THE YORK Outer electoral battle will see incumbent Conservative Julian Sturdy fight challengers from the Labour, Liberal Democrat, UKIP and Green parties.

The constituency - the outer “doughnut” of York’s two electoral areas - takes in many of the villages on the edge of the city as well as the University of York campus.

Chloe Farand spoke to voters about what will decide their vote on May 7.

Christopher Ridgers, 34, who works at the University of York, said: “I don’t know who I’m going to vote for, but I definitely know who I’m not going to vote for. I think making no more cuts to public service is important, and the tuition fees are important to me.”

Peter Waldock, 21, a chemistry student at the university, said national issues trump local concerns when it comes to deciding where his support should go. “I’m 80 per cent sure of how I’m going to vote. The NHS is a big one. My mum works in the NHS and I am thinking of a career in the NHS as well,” he said.

Lara Mackey, 21, an electronic engineering student, said: “I have made up my mind a couple of weeks ago. I think the economy and the benefits system are important issues for the election.”

Lance Racey, 53, an HR consultant, said: “I have known who I’m going to vote for a long time. I have always voted for them and I won’t change my opinion this year. What is important to me is fairness, liberal values and social progress. I think it will be a difficult fight here in York Outer. Ultimately, I would like a proportional representation system and that would mean my vote would count more than it does now.”

Chris Cook, 21, a chemistry student, said: “There is no party which has particularly grabbed my attention. Economic policies, health policies and education policies are important currently. Education is very important and people have very different standpoints on it. I want to make sure I know what they are proposing.”

Marie Ferguson, 47, a shopkeeper in Heslington, said: “I have never voted. They are all as bad as each other. They make promises that they never hold. My foster mum used to vote Labour because she said the Conservatives defended a different social class, but even she doesn’t vote any more.”

Tim Sharpe, 47, a farrier, said: “Everybody is concerned about the economy, but it’s probably as good as it can be. Immigration is also quite a big issue. I’m looking at the bigger picture rather than the local candidates.”

Pat England, 66, who is retired, said: “I have not quite decided, but there are still a couple of weeks to go. It all depends on who has got the best message. The NHS is a big issue and it is important that the pensioners get a better deal. I have worked full-time all my life and I have paid my taxes so it makes me sad that I have to pay taxes on my state pension as well.”

Gareth Davies, 44, a prison officer, said: “I haven’t decided who to vote for yet, but I am definitely going to vote. Closer to the time, I will make the effort to sit down and look at the policies properly. Immigration in my opinion is a particularly important topic. I am also concerned about the amount of cuts being made to the police, nurses, social services and health care. It doesn’t really matter who the local MP is, it’s about the party politics.”

Michael Craggs, 67, retired, said: “I decided a while ago. It all depends on who is going to run the country properly. It’s about looking after the economy. If you don’t do that everything else falls apart. It’s like managing your home budget. It’s just common sense really.”

 

The key facts

YORK Outer is a relatively wealthy urban and rural constituency, which shows low levels of deprivation and an ageing population.

The constituents are 93.6 per cent UK born, with an average age of 45 years old, five years older than the national average.

The largest demographic group is the 65-plus, at close to 30 per cent of the population.

According to the last labour market figures published on April 17, York Outer’s unemployment rate is close to non-existent, averaging only 0.3 per cent of the population, a figure significantly below the 5.6 per cent national rate. The average annual personal income was £21,400 for the financial year 2012/13, while the national annual gross average reached £27,200 in 2013/14.

At the beginning of 2015, the average house price was estimated at £200,000.

• Population 24.8 per cent are 18 to 34 years-old 15.2 per cent are 35 to 44 17.4 per cent are 45 to 54 17.3 per cent are 55 to 64 27.4 per cent are 65-plus

• More than 96 per cent of the population is reported to be in good health.

• There are 9.7 per cent of working people employed in public sector employment, compared to 19 per cent at the national level.

• Residents with a degree level qualification amount to 32.1 per cent of the population.

• More than 82 per cent of residents own their home, eight percent are social renters while 9.6 per cent rent from a private landlord or agency.

 

Real contest looks to be for second place

THE University of York’s Professor Neil Carter, gives an expert view of what May 7 could hold for York Outer.

IN 2010 York Outer was a top Liberal Democrat target seat, but the Conservative candidate, Julian Sturdy, gained 43 per cent of the vote to secure a surprisingly comfortable majority of 3,688 over his Lib Dem rival.

Sturdy, a low-profile backbencher, must be odds-on to be re-elected. If the Lib Dems couldn’t win this seat when attracting 23 per cent of the national vote, it would be remarkable if their candidate, James Blanchard, can do better now they are polling below ten per cent.

So where will those former Lib Dem votes go? With Labour stronger in the national polls, Joe Riches will hope many will turn to him. Some will go to the Greens, who didn’t stand in 2010, and are likely to be attractive to this seat’s large student population who feel betrayed by Nick Clegg’s U-turn on tuition fees - but Green candidate, Ginnie Shaw, will still do well not to come last here. And all three major parties are likely to lose votes to the Ukip candidate, Paul Abbott.

UkipIP polled well in York in the European Parliament election last year, yet this constituency doesn’t look to be natural Ukipper territory. So the real contest is likely to be for second place between Labour and the Lib Dems, who despite their troubles still have a strong local presence in the suburbs and outlying villages that make up the York Outer constituency.