Altrincham and Sale West is ready for its closest general election battle in generations.
With Sir Graham Brady having announced his intention to stand down at the election, the constituency is certain to have a new face installed as Member of Parliament.
Brady’s majority of 6,139 - won at the last election in 2019 - has been identified as potentially vulnerable by many national pollsters.
Brady was the latest in a long line of Tories to represent the seat - even accounting for boundary changes, the area has effectively not selected a non-Conservative MP since the Liberal Robert Alston won in 1923. An election was called the following year and the Conservatives reclaimed the seat.
That century of dominance could be about to end, however. Whatever the result, it could conceivably come down to a few hundred votes.
The Altrincham and Sale West candidates
So who is standing? Here's the full list of candidates:
- Jane Brophy (Liberal Democrats)
- Oliver Carroll (Conservative and Unionist Party)
- Geraldine Coggins (Green Party)
- Faisal Kabir (Workers Party of Britain)
- Connor Rand (Labour)
- Paul Swansborough (Reform UK)
What do they believe in?
As part of our general election coverage this year, we invited each of the six candidates for an interview.
Five of the six candidates - everyone except Faisal Kabir who did not respond to repeated communications - accepted our invitation.
We asked them the same 20 questions below:
1. Tell us more about yourself in 30 seconds.
2. Why are you standing for election?
3. What experience has most shaped your political views?
4. What are the three most pressing issues facing Altrincham in 2024?
5. What's the one thing you would change about our community?
6. What's the first thing you would do if you were elected?
7. How would you improve local healthcare services in Altrincham?
8. Do you support building on the Timperley Wedge?
9. How would you address the shortage of secondary school places in Altrincham?
10. How would you improve the education of neurodivergent children in Altrincham?
11. How would you support small businesses in Altrincham?
12. What would you do about the huge number of potholes around Altrincham?
13. Do you support the introduction of Clean Air Zones?
14. Who is your political hero?
15. What's your favourite album?
16. What's your favourite book?
17. What's your favourite film or box set?
18. What's your favourite local restaurant or cafe?
19. Who or what has had the single biggest influence on your life?
20. Tell us something about you that would surprise people.
Here are their answers to each question:
Jane Brophy (Liberal Democrats)
Oliver Carroll (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Geraldine Coggins (Green Party)
Faisal Kabir (Workers Party of Britain)
Here's a link to Mr Kabir's official campaign Facebook page.
Connor Rand (Labour)
Paul Swansborough (Reform UK)
How to vote
Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday July 4th.
Photographic identification will be required to vote.
To find your nearest polling station, search using your post code here.
