Our Local Election Candidates

Whilst some Ruddington residents have already cast their votes by post for this Thursday’s elections, others may still be undecided about who would best represent our village on Nottinghamshire County Council. If you’re among the latter, please read on…

For Leake & Ruddington there are seven candidates on the ballot paper for May 6th 2021 representing five political parties – two each for the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and Labour & Co-operative, and one for The Green Party. We should vote for up to two of these candidates.

For the Conservative Party:

Standing again is Reg Adair, who has been a County Councillor since 2005, and is also currently the Deputy Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council. Matt Barney’s professional life has focused on project management and business development. The duo’s manifesto pledges include:

Delivering the needed infrastructure alongside new houses being built in the community
More buses
More jobs for local people
Investing more in our roads

You can read the full manifesto from Matt & Reg >>HERE<<.

For the Liberal Democrat Party:

Jason Billin runs his own design and publishing consultancy and is a local Scout leader. Shannon Briggs has been a teacher for 25 years and helps run a local Brownie group, as Snowy Owl. The duo are are campaigning on the basis of “a fairer, greener, more caring county”, with pledges including:

Fighting to undo the Conservative Government’s savage cuts to local government
Fairness: Better Care & Education Services – looking after those who look after us
Looking after the environment
Investing in the county’s future

You can read the full manifesto from Jason & Shannon >>HERE<<.

Jason Billin

Shannon Briggs

For the Labour and Co-operative Party:

Jen Walker is a Rushcliffe Borough Council Councillor, former teacher, and owner of the Split Screen Coffee Company. Mike Gaunt is a Rushcliffe Borough Councillor, a school teacher, and a Ruddington Parish Councillor. The duo are are campaigning on the basis of “a strong economy with good secure jobs for local people”, with pledges including:

Transforming our local economy
Fighting hard to ensure that local children get a place at their local catchment school
Working to solve local traffic chaos
Introducing a safe cycle network

You can read more >>HERE<<.

Mike Gaunt and Jen Walker *{PHOTO: Pam Pearce}*

For The Green Party:

Richard Holmes is the only candidate standing for The Greens in Leake & Ruddington – who say they are “campaigning for social and environmental justice in our local areas.” Issues his party are passionate about include:

Giving genuine importance to protecting and nurturing our wildlife
Creating a fairer and more equal society for everyone
Changes to move Nottinghamshire towards being ‘carbon neutral’ – such as investing in safe cycling infrastructure
Campaigning for Nottingham’s old Broadmarsh site to be parkland – with any buildings to have high environmental standards and community facilities

You can read more >>HERE<<.

The other ballot paper for May 6th 2021 is to elect the next Police and Crime Commissioner for the Nottinghamshire Police Area.

Ruddington’s voters have three choices:

Caroline Henry representing the Conservative Party
Paddy Tipping representing The Labour Party
David Watts representing The Liberal Democrat Party

You will be able to express both a first and second preference for Crime Commissioner if you wish.

As usual, Ruddington’s Polling Stations are at St Peter’s Rooms or Ruddington Village Hall (depending upon where in our village you live), and we’re being reassured these will be ‘COVID-safe’ places to cast your votes this Thursday May 6th anytime between 7.00am and 10.00pm. Those voting in person are encouraged to keep themselves and others safe by wearing a face covering, bringing their own pen or pencil, cleaning their hands when entering and leaving the polling station, and keeping a safe distance. Voters should not attend the polling station if they have symptoms of COVID-19, or if they have been asked to self-isolate.