Q&A with Jeremy Quin – candidate for Salisbury Conservative nomination

I’m pleased that all of the candidates for the Conservative nomination to be Salisbury’s next Member of Parliament have agreed to answer a set of questions for this website.


Jeremy’s introduction on the party website says:

Being able to help, and get results, for all constituents, is why I want to be MP for Salisbury. With a countryside and cathedral City background, married, with experience of a senior role in HM Treasury and 18 years in business/finance, I will work tirelessly and always put Salisbury first.

Why do you want to represent Salisbury?

I want to have the opportunity to serve what is a great community. I’ll never forget my first visit to Salisbury as a child, it is a stunning place and I found in my weeks campaigning that the people of the constituency are as warm and genuine as Salisbury is beautiful. To be able to serve them in the same tradition as Rob Key would be a dream come true.This bit of text will hopefully be invisible.This bit of text will hopefully be invisible This bit of text will hopefully be invisible

What would you most like to change in Salisbury?

The traffic – especially the lorries in and out of Churchfields.

How would you encourage more business and jobs into the area?

Encouraging people to live and work here is easy – the schools, local NHS and quality of life sell themselves. What constrains us is the constant balancing of higher growth and protecting the very quality of life that we all value. South Wilts needs both more private sector jobs and more affordable housing but development must be sensitive to local concerns.

What do you think of the plans for the Market Place?

I have been assured by Salisbury Vision that plans will be subjected to full consultation – which is critical. Although there are aspects of the scheme that I think are just over-the-top and I don’t like, I am of course pleased by the prospect in principle of investment in the city centre – but can we please fill all the potholes and fix the pavements first!

And the plans for Stonehenge?

I’m in favour of the new visitor centre. Its gone on embarrassingly long and we should get on with it. Better tourist facilities at Stonehenge may though have a negative impact on time spent by day-trippers in Salisbury: we need to persuade more visitors to use Salisbury as a hub for longer stays.

How could the transport links in and out of the city be improved? What should take priority – road or rail?

So much money and time has been spent on addressing this issue that I’m reluctant to come out with my own sweeping answers – but I have already been told several intriguing ideas by local residents that don’t appear to have made it into the expensive reports! This is a huge problem for the city and will be a major ongoing issue for any successful candidate.

Which previous Conservative leader do you most admire? Why?

Churchill (no explanation required!) and Robert Peel (Prime Minister in the 1840s) who was prepared to put the welfare of the people of the country above all other considerations, whatever the dire personal and political consequences.

What’s been the worst failure of the Labour government?

Due to their borrowing on our behalf every child owes £22,500 from birth in national debt and they are still borrowing a stack of pound coins the height of the cathedral spire every 6.5 seconds – if this goes on services we all rely on will come under real threat.

What has been the most significant achievement by the Labour government?

Independence of the Bank of England – which means the Governor can and does criticise the Government for getting it wrong.

Should we have a referendum ‘about Europe’? When? What question should be asked?

We need to get powers returned to the UK. If we fail to turn the tide it may come to a future referendum though we must try on behalf of all the people of Europe to reverse the federalist express first. In negotiating with the EU we must remember that the UK is one of the world’s top trading nations and a major European market to which they need access – this is NOT a one-way discussion!

Would you maintain the minimum wage?

Yes

What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of ‘Open Primaries’?

There are huge advantages. The Conservative candidate if elected will serve all the people of this constituency and all of them are being given a role in selecting who that will be.

Would you support Proportional Representation?

No. I think it leads to weak Government and it reduces the electorate’s ability to dump failure.

Is ‘big business’ spoiling football? Should the government be more involved?

I regret that football has become so money dominated but this is an international issue – for the Premier League to have the best players they have to pay for them. I don’t think we want heavy Government interference but I do think that sporting events play a huge role in the life of the nation and I am not at all sure enough of them are available on free-to-view TV.

What is your favourite piece of music?

A Fairytale of New York by Kirsty MacColl and the Pogues

What is your favourite film?

Slumdog Millionaire

What is your favourite book?

Do I get the Bible and Complete Works of Shakespeare for free? If so Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres

What is your favourite view of the Cathedral?
From the city side approaching through the High Street gate to the close – that was from where I first saw the cathedral, it made a huge impact then and still does now.