productive and reward them for a nature-centred approach to growing food.

“We are the party with the progressive vision to connect the solutions to our different problems. We want to see a society centred around well-being, investment and innovation and to restore the things that always belonged to the people.”

Conservative candidate Max Chauhan

“I’m Dr. Max Chauhan, born in Birmingham. I have deep ties to Leicester, a city known for its cultural heritage and economic potential. Growing up, this city was my home away from home.

“In 2017, I became the Deputy Medical Director at University Hospitals of Leicester, overseeing numerous projects and recognising the critical importance of healthcare for Leicester's residents. My aim is to enhance healthcare services and facilities in Leicester West by sharing the insights gained from my medical career.

“I am committed to securing essential healthcare funding to promote healthier lifestyles, addressing the shortcomings of the current Labour management in the city. For too long, Leicester’s potential has been drained. With the support of my Conservative colleagues, we aim to unlock Leicester’s potential.

“The East Midlands devolution deal, which could have brought over £1.4 billion in funding, was a lost opportunity to invest in Leicester’s healthcare facilities and services due to decisions by the Labour City Mayor and the reluctance of Labour MPs to challenge him.

“However, the Conservative government has allocated nearly £58 million to Leicester through the levelling-up fund. Unfortunately, these funds have been misallocated to projects like pop-up cycle lanes, which cause traffic disruptions and chaos across the city, especially in Leicester West. Instead, they should have been used to preserve local markets and improve infrastructure.

“Leicester deserves better, and with over 20 years of public service experience, I am dedicated to ensuring Leicester West is prosperous and brought back to life.”

Liberal Democrat candidate Benjamin Feist

“My name is Ben, I live here in Leicester West and I work as an NHS Nurse in the Emergency Department at Leicester Royal Infirmary. Every day, I see patients attending A&E because they can't get a GP or dental appointment, or their health deteriorates while waiting over two years for care.

“The Conservatives have crashed our economy and run our NHS into the ground. We want to revive our NHS. We will recruit 8,000 GPs to ensure people can get an appointment within a week or 24 hours if urgent, and cut waiting lists to alleviate pain and enable people to return to work. We also plan to transform social care with free personal care for disabled and elderly adults.

“Some 40 per cent of children in Leicester live in poverty. This happens under a Labour council and three Labour MPs. The Liberal Democrats will extend free school meals to all primary school children and end the cost-of-living crisis.

“The Conservatives' cost-of-living crisis has hit everyone hard, forcing impossible choices between rent, bills and food. We will cut energy bills by implementing a proper windfall tax on oil and gas companies' profits, insulate homes to reduce energy consumption and, by 2030, ensure 90 per cent of electricity comes from renewables to cut bills, clean up air pollution and meet net-zero by 2045.

“I am immensely proud to stand on our fully-costed manifesto to bring about positive change, transform ordinary peoples' lives, end homelessness, and make taxes fairer. For a fair deal, vote Liberal Democrat.”

Labour candidate Liz Kendall

"Being Leicester West MP has been the honour of my life and I’ve always worked hard for local people. Since I was first elected, I’ve led the campaign to save Leicester’s amazing Children’s Heart Surgery unit which we won against all the odds.

“I’ve fought for more support for our schools and police. I’ve championed local businesses and good quality jobs. And I’ve raised hundreds of pounds for our foodbanks.

“But I know how much needs to change to make life better for people here. Across Leicester people are struggling to make ends meet because of the Tory cost of living crisis. Residents are also really concerned about rising crime, the lack of decent, affordable housing, and long waits for NHS treatment.

“After 14 years of the Tories, it is time for change. Labour has a plan to rebuild Britain: to deliver economic stability and grow the economy, cut NHS waiting times, launch a new Border Security Command, set up Great British Energy to cut your bills, crack down on anti-social behaviour with more police, and recruit 6,500 new teachers so all children have the best start in life.

“I am ambitious for our city and country. Despite the challenges we face, I know by working together we can achieve a better future for us all.

“That is the choice on Thursday, July 4: More of the same decline under the Tories or fully costed and fully funded plans to change our city and country for the better with Labour.”

One Leicester candidate Rahoul Naik

“I thought long and hard about what I should write in this column. You have probably had weeks of politicians telling you about their party manifesto and the supposed “change” they would bring to Leicester.

“In reality, I am sure like most people, your trust in politicians is at an all-time low and with the dictatorship-style leadership in our city, the future does not seem so bright either. So I thought it would be best to try and give you some hope for the future.

“Local people deserve an MP that will put them first and one that will only be accountable to them. There are no big lobbies or donors to answer to, nor an authoritarian leadership that will restrict the freedom to vote for our constituents. That’s what you get with a One Leicester MP, someone who cares and listens.

“I’ve pledged to have an MP’s office that is open at least six days a week and at accessible hours for those working, caring or with childcare responsibilities. Hope comes from actions, not pretty words.

“We do need a change in how we do politics in Leicester and the UK. Politics is something that must be done with people, not to people. That is what you will get with me.

“This is the first election in a long time where you can vote with your heart and not choose the lesser of two evils. Make your voice heard. Vote Rahoul Naik and vote One Leicester on July 4.”

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidate Steve Score

“I chaired the successful Save Glenfield Children’s Heart Centre campaign. I have continued to be involved with defending the NHS and opposing the council’s proposed cut in special needs school travel.

"I would refuse the MP’s £91,346 pay and would live on the average wage in Leicester. The super-rich have got richer, and our living standards have been hammered. The NHS and our public services have been starved of cash.

“But Labour is promising more of the same. They say they will not put the extra money needed into the NHS, education or other vital services. Leicester’s Labour council have provided no opposition to the Tory Government, meekly passing on government cuts.

“Some 40 per cent of children in Leicester live below the official poverty line, yet the Labour council are ending funding for the adventure playgrounds, cutting children’s centres further and cutting special educational needs and disabled children’s 16+ transport support to school.

“If they act like Tories, what’s the point of Labour? That’s why we need to build a new party that fights for working class people.

“We want public ownership not private profit, no cuts in public services, to combat climate change (for example with free to use, expanded, renationalised public transport), an immediate increase in the minimum wage to £15 an hour, the scrapping of university tuition fees and an end to the war on Gaza and Palestinian people.

“Just 350 people own £795 billion between them. Socialism would use the wealth in society for the benefit of all.”

Also standing in Leicester West is Ian Hayes for Reform UK. We approached the party to offer its candidate the chance to give us a statement for inclusion in this article, but did not get a response by the publication deadline.