Polls, parties and the people: all say Sir John Redwood is facing his greatest challenge as the Conservative candidate for Wokingham yet.

Having been the town’s MP since 1987, Redwood has never received less than 46 per cent of the vote in the previous eight elections he has contested.

But constituency polling from YouGov suggests the Liberal Democrats’ Phillip Lee could be catching the Conservative.

READ MORE: Lib Dem candidate Phillip Lee says John Redwood is 'out of step' with Wokingham

Despite this, Sir John was upbeat when speaking to the News and hit back at claims he was not representing constituents over the issue of Brexit.

He said: “[in 2017] I got 56 per cent [of the vote] and the Liberals got 16 per cent.

READ MORE: Here's who's standing for election in Wokingham

“I feel I have stuck to the mandate of the people of Wokingham and I would love to have their mandate again to finish the job.”

Bracknell News:

The Brexiteer came in for criticism in 2017 when he suggested investors “look further afield” because of the slow growth of the UK economy.

However, Mr Redwood said the UK will still be “better off as a result of Brexit” and attacked rival Phillip Lee.

He added: “I do say to people in Wokingham, and I know there are a lot of people in Wokingham who would rather we remained in the European Union.

“I think it is best for our democracy and for our economy that we now press on and do what we said we were going to do.

“Phillip Lee let all the voters down in Bracknell in a huge way because he stood with me in 2017 on a manifesto that said we would leave with or without a deal. When he was safely elected he ratted on them.

“I’ve been consistent and honest throughout.

“I was quite entitled to vote for Leave in the referendum because it was the one occasion as an MP when I didn’t have to represent my constituents because they represented themselves in the referendum.”

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Redwood told the News the UK needs faster growth and more spending increases for Wokingham, with a particular focus on schools, surgeries and roads.

He said he agrees with the public schools have been short of money and that budgets were “too tight a couple of years ago”.

Despite this call for more spending on schools, the Conservative candidate also said residents need tax cuts.

He suggested: “We think the people spend their own money better than the government most often.

“We don’t think people have enough of their own money to spend.”

Tackling congestion and greening Wokingham are two issues Redwood told the News he would focus on if re-elected, and he said Wokingham borough needed a new local plan which would take “stronger action” to defend green spaces.

READ MORE: Labour candidate Annette Medhurst says a vote for Labour doesn't let John Redwood in

On the issue of development, he said Wokingham has ‘done its bit’ and “expanded massively”, adding he would work with Wokingham Borough Council to secure a more “sensible and sustainable rate of growth”.

Plans for 15,000 new homes in Grazeley have been opposed by Redwood previously and he re-stated how he would like reassurances about a lower-rate of house building in West Berkshire and infrastructure guarantees if the garden town proposal does go ahead.

Redwood did not attend a hustings debate which tackled issues such as development, climate change and more last week because two other candidates did not confirm participation.

Despite criticism from some residents, he told the News he still “trusts the people of Wokingham to make a good decision”.

He added: “I’m willing to serve them again and I look forward to their judgement.”