The economy

Bolton South East is a constituency with a number of socially deprived areas and so understandably finances, jobs and the state of the economy are areas that are consistently coming up on the doorstep with voters.

The Conservatives believe they have turned the nation’s finances around over the past five years and candidate Mudasir Dean agrees.

He said: “We are the only Party that not only has the credibility but now has the track record of improving our economy. “After Labour's mess five years ago, who would have said that Britain would today be the fastest-growing economy in Europe?

“Even though difficult decisions have been made, we have created opportunities for people. Any positive opportunity we give our residents is only possible through a strong economy.”

Labour’s Yasmin Qureshi thinks the economy is far from fixed, adding: “The economy is not creating the productive, high-skilled and well-paid jobs that we need to raise living standards.

“ It is beyond belief that in 21st century Britain, people are going hungry and increasingly relying on food banks because of the Government’s harsh welfare programme.

“To penalise people who are already living on the breadline by further cutting their money is inhumane, no matter what the reason.

“We can change direction, begin to return power to the people and build an economy together in which everyone can contribute to a shared and enduring prosperity.”

The Green party’s Alan Johnson said he is the only “anti-austerity” candidate on the ticket.

He added:”All the other parties are pro austerity, which has proven to have failed, it has done nothing for deficit reduction, despite all the pain suffered by ordinary people.

“My Party will get rid of enforced zero hour contracts, we will replace the minimum wage with a living wage of at least £8 per hour, rising to £10 an hour by 2020.

“More money in people’s pockets means more money to spend, thus creating a greater need for goods and services which will provide much needed jobs.”

UKIP hopeful Jeff Armstrong said his party will cut “politically correct spending programmes.”

He added: “Because of this we are the one party that can stick to the Treasury’s deficit elimination plan, while cutting taxes and increasing spending on vital services such as the NHS and defence of our nation.

“UKIP believes the key to creating a successful, dynamic economy and a fair society lies in harnessing the ingenuity, resourcefulness and appetite for hard work of the British people.”

Darren Reynolds of the Liberal Democrats said: “We must balance wealth creation and jobs with a permanent end to the consumer culture.

“Globally and nationally, it is not sustainable to go on ever increasing our demands for the latest technology, international travel and coal-fired power when the resources we have are limited and leave negative consequences for our children's future on earth.

“If elected back to government, the Liberal Democrats will make the UK the apprenticeship powerhouse of Europe by creating more new apprenticeship places per year even than Germany.”