Candidates prepare for the campaign trail

There are eight candidates vying to be your next MP. Following Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s announcement that a general election will be held on May 6, the countdown is now on.

One candidate from Graham Jones (Labour), Karen Buckley (Conservative), Andrew Rankine (Liberal Democrats), Kevin Logan (Christian People’s Alliance), Granville Barker (UKIP), Kerry Gormley (Green Party), Andrew Eccles (BNP) or Chris Reid (English Democrats) – will replace Greg Pope as Hyndburn’s next MP.

Click here to go to the General Election section, where full candidate profiles will appear as we receive them

The eight prospective candidates have outlined a bit about themselves and how they can take the borough forward ahead of next month’s election showdown.

Liberal Democrat candidate Andrew Rankine is a former bus driver.

The father-of-two and grandfather-of-three was a mayor of Skipton and has been married to his third wife Angela for 23 years.

Andrew said: "I am just an ordinary guy wanting to make a difference for the people of Hyndburn. I was driven into politics by the best of motives – to fight injustice and unfairness. But there is still so much to fight for and to battle against. I promise that I wont spend a penny more in expenses than necessary to carry out my duties effectively as your MP."

Graham Jones, Hyndburn Borough Council’s Labour leader, was named as the successor to Greg Pope as Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate in November last year.

He said: "I will be fighting for a better future for all in Hyndburn. I am standing because this is my home. I was brought up in Baxenden, live in Accrington and I’ve lived in Hyndburn all my life. I work in a local printing company. I promise that if elected I’ll keep my feet on the ground, there’ll be no foreign trips paid for by foreign governments for me and the only people whose interests I’ll act for will be yours."

Former textile technologist Granville Barker, of the UK Independence Party, lives in Haslingden and is 67. He said: "I live locally and I’m now retired. I want to concentrate a lot on helping manufacturing businesses. I want to work with local companies to enhance their prospects. If I’m elected I’m donating all my parliamentary income to local good causes. Because I’m a pensioner I would sooner give it back."

Rev Kevin Logan is standing as a candidate for the Christian People’s Alliance – part of the Christian Democrats.

Kevin, who is married to his second wife Ann, is an author of nine books and a former vicar of two Hyndburn churches.

The former journalist has also been a councillor for Accrington’s old South Ward and currently holds a Stanley season ticket.

He said: "I want to save our economy from a greed without morals. We as a party want to save our Christian heritage values that made Britain great. We think that getting the debt down is a massive priority – sooner rather than later."

Conservative candidate Karen Buckley has two teenage children and has family from the Hyndburn area. She is a qualified solicitor who was previously elected to Fylde Borough Council.

She said: "I’m honoured to have been selected by Hyndburn Conservatives as their parliamentary candidate. If elected I will continue to build up good working relationships with council leaders, industry leaders and investors to ensure that resources (scarce as they are) are directed to Hyndburn for the good of the people who live and work here.

"I will concentrate my efforts on seeking to secure investment into Hyndburn to provide decent jobs and decent homes. I will be looking for ways to tackle the high levels of worklessness in the constituency which holds people back from achieving their aspirations. In these difficult economic times these will be long term goals but the people of Hyndburn and Haslingden deserve a brighter future."

Green Party candidate Kerry Gormley will stand for the Hyndburn seat.

Representing The English Democrats is Chris Reid, who has lived and worked in Hyndburn area all his life.

He said: "I have the same sense of being let down, taken for granted and being ignored by the politicians. We will free you from the chains of political dogma. We have policies that are visionary and fair. Common sense is our motto. It’s time to clear out the current established parties and start afresh. It is time to restore some trust, respect and decency to politics. I just want a fair deal for everyone. My principals go much deeper than my pockets."

Profiles of each candidate will soon be available at www.accringtonobserver.co.uk

Standing as candidates to be the next Hyndburn MP are: