General election: who are your candidates in Sheffield Heeley?
Sheffield is sending six MPs to Westminster and we have asked the candidates in each constituency to tell us why you should vote for them and what you can expect from them if elected.
Sheffield Heeley has been the name of a constituency since 1950 – replacing the former Sheffield Ecclesall constituency.
It was a traditionally right-leaning area with the Conservatives ruling for decades but since 1974 it has all been Labour.
Louise Haigh, the MP before the parliament was dissolved at the end of May, has been representing Sheffield Heeley in Westminster since 2015.
In alphabetical order, the candidates standing in Sheffield Heeley are:
Rebecca Atkinson – Liberal Democrats
Alexi Dimond – Green Party
Louise Haigh – Labour Party
Helen Jackman – Social Democratic Party
Louise McDonald – Party of Women
Steven Roy – Workers Party
Mick Suter – Trade Unionist and Socialist Party
So what are the candidates standing for?
Rebecca Atkinson from the Liberal Democrats said this ahead of the general election tomorrow (Thursday): “The Liberal Democrats are an important alternative voice at this election, given that Labour are projected to gain a landslide victory nationally.
“I am standing in Sheffield Heeley as I believe in our party’s values of putting people first. We believe that Graves Park belongs to the people and want to continue JG Graves’ legacy in the area, by supporting local residents to enhance our green spaces and improving local facilities for all of the community.
“As an MP for Sheffield Heeley, my priority would be revitalising the Woodseats shopping district, because local shops and businesses are important for everyone, directly at the heart of every community.
“Residents are concerned about the NHS, the cost of living and the environment, and these are issues that Lib Dems know we need to hold Labour to account on in government.”
Alexi Dimond from the Green Party said: “I am delighted to be standing as the Green Party candidate for Sheffield Heeley.
“The Conservatives are facing wipeout in this election so there is a unique opportunity for us all to vote with our consciences for what we believe in.
“Vote for me for action on the climate and nature emergencies, and for social justice. For public ownership of water, transport and our NHS.
“Vote for me to end right-to-buy and no-fault evictions, and for the introduction of rent controls to end the housing crisis; for the redistribution of wealth from billionaires and progressive taxation; for the prioritisation and proper funding of public transport and active travel.
“I will demand an end to arms sales to Israel, an end to complicity with genocide and apartheid; and fight for the human rights of all people and a warm welcome and safe routes for people seeking safety.
“I will champion the rights of LGBTIQA+ and marginalised communities, and people with disabilities so that everyone can fully participate in our society and no one is excluded.
“I will also campaign for fair votes, a genuine democracy and decentralisation which empowers local people and gives us all back control over our lives.”
Labour is sending Louise Haigh to defend her seat.
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Sheffield is my home. I grew up here, went to school here, I worked in Meadowhall and later Aviva, my family live here and for the last nine years I’ve been proud to represent Sheffield Heeley.
“I’m so proud of our city but for 14 years we’ve been held back. Our public services have been cut, working people have struggled more and more to pay for the basics, our charities – once at the heart of building thriving communities – are now running foodbanks and simply trying to keep people afloat.
“Nothing works as it used to. Our trains don’t run, our buses are cancelled, we’re waiting for doctor’s appointments, dentists, the list goes on.
“We know it doesn’t have to be this way. And on July 4 we can vote for change.
“Change to rebuild our NHS, to tackle the cost of living crisis, to put more police on our streets, to invest in our city and our country.
“And as Labour’s shadow transport secretary, I can’t wait to bring our railways under public ownership and to take back control of our buses – putting the public back at the heart of public transport.”
Louise McDonald is standing as the candidate of the Party of Women.
She said: “Party of Women is a new party formed in February 2024 with the specific aim of protecting all women’s single-sex services and spaces for our safety and dignity and safeguarding children.
“Our solution is to repeal the Gender Recognition Act 2004, this act created the legal fiction that allows men to be recognised as women. Remove the protected characteristic of “gender reassignment” in the Equality Act, this is often used to discriminate against women.
“Restore all government institutions and services to reality-based, impartial and professional establishments.
“On any issue outside of these aims, I act as an independent. As a Sheffielder I care deeply about our local community and would act in the best interests of Sheffielders without having any political ideology to adhere to – I care about truth.”
Mick Suter from the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition said: “Mick Suter is a local government housing worker and Unison trade union shop steward. He is also the chair of Sheffield Save Our NHS campaign opposing both Tory and Labour NHS privatisation plans.
“He is challenging Louise Haigh MP who is the shadow transport minister but did not once show support on the picket lines with the RMT rail union when their members were on strike.
“Unlike Louise Haigh, Mick has demonstrated against Israeli state terror on Gaza and calls for stopping arms sales and an end to the occupation of Palestine.
“TUSC welcomes the chance to finally get the Tory government out but has no confidence that a Starmer Labour government will be much better.
“And the Greens in Sheffield have shown that they are part of the establishment by joining the “co-operative council” with Labour and the Lib Dems that continues to carry out Tory cuts in local services.
“TUSC is standing as a voice for working class and young people disillusioned by all the establishment parties and wanting a radical socialist alternative to the austerity and warmongering policies of the pro-capitalist parties.
“If elected, Mick pledges to only accept the average workers’ wage, not the £91,000 MPs’ salary.”
Helen Jackman and Steven Roy did not respond before the deadline.