My name is Robert Barrowcliffe and I’m standing in Ashton-under-Lyne representing the Reform Party in the upcoming General Election.

Full statement

I’m an Analyst at a local Laboratory testing for ground and water contamination, as well as a Professional Wrestler - winning various Championships travelling up and down the country.

But most importantly, I’m a highly concerned member of the public that loves our home, loves the people who live here, and cares deeply for the direction that our great country is heading in, and wants to do something about it.

As a young person, I especially understand the problems that the youth of this country face today. It’s hard to find a good job, and when you do, the wages are low and your chances of getting on the housing ladder are close to zero - especially if you’re doing it on your own. Rents keep increasing, house-prices have sky-rocketed and being able to be independent and start a family is increasingly difficult for the young people of our country.

This is due to the horrendous mis-management of our government… since before I was even born! Whether it is a Labour Government, or a Conservative one in charge, the issues that everyone faces are becoming increasingly worse, and young people never stood a chance.

The NHS is overloaded leading to insane waiting lists for basic health service, young people cannot compete for high and even low-paying jobs, and taxes keep increasing. This simply cannot continue.

A large part of this is down to the mass immigration policies of the last 20 years. Tony Blair’s Labour opened the gates, and the Conservative Government has been even worse. In 2022 alone the Conservative Government allowed 1.2 million new people into our country. This is simply unsustainable.

And I cannot state clearly enough, this is not a racial issue - like the media and Government Establishment like to paint it out as, this is a looking-after-our-people issue, borne out of love for the people of our great country.

Locally, I care deeply about all of Ashton-under-Lyne and the people that live here. I was born in Tameside Hospital, grew up in Hyde, went to college in Ashton, rented in Mottram, lived in Stalybridge, and now own a house with my fiancée in Mossley. I’ve seen the degradation of Dukinfield, Droylsden, Audenshaw, and Ashton-under-Lyne first-hand.

As a child, we would come to Ashton-under-Lyne for a day out. We would go to the markets, wander around the Arcades Centre, go to the swimming baths, and watch a pantomime at the theatre. All of that is now gone, and Ashton-under-Lyne is a dying town. I am willing to work with the local council, to bring life back into town by reducing crime, supporting small businesses, restoring our beautiful but decaying buildings and ultimately regenerate what was once a great town.

I’m not a politician, so I’m not going to tell you that there is a quick and easy answer to these issues and make a bunch of false promises that I couldn’t possibly deliver on. But with a fresh approach, and good ideas from all of the people who actually live in Dukinfield, Droylsden, Audenshaw and Ashton-under-Lyne, I will be your representative, and over the long term we can turn our great towns around and turn our great country around.