The General Election 2024 is finally here and parts of the former Penrith and the Borders and Workington constituencies have been combined to form the new seat of Penrith and Solway.

To get you ready The Herdwick News has broken down all constituency candidated by party and summarised their manifesto promises.

The former Conservative MP for Penrith and the Border, Dr Neil Hudson, has stood down from the seat, but the former Workington MP, Mark Jenkinson, has thrown his hat into the ring for the seat.

Penrith and Solway General Election 2024 Candidates:

Conservative Party

Mark Ian Jenkinson

Mark Jenkinson, the Conservative candidate for Penrith and Solway, focuses on education, healthcare, crime reduction, job creation, infrastructure, and town centre revitalization. He pledges increased school funding, improved access to healthcare with new diagnostic centres and a Medical School in Carlisle, and record police numbers to tackle crime.

Jenkinson aims to boost local jobs, particularly in the nuclear sector, and enhance infrastructure with major investments in roads, rail, broadband, and the Port of Workington. He also seeks to rejuvenate town centres with over £150m in investments.

Read the manifesto here

Labour Party

Markus Dale Campbell-Savours

Markus Campbell-Savours, Labour candidate for Penrith and Solway, aims to bring positive change to Cumbria by listening to the community. He focuses on economic stability, capping corporation tax at 25%, and creating 650,000 jobs through the National Wealth Fund. He supports a 10-year infrastructure strategy for housing and transport, devolving power to mayors, and making work pay with job market reforms.

Campbell-Savours emphasizes Labour’s commitment to health, mental health services, and a modern industrial strategy centred on new technologies and infrastructure. He seeks to build a better Cumbria under Labour leadership.

Read the manifesto here

Liberal Democrats

Julia Catherine Weir Aglionby

Julia Aglionby, the Liberal Democrats candidate for Penrith and Solway, is committed to championing rural communities, families, and local businesses. She aims to fix social care, fund schools, and stop sewage dumping. In her statement, she explained during her campaign she has cycled 300 miles across the constituency and has listened to residents’ concerns and pledges to be their voice in Westminster.

Aglionby says she seeks to ensure government policies address the needs of rural areas, and that national politics are guided by common sense, fairness, and care. She stands against the incompetence and unfair policies that have harmed families and businesses, striving for a better future for Cumbria.

Read the manifesto here

Reform UK

Matthew James Moody

Matthew Moody, Reform UK candidate for Penrith and Solway, and, in a statement, said he is dedicated to addressing the issues neglected by successive governments. With a background in business and a passion for rugby league and the RAF, he moved to Cumbria in 2022.

Moody advocates for common-sense politics and has held well-supported meetings across the constituency. He emphasised the need for investment in rural areas, better NHS care, improved public transport, and solutions for unemployment and housing. Moody stands with Reform UK to challenge the disregard for ordinary people and seeks to bring substantial change to the community.

Read the manifesto here

Green Party

Susan Jane Denham Smith

Susan Denham-Smith, the Green Party candidate for Penrith and Solway, lives by green principles on her smallholding in the Lake District. She pledges a swift, fair transition to a low-carbon economy, promoting affordable and social housing, and insulating older homes.

She supports sustainable farming with nature-friendly practices, fresh food networks, and regenerative growing hubs. Denham-Smith plans to grow jobs in the green energy sector and improve public transport across rural and urban areas. She advocates for an education system fostering potential through play and exploration, better access to GPs and dentists, and free personal care for the elderly. She envisions a new era of earth care and fairness.

Read the manifesto here

Social Democratic Party

Shaun Keith Long

Shaun Long, the Social Democratic Party candidate for Penrith and Solway, pledges to maintain the quality of life in the Eden Valley while securing a debt-free future and preserving personal liberties. He supports fair pricing for farmers, a shareable tax allowance for couples with children, and prioritising social housing for British couples and veterans. Long advocates vocational training for secure jobs, including medical professions, and defends homeowners’ rights to choose their heating sources.

He aims to increase council housing, respects women’s rights, promotes industry reshoring, and advocates for strong borders with limited immigration. The party stands for equality before the law, state support for vital industries, and upholding freedom of speech.

Read the manifesto here

Independent

Roy Ivinson

Roy Ivision, independent candidate for Penrith and Solway, aims to implement strict immigration controls and transition to a zero-carbon economy. He supports building new nuclear power stations and taxing wind energy to fund local government.

Ivision advocates for rail network restoration, introduces a state-backed insurance system for healthcare financing, and promotes affordable wind-powered electricity for consumers across Cumbria.

Independent

Chris Johnston

Chris Johnston, independent candidate for Penrith and Solway, aims to unify the constituency by prioritising good education, affordable housing, fair wages, and support for vulnerable members of society. He pledges to advocate for clean water, affordable food, and energy sustainability.

Johnston pledges to restore trust in politics through expanding the recall petition, giving constituents power to initiate by-elections to remove non-representative officials. He emphasises bipartisan cooperation to implement the best ideas for the community, envisioning a new democratic model for continuous improvement and collaboration beyond traditional party lines.

How to vote on in the UK General Election 2024:

To be able to vote in the General Election 2024, on Thursday, July 4, you must be registered, bring your voter ID and got to the correct voting station.

To check if this is the constituency that you are to vote in visit the Electoral Commission’s website here.

This is the first General Election that needs a form of ID to vote to check the acceptable forms of ID visit the government website here.