UKIP select parliamentary candidate

A FORMER member of the Army’s bomb disposal unit has been chosen as UKIP’s parliamentary candidate for Meriden.

Mick Gee (pictured above) was selected by the party last year and will challenge Conservative incumbent Caroline Spelman for the seat which encompasses North Solihull.

In 2010, Mrs Spelman won her fourth consecutive election, increasing her majority to over 16,000.

UKIP’s candidate Barry Allcock lost his deposit after winning fewer than 1500 votes (2.6 per cent of the total).

Five years on the party is feeling rather more positive about its prospects, having won its first two MPs in high-profile by-elections and continuing to perform strongly in the opinion polls.

Locally, UKIP has secured its first Solihull councillor in Kingshurst & Fordbridge; Debbie Evans unseated the leader of the Labour group at last year’s local elections.

The party also came a close second in Castle Bromwich and the Conservatives are likely to be troubled by how near the eurosceptics came to capturing a traditional Tory stronghold.

Mr Gee said: “The forthcoming election promises to be the most unpredictable for many years. I am going to work very hard in Meriden to prove to the residents that I can successfully represent them in Parliament and fight for their concerns.”

The former serviceman spent 22 years in the Army, before leaving in 2008 to take a job at Jaguar Land Rover, in Wolverhampton.

The father-of-two’s election pledges include opposing proposals to build homes on part of Babbs Mill Nature Reserve and calling for a new community hub to be created at Kingshurst. He has also spoken out against the bedroom tax and the HS2 rail link.

• Other Side of Solihull will be keeping readers up-to-date with all the latest elections news between now and May 7. Closer to polling day we will approach all the candidates standing in Meriden to ask them to outline why you should vote for them.