In my personal view Sir Tony Baldry has had many achievements as he has been my local MP for Banbury since 1983. But I have a few issues such as the Horton.

It’s reported in the press that he helped save it from closure but it was mostly the work of the retired labour councillor George Parish who, together with activists, worked tirelessly to save it. At the end of the day Sir Tony is the one that came away with the honours.

My main problem is that the NHS is on the way to be privatised, there is a lack of funding and GP surgeries are struggling.

Sir Tony also failed to speak out against austerity which meant the decimation of the youth service in Oxfordshire. The bedroom tax hits the poorest in society.

This stems from a lack of understanding from nearly all Conservative MPs who have a private school education and have two or three other professions. In my view they lack empathy with the working class.

The Conservative party in Banbury will see a stampede of people willing to take Sir Tony’s place for a chance to be Banbury’s next MP. They see the constituency as easy because Banbury is not a city and the rural villages mostly vote Conservative in droves.

Many names have been touted like Boris Johnson or even councillor Kieron Mallon of Easington Banbury.

I would put my money on Ian Hudspeth.

I judge this on who would worry me if he stood against me in one of divisions.

He has the ability to interact with people in the pub and on the whole engage with the people in the street. He is also a friend of David Cameron and canvassed with him in Woodstock and has the advantage of being leader of Oxfordshire County Council.

I don’t advocate the government policy he supports but that’s my prediction. There will be hundreds of candidates and it would be nice to see a woman candidate but it’s highly unlikely.

Mark cherry, Appleby Close, Banbury

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