The Rev. Dr. Richard Rodgers, who lives in Birmingham, is the candidate for the Common Good party.
He said: “If we care about the world we’ll be a happy nation. Every vote for me will encourage the main parties to take my message seriously. I want us, as a nation, to care deeply about world affairs and to do everything we can to make the world a fairer place for everybody.
“It’s a big job but it needs doing and we need a purpose to live and work for together. Then our young people will say, ‘There’s something brilliant going on here. I want to be part of it! I’ll do my maths homework so I can be something really useful when I grow up like an engineer or a research scientist.
“Soon we’ll have the keen, skilled workforce that our economy needs and we will be able to get out and be a good influence in the world. I want people to be proud of what we stand for as a nation and of being part of it.
“It’s the answer to crime and drugs and kids mucking about at school. I want to save the NHS and to get the trains running properly. I’m a former assistant orthopaedic surgeon and clergyman. Thanks.”
Richard McKenzie, a marketing manager who lives in Reading, is the Labour candidate.
He said: “When you are the Labour candidate in a constituency that has been held by the Conservatives for nearly a century, let’s face it, you have to be a bit of an optimist.
“But from talking to local people, I know how strongly they feel that the Conservatives have taken Henley constituency for granted for far too long.
“That’s why I’m making the pledge that I want to be a full-time MP with no outside consultancies or business interests.
“As a husband and a father of two young daughters you won’t be surprised that I want the best education for local children. I strongly support the Government’s programme to invest in improving local schools, and I’m angry that Conservatives will scrap it.
“I’m proud that with Labour we’ve seen more teachers and lower class sizes but disappointed that our Conservative education authority continues to let down our schools and children.
“In the year that the NHS reaches its 60th birthday, I am proud of Labour’s investment which is creating a health service fit for the 21st century. And Labour is doing more to make the health service responsive. Labour is extending GPs’ opening hours to help those of us with busy lives get the health care we need — something the Conservatives oppose.”
Stephen Kearney, who lives in Aston Rowant, is head of a development charity and is the Liberal Democrat candidate.
He said: “Boris Johnson was a great character and was held in genuine affection here. Following in his footsteps will be a tough challenge but I am looking forward to proving my worth.
“Many local people have told me they feel our way of life is under threat. This is a beautiful part of England. It saddens me that developers are queuing up to build on local countryside and open spaces. I believe protecting the natural beauty we have around us is one of the most important jobs for our MP.
“It’s clear that Gordon Brown’s Labour Government is out of touch with life here. It really angers me that those in power don’t seem to understand that when a local Post Office or a local shop shuts down then part of our community dies.
“Local people need to be able to feel safe and secure in their communities with good quality local services. As I write this today I’m taking my party leader Nick Clegg to a local doctor’s surgery. They are concerned about new Government plans that could see the end of many traditional doctors’ surgeries.
“As Henley’s MP I will be a strong voice for our area putting local people first.”
Stephen Kearney, who lives in Aston Rowant, is head of a development charity and is the Liberal Democrat candidate.
He said: “Boris Johnson was a great character and was held in genuine affection here. Following in his footsteps will be a tough challenge but I am looking forward to proving my worth.
“Many local people have told me they feel our way of life is under threat. This is a beautiful part of England. It saddens me that developers are queuing up to build on local countryside and open spaces. I believe protecting the natural beauty we have around us is one of the most important jobs for our MP.
“It’s clear that Gordon Brown’s Labour Government is out of touch with life here. It really angers me that those in power don’t seem to understand that when a local Post Office or a local shop shuts down then part of our community dies.
“Local people need to be able to feel safe and secure in their communities with good quality local services.
“As Henley’s MP I will be a strong voice for our area putting local people first.”
Derek Allpass, a retired organic farmer and businessman who lives in Marlow, is the candidate for the English Democrats.
He said: “I am delighted to stand for the English Democrats. The English Democrats are the English equivalent of Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party. In this election only the English Democrats are standing up for England and English interests.
“The English Democrats argue that the people of Henley, Oxfordshire and England should have fair and equal treatment with the people of Scotland. This can only happen for England if we have our own parliament, first minister and government, which is what the English Democrats are campaigning for.
“I am proud to be English and keenly support having an English parliament. As a party, the English Democrats believe in family values and upholding our national traditions and celebrating our heroes like Lord Nelson and Winston Churchill.
“We support the campaign for a national holiday on St. George’s Day and keeping our traditional counties. A vote for the English Democrats Party is a vote for England. Our motto is, ‘Not left, not right, just English!’.”
Chris Adams, 44, who comes from Aylesbury where he works for a charity, is standing as the candidate for the UK Independence Party.
He said: “In every by election each party tries to portray itself in the best possible light. All too often, however, this results in politicians making claims which are not strictly true. They suffer what can kindly be described as ‘lapses of memory’ or they promise things they can’t deliver.
“My campaign will be based on telling the truth. I believe that the people of Henley deserve to be told the truth. For instance, the Lib-Dems, Tories and Labour all supported the Postal Services Directive which means companies can now cherry pick Royal Mail’s most profitable services. Local branches are doomed as a result.
“Fortnightly rubbish collections are a direct result of EU law supported by Labour, Tories and the Lib-Dems who were happy for you to be fined for throwing away waste. All this at a time when council tax is rocketing and the burden on households is higher than ever.
“Taxes have rocketed under Labour. All the parties support so called ‘green taxes’ except UKIP who don’t want to punish people who need to drive cars. We also propose a simple flat tax system and would abolish inheritance tax: a practical solution to the 10p tax row. UKIP dares to be different.”
A teddy bear who wants to see more outdoor play for the children of Henley is one of the more colourful candidates campaigning in the by-election.
Harry Bear is the hero of writer Richard Heller’s children’s story, Membear Of Parliament, and is standing as the Fur Play party candidate.
Mr. Bear told the Standard: “I will never let Henley get dull. I will campaign for more outdoor play for the children of Henley and I will invite all Henley children to tell me what they would like their MP to do for them.”
You can visit Mr. Bear at www.harrybearforparliament.org.uk.
The Miss Great Britain Party has two candidates — 26-year-old Amanda Harrington, from Liverpool, and Louise Cole, 30, from Chichester.
Miss Cole, the Miss Great Britain Brunette candidate, said: “Beautiful women and those who work to make themselves look beautiful do have the power to get things done. Beauty can be the spur to action as has been recognised in European legislatures where beautiful women abound in major government jobs and can be seen to be getting things changed in a positive way.”
Miss Harrington, the Miss Great Britain Blonde candidate, said: “I am not a politician and I’ll be the first to admit that it is not my specialist subject. But I pride myself on being savvy and I can be hugely influential especially with men. Besides, it’s important to keep up the recent tradition of having a blonde MP in Henley!”
The party was founded by fashion entrepreneur Robert de Keyser, who said: “We want to appeal to the millions of voters who have been reduced to cynical apathy by the dreary and sometimes rather murky world of Westminster and Brussels. Our attractive candidates will stand out particularly in a contest like Henley where, disgracefully in the 21st century, every one of the other major parties has chosen a male candidate,” he added.
John Howell, an Oxfordshire county councillor, is the Conservative Party candidate.
He said: “South Oxfordshire is a great place to live but we still have our share of problems. Post offices are closing, the Government wants to close down GP surgeries, local schools are over-subscribed, there aren’t enough police officers on the beat. And Labour and the Lib-Dems want to build thousands of houses on the Green Belt.
“On June 26th, you have the chance to choose who represents you when decisions on these important issues are taken.
“I haven’t just arrived for the by-election. I have lived in the constituency in Warborough for 20 years. My children went to local state schools. And I have stood up for the community on many occasions before.
“A vote for me will also keep up the pressure on Gordon Brown. After more than 100 tax rises, and as families are struggling with the cost of living, he now wants to double road tax for family cars. I will campaign to ease the tax burden on hard-working families.
“If you want your MP to be a strong, local voice, vote for me on June 26th.”
Peter Owen (picture courtesy of the Wokingham Times) is the Official Monster Raving Loony Party candidate.
Alan ‘Howlin Laud’ Hope, the party leader, said: “We are pleased to announce that one of our most experienced members accepted the party’s selection committee’s decision that he should stand in Henley.
“Peter ‘Top Cat’ Owen, also known as the Appealing Bananaman, has already stood in nine elections including a European one in which he polled 2,859 votes. He is now looking for your vote in this election.
“Do you know that Henley could become the first constituency to make sure that our candidate retains his deposit, and be even more famous than it already is? So, your vote can count, it won’t be wasted.
“One of our latest policies is to introduce crocodiles into the Thames, firstly to keep the water clean as they do, plus it would certainly make the Henley Regatta more of a spectator sport.
“So come on all you Hooray Henleys and Henlyettas, give it some thought, come and join in the fun, and then let’s run our country the way that we want to, with a smile on our face and everybody happy.
“I’m sure that we could, you know. If a smile was a vote we’d win by a landslide. You can make it happen!”
Tim Rait is the British National Party candidate.
“I grew up in Berkshire and am now retired. My career was in shipping and marine insurance, which involved working both in London and abroad. I am the father of three adult children.
“Appreciating the lovely Thames Valley, as I do, I am concerned at over development. At present central government imposes its demands on local councils. I believe that local people should be fully consulted about further developments.
“The British people should be consulted before great changes are made to our country’s character. Consultation and prior approval are basic requirements of democracy.
“Britain should quit the European Union which is basically an undemocratic institution. The Lisbon Treaty forms a dangerous constitution and should not go forward without the promised referendum. A vital promise has been broken.
“Too much taxation and government waste. The taxes on low paid workers are excessive. I call for the tax free earnings allowance to be greatly increased. Hardworking people should be able to keep more of their own money in their pockets.
“The abuse of human rights legislation should cease and the rights of the law abiding public should come before the claims of criminals and law breakers.”
Published on 23 June 2008
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