Labour’s general election candidate for Wycombe has hit back at claims she ‘does not live’ in the constituency.
Emma Reynolds was responding to a letter published by the Bucks Free Press which pointed out that the MP hopeful lives in the neighbouring Chesham and Amersham seat.
In the June 21 edition of the newspaper, reader Richard Ghost claimed that Reynolds had told voters in campaign leaflets that she was a ‘local resident’.
He wrote: “I have reported this to the electoral services team at Bucks Council, but they aren’t interested.
“It seems to be to be yet another dirty trick by a professional political candidate that Labour have been sending round the country to different seats.”
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Reynolds, who grew up in Staffordshire, previously served as the Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East three times between 2010 and 2019 before moving to London.
At this election, she is hoping to oust Wycombe’s Conservative incumbent candidate Steve Baker, who is originally from Cornwall, and become the area’s first Labour MP since 1951.
In her a letter replying to Mr Ghost, she said: “I have been very clear on my website and in my election leaflets that I live in Holmer Green which is three miles from the Wycombe constituency boundary and four miles from the centre of High Wycombe.
“In my view, I therefore live in the local area!”
Reynolds also pointed out that she and her husband’s two sons attend a local state primary school and her family relies on local NHS services.
She added: “I would prefer to have a discussion about the real issues and choice before voters – five more years of this incompetent and chaotic Conservative government or a positive change with a local Labour MP working alongside a Labour government.
“Labour has a plan to get the economy back on track, bring down NHS waiting times, make sure people can book to see their GP, ensure our young people have the very best education and opportunities, tackling anti-social behaviour and addressing the climate change emergency.
“If elected as the local MP, I would put the people of Wycombe first and fight for more investment in our public services. These are the real issues at stake at this election.”
In the July 4 general election Reynolds faces Steve Baker (Conservative), Toni Brodelle (Liberal Democrats), Catherine Bunting (Green Party), Khalil Ahmed (Workers Party of Britain), Richard Phoenix (Reform UK), Ed Gemmell (Climate Party), Ajaz Rehman (Independent) and Mark Smallwood (Independent associated with Vote Life).
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