General Election 2024: Solihull residents discuss who they will vote for

People in Solihull said they were undecided who they would vote for with just a few weeks to go to the general election. 

The Solihull seat – this time being contested as Solihull West and Shirley – looks to be wide open as respected pollster Electoral Calculus is forecasting a close result between the Conservatives and Labour based on polling from recent months.

And in a further twist, former Solihull Tory MP Julian Knight has announced he will stand again as an independent candidate this time around. 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked people in Solihull town centre what their thoughts were ahead of polling day on July 4. One voter, aged 20, said he was undecided but would be voting, saying: “This will be my first election and I will vote.

“The general consensus among my friends is not voting is worse than voting. I’ve lived here all my life, I’m aware most people vote Conservative.

“I’m leaning towards the Lib Dems – there’s no particular reason why at the moment. More needs to be done for young people. They (politicians) could do more for them.” 

Another voter said: “I will be voting, but I’m undecided at the moment.

“When it’s the local election it’s the Lib Dems for me but with a general election I look into it nearer the time (of polling day) when their manifestos come out.

“People are losing faith in the Conservatives.” Another voter said: “I want to see the politicians improve the economic situation, it’s important to me. 

“I run a business, we need more help from government. Quite a lot of shops have closed. 

“This area is quite good, but crime generally is getting worse – I want to see the politicians do more about that. I will vote, but I haven’t decided who I will vote for yet.” One woman added: “I couldn’t care less about the election. They are all as bad as each other. 

“I won’t be voting, they have ruined the country and it doesn’t matter who you vote for – they don’t have a clue how normal people live.”

Along with Mr Knight other candidates to announce they will stand so far are: 

• Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst for the Conservatives
• Deirdre Fox for the Labour Party
• Ade Adeyemo for the Liberal Democrats
• Mary Ann McKenna for Reform UK

The Green Party hasn’t named its candidate yet. The deadline for nominations is this Friday, June 7.