This page contains the views of the MP candidates for South Swindon on a wide range of issues

To see how their views compare with yours, pick any quote below and select your view.

Stop press: 4 of your candidates haven't gone on the record!

Anne Snelgrove
(Labour Party)

Robin Tingey
(UK Independence Party - UKIP)

Robert Buckland
(Conservative Party)

Alastair Kirk
(Christian Party - Proclaiming Christ's Lordship)

Let's start by looking at the local statements

(skip to national statements)

• The green belt and flood plains should be better protected and any further development on greenfield sites should not be allowed to go ahead.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)	strongly agrees
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)	strongly agrees
  	“I will fight against the Eastern Development area as I did for Coate.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)		agrees
  	“The Swindon Front Garden was given to the people of Swindon for recreation purposes.. Not the council.. The council had to get 1 million from the developer and then pay off the descendents to remove that caveat.”

National statements

(back to local statements)

• Many people think taxes will have to rise in the next parliament to cut Britain's budget deficit. If they do, any increases should disproportionately be paid by higher earners.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)				disagrees
  	“Taxes should be fair and an equitable. At present the balance of taxation is greater on low and medium income earners.”
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)	strongly agrees
  	“87% od people would be better off under our tax plans but the peoplethat have gained the most should pay the most back in. That's only fair.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)		agrees
  	“Yes I do believe that high earning w bankers should pay for another fine mess they have gotten us into... :-)”

• The British government interferes too much with business.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)		agrees
  	“Government Red tape must be simplified to allow business to operate effectively.”
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)			is neutral
  	“Some regulation is just plain stupid while in other areas consumers do not get enough protection.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)			is neutral
  	“Colludes more like!! http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=colludes&rlz=1I7ACAW_enGB374GB374&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&redir_esc=&ei=VzHWS5rwO6H80wSDmJDhDQ”

• Government should tackle climate change aggressively even if it means energy bills go up.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)		agrees
  	“Climate change must be addressed now, waiting longer is no longer an option.”
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)		agrees
  	“I would prefer carbon quotas which would actually benefit the poorest.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)			is neutral
  	“I don't think Goverment does anything well, but I do believe it should fund a change in attitudes via an independent organisation.”

• It would be a big problem if Britain became more economically unequal over the next 5 years.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)		agrees
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)	strongly agrees
  	“Fairer societies have lower levels of crime, unemployment and higher life expectances (not to mention happier people!).”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)		agrees
  	“power to the people.. look at Thailand.. and remember the poll tax riots..”

• Despite the recession, Britain should increase spending on public sector services.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)			is neutral
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)		agrees
  	“There will, of course, be savings to make in some areas but you can not cut your way out of a recession!”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)		agrees
  	“On new project not old ones.. That's how the US recovered from the big depression”

• People should provide for their own retirement, and not demand the state to help them do so.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)				disagrees
  	“Some people, through no fault of their own cannot make provision for old age, in these circumstances it is right and proper that the state supports these people where they cannot help themselves.”
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)				disagrees
  	“There a people in our society who, for various reasons, can't be expected to do this. I believe that we must re-learn to live within our means but also don't trust the private sector to help the most vulnerable people to save.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)			is neutral
  	“sod the poor then.. and most pernsioners.. The older generation provide equity for the new generation The goverment is trying to its grubby hands on it.. GrrR!”

• Immigration levels are too high.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)			is neutral
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)			is neutral
  	“We must be sustainable and live within our means but also remember that immigration brings a lot to our country.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)			is neutral
  	“Think they should at least know how much or little there actually is.. EU immigration should be fine but there shoul be proper controls and quotas.. Why isn't there already?”

• There are too many CCTV cameras in Britain.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)		agrees
  	“Britain has the highest number of CCTV Cameras in the world, this isn't necessary and is an infringement on our civil liberties and the amount must be justified or scaled down significantly.”
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)			is neutral
  	“I can see both sides of this. Safe-guards must be in place to protect civil liberties.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)				disagrees
  	“I don't mind actually.. but perhaps there needs to better controls and laws to protect people rights no to be overlooked at home etc.”

• A married, heterosexual couple provide the best environment in which to raise a family.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)				disagrees
  	“The suitability of people to raise a family cannot be decided on the basis of gender, sexuality or any other discriminatory manner, no two childredn are the same and no two "families" are the same so why put them into a convenient box?”
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)			is neutral
  	“Statistically I am informed that this is the case but I don't think the statistics tell the whole story on this one. I was myself raised by a single parent.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)			is neutral
  	“Doesn't matter, its what sort of person the parent is. Daughter's BFF has just moved into shelter due to her dad drinking and becoming abusive.. Cheap alcohol detroys more than the person drinking.. it attacks society.”

• In general, politicians in Britain are honest.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)		agrees
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)			is neutral
  	“I can name some very honest ones but the recent scandals did make me lose a lot of faith.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)					strongly disagrees
  	“What a load of Bollocktics!!!! http://www.swindon.org.uk Bollocks = anglo saxon for priest.. groups of priests were known to speak nonsense.. ergo what a load of bollocks.. :-)”

• The arts in Britain should pay for themselves, and not rely on Government subsidy.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)				disagrees
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)				disagrees
  	“Culture is about more then cold hard cash.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)				disagrees
  	“Ever heard of Cultur?”

• The new British government should begin negotiations to leave the European Union.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)				disagrees
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)			is neutral
  	“I am not a major fan of the European Parliament it has to be said and I would campaign for real reform, accountability, openness etc but the Green there have done much good.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)			is neutral
  	“Having grown up in Norway the second richest country in Europe with no debt and one of the few non EU members I should say YES, but that waht Norway they weren't affected by the Credit Crunch much as they still have control of their banks. so NO”

• Even if Iran develops a nuclear weapon, Britain should not support any military action against Iran.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)		agrees
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)	strongly agrees
  	“If Iran had a nuclear weapon that is in itself a good reason not to have any military action against it. There are other better ways to deal with the issue which I sadly can't fit in this box!”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)		agrees
  	“Depends on what happens.. If it turns ugly.. Nuke EM!!! err sorry meant its time to UN em! I believe the Iranians themselves will handle it. THey know how to Protest!!”

• British troops should stay in Afghanistan as long as they are needed.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)		agrees
  	“A political solution must be the end-game, but until then the military option must be used as well to ensure security on the ground for the due process of political reform in that country.”
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)			is neutral
  	“I would support peace keeping troops to be there if wanted/needed and under the control of a reformed UN.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)			is neutral
  	“I think more need to be done to bring in Afghanistans neighbours. I think the sooner the infidels leave the better.. just strengthen the neighbourhood watch before the last man turns out the lights.”

• Britain spends too much money on foreign aid.

  Select what YOU think to reveal their answers:	strongly agree	agree	neutral	disagree	strongly disagree
  Damon Hooton (Liberal Democrats)			is neutral
  Jenni Miles (Green Party)					strongly disagrees
  	“I would seek to increase foreign aid as this would actually provide us with both the drop in immigration required for us to be sustainable and would do more to secure our nation then our last two wars.”
  Karsten Evans (Independent)			is neutral
  	“hmm Norway gives over 1% BNP.. but then perhaps we need the foreign aid.. It is better to give than receive.. Do unto others.. etc..”

Answers by party

In many places, key candidates have refused to go on the record (and sometimes we've been unable to get in touch with them). As a poor substitute, you can see a rough version of how each party answers on average over at our partner site, Democracy Club.

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