Six candidates from the political parties will engage in a clash for West Reading and the surrounding villages for the next general election.
The Reading West and Mid Berkshire MP seat was created last year covering parts of West Reading, Tilehurst, the suburbs of Calcot and Theale and villages in West Berkshire.
The seat has been created from the previous Reading West, Newbury and Wokingham constituencies.
Candidates from the main political parties, the Greens and a former Liberal Democrat councillor turned Independent are all vying for the seat.
You can see the candidates in the order that they were announced below.
You can also see what the candidates had to say in their own words in this graphic:
Helen Belcher
Helen Belcher was the first candidate to be announced by the Liberal Democrats back in October.
She currently serves as a county and town councillor for Corsham Pickwick in Wiltshire.
Councillor Belcher grew up in the constituency, and received an OBE in 2023 for her work in advocating for the rights of transgender people.
Her priorities include sorting out the NHS, the economy and the environment.
Adrian Abbs
Adrian Abbs launched his Independent bid to become the MP for the area after he was beaten by Helen Belcher in the Lib Dem candidate selection process.
He slammed his former party on the way out, accusing top Lib Dem headquarters of either being ‘corrupt’ or ‘incompetent’.
READ MORE: MP hopeful puts his hat in the ring in Independent election bid
Mr Abbs is a councillor for Newbury Wash Common on West Berkshire Council.
He produces regular updates on his campaign website.
Carolyne Culver
Carolyne Culver was selected as the Green Party candidate in the New Year.
She has pledged to secure “a sustainable and just future for all” by protecting public services including the NHS, ending poverty, and tackling the climate emergency.
Ms Culver has represented the Ridgeway ward on West Berkshire Council since 2019, winning re-election last year.
Ross Mackinnon
Ross Mackinnon was selected as the Conservative candidate on Wednesday, February 22 following news that Sir Alok Sharma, the current MP for Reading West will be standing down.
Mr Mackinnon is the shadow leader of West Berkshire Council and represents Bradfield.
Mr Mackinnon is hoping to “make sure our part of Berkshire stays blue” amid challenges from the other political parties.
Olivia Bailey
Olivia Bailey was chosen by the Labour Party as its candidate for the new seat on Saturday, February 24.
She is hoping to win Reading West & Mid Berkshire after she came runner-up against Sir Alok in the 2017 general election.
Olivia has argued that the constituency is ‘neck and neck’ between Labour and the Conservatives.
She said Labour will give the area the fresh start it deserves.
Kate Bosley
Kate Bosley is the candidate for Reform UK, the political party founded by Nigel Farage in January 2020 as a successor to the Brexit Party.
It is unclear when she was selected.
The party has an active X/Twitter account @ReformBerkshire covering the new Reading West seat and Newbury.
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