By-election no stepping stone, Tory candidate says

The Conservative candidate for the Makerfield by-election has promised to dedicate his time to championing the community rather than using the contest as a "stepping stone".

The poll was called after Labour MP Josh Simons stepped down, a move he said he had undertaken to allow his party colleague Andy Burnham to run for Parliament and potentially mount a leadership bid.

Michael Winstanley told BBC Radio Manchester many in the Greater Manchester constituency were "resentful" about the by-election and felt like "political pawns".

He said that was "unfair", adding: "I care about this constituency and I actually want to... have an authentic voice that can represent them down at Westminster."

Winstanley, who was mayor of Wigan in 2010, was described by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch as "an excellent champion of the area having lived in, worked in and represented the local community for years".

He said the regeneration of high streets in Ashton-in-Makerfield and Hindley was one particularly pressing issue.

The Conservatives would cut business rates and red tape to help business flourish and increase footfall, he said.

"If businesses have got an economic environment that they can thrive in, that will help them survive and that will hopefully drive people back on the high streets," he said.

Winstanley also highlighted the need to put funding into the road network to reduce congestion and for a crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour after a recent spike in problems.

When asked if his party's candidacy risked splitting the right-wing vote, he said his party would "always fight every election and we fight to win".

"We live in a democracy," he said.

"Everyone has a right to vote Conservative.

"The party - nationally - was very clear about that."

On immigration, he said his party had a clear plan to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights and deport "people who don't have a right to be here".

"It's a shame that we couldn't get the Rwanda plan off the ground at the last election," he said.

Winstanley said he was also hoping to reduce taxes if elected to ease cost of living burdens and ensure "we have more money in people's pockets".

"I am ingrained in the Makerfield constituency, so for me it's not just about the by-election, it's home, and I really want to represent the people that I've grown up with," he said.

A full list of the candidates for the by-election can be found here.

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