The Stockport village that voted Conservative but now 'wants the Tories out'

"It's quite terrifying that I have a good job which is reasonably well paid, but I can't afford a lot of basic things", says Mark Pillotti, a supply teacher in Hazel Grove.

He's on his way back from the pharmacy with a £20 prescription, but he needs new glasses too, which he can't afford at the moment.

He's also due a visit to the dentist - but he can't get an appointment anywhere.

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It's a situation that's left him feeling downbeat about the general election on July 4, and worried about the future.

He said: "I can just about afford to get by with my mortgage and the weekly shop, but I'm having to cut back on essential things.

"I'm worried about poverty and homelessness too, for some people life must be terrible."

Hazel Grove is considered to be a desirable part of Greater Manchester to live in, with access to the countryside and close proximity to Stockport town centre and Manchester.

It's had a Conservative MP since 2015, but Mark said he and others in the area are really struggling, and looking for political change.

The last election in Hazel Grove was a close contest between the Conservatives and Lib Dems, with a margin of around 4,000 votes.

It's made the constituency one of the UK's most closely watched swing seats, and could be an indication of whether the Tories can keep some of their core voters based in rural towns and villages.

The area's former MP, William Wragg, resigned from the Conservatives after a sexting scandal, when he admitted to giving away politicians' phone numbers to a suspected scammer.

Meanwhile, Labour has struggled to make ground in the area, winning just more than 5,000 votes in 2019.

But Mark said a combination of problems, from the rising cost of living to a "dismantling" of public services, are what helped him decide who to vote for.

He added: "I like to vote tactically here because Labour don't really feature. I wouldn't say I'm left wing, but I want to get the Tories out, so I'll vote for the Lib Dems.

"That's not because I am one, but because it's against the Tory vote."

The feeling was shared by others in the village who told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that they can't see themselves voting for the Conservatives in this election.

Angel Romero-Vacas is from Spain but has lived in Hazel Grove for a number of years - "too long to remember."

The village is home for the 80-year-old, who keeps a keen eye on politics and plans to vote in the election.

He said the turbulent years of the UK leaving the EU under the Conservatives remain fresh in his memory, so he'll vote for the Lib Dems.

But he also feels it's important to have a strong "third party" to challenge both the government and main opposition.

He told the LDRS: "Brexit was bad for this country, for obvious reasons. I don't mind any of the local politicians here, but I like to have a third party, who can help with how things are being run - I like having balance."

Martin Carver works at Global Travel Stockport, a business based in the village.

The 68-year-old said he's always been a Conservative politically, but this year he may be swayed to change his mind.

Jo - the owner of the business - points out that a lack of support for businesses in the area is a major problem.

She counted 46 empty shops on the high street, and said it's left the area struggling to attract more people.

Stockport Global Travel closed its doors during the pandemic, but it's now open again and is still recovering from the impact of Covid.

But Martin explained that a lot of businesses in Hazel Grove "haven't recovered" as well as they have, an issue that's left the village with a lack of jobs and footfall.

He said: "I think security and policing is very important, and the healthcare system and NHS.

"Immigration is also a concern, I'm not against it, but it's just the number of people who are coming here.

"There's also a lack of work in the area, businesses need to be given incentives and help.

"At the moment I've not decided which way I'll vote. I'll be watching everything that's said over the next few weeks and then make up my mind."