There will be an open primary selection on July 26th, between James Atkins, Suhail Rahuja and Mark Versallion.
The seat is held by Labour's Beverley Hughes by over 8000 votes.
Click continue to read candidate statements.
Deputy Editor
James Atkins: As a Lancastrian, I understand the issues affecting the Stretford and Urmston constituency. I am well aware, for example, of local concerns over the proposed congestion charge, funding for Trafford General Hospital and availability of places for children in local schools. I have a reputation for action and for me, representing people in Parliament is one of the most important contributions a person can make to the local community. It is why I am successful at work, managing communications campaigns for health charities; effective in politics, as I understand how political decisions affect us individually; and accomplished in sport through my determination to excel. I am a good communicator and will use this to show how local Conservatives are already making a real and beneficial impact on the lives of all constituents. My sporting background, particularly coaching underprivileged children in cricket and rugby, has shown me how to build community cohesion. The success of the Manchester Commonwealth Games showed how effective this can be. If selected, I will work hard to address the needs of the whole community and help the Conservative Party build upon the achievements of Trafford Council in delivering the best public services in the region.
Suhail Rahuja: Suhail Rahuja, 39, grew up in Urmston. His father was a doctor at what was then Park Hospital (now Trafford General) and he went to Flixton Infants and Davyhulme Junior School. Having gone to schools in Urmston, Suhail will fight to preserve Trafford’s great education system. Suhail said, “Beating Bev Hughes will require a lot of inspiration as well as perspiration”. Suhail, who works as financial analyst, has a top-notch campaigning record. He was elected a councillor for Westminster Council last year. It was a hard fought campaign given that the LibDems targeted his ward. But Suhail was out campaigning early, often and hard. He won - increasing the number of votes by nearly 20%. He will bring that same energy to fighting Stretford & Urmston. In the Trafford council elections a couple of months ago, Suhail was out helping to make sure that Eddie Kelson was successfully elected as a Tory councillor for Urmston. Suhail knows that increasing the number of Tory councillors is critical to winning this seat, and will work hard to make this happen. Suhail concludes by saying “If I was asked why I should be chosen, I would say that I walked the streets of Stretford & Urmston as a child, as a man and would be proud to walk those same streets as the Tory candidate”.
Mark Versallion: Mark Versallion is the Managing Director of a successful marketing agency and has been a thought leader in the marketing and media industry for over ten years. Having founded and built the company himself he understands just how much hard work and determination it takes to succeed, particularly in an over-regulated and over-taxed economy. Mark is a local government Councillor where he is Chairman of the influential finance scrutiny committee. He is also a past Chief Whip and Conservative Association Deputy-Chairman. He has been a member of the party for twenty years. In the 1990s he worked in the House of Commons as Parliamentary Aide to John Major's Public Services Minister and later was Special Advisor to the Shadow Defence Minister. Experiencing first hand how an MP can get things done as well as fighting for residents as a Councillor, Mark has a strong track record in making a difference for people and communities. He is also a commissioned officer in the Royal Navy Reserve, commanding a unit of psychological warfare specialists, and is well practiced in leadership and adventurous training programmes. Mark also gives his time to race relations work with his British-born Indian wife and two sons.