The Conservative candidate in the Makerfield by-election has issued a "simple plea" to voters, hitting out at the "flip-flop" Labour Government.
Speaking to GB News, Michael Winstanley made clear that Makerfield is his "home", and wants to provide a "genuine, authentic voice for the Makerfield constituency in Parliament".
Delivering a clear message to voters ahead of the by-election, Mr Winstanley declared: "My message is quite clear, I want to be the Member of Parliament for Makerfield. I was born here, I lived here, I was educated here.
"I represented a ward under the constituency here as well. This is my home. And we hear a lot from other parties about why they want to stop other people, I've got a simple plea - vote for me because I want to be your local member of Parliament."
He added: "I want to raise the issues you're concerned about, I want to have a genuine, authentic voice for the Makerfield constituency in Parliament and really battle for you as people of Makerfield."
Questioned on his Labour opponent Andy Burnham, Mr Winstanley was questioned on what he would do "differently" to the Greater Manchester Mayor.
He said: "The one thing that we do know about Andy Burnham is that he likes to put up tax, and we've seen that from his moral precepts. And the Labour Party is a little bit like changing the football manager, but using the same tactics and using the same team.
"They are obsessed with tax and spend, and that's what we're going to get with Andy Burnham.
"What I want to do is make sure and push the case for lower taxation, lower regulation, so we actually get off the backs of working people and allow them to keep more of their own money and create jobs and businesses that will generate funds for this country."
Makerfield's Conservative candidate Michael Winstanley has issued a 'simple plea' to voters ahead of the by-election
|GB NEWS
Grilling Mr Winstanley, GB News reporter Sophie Reaper highlighted that the Tories are currently third in the polls ahead of the election.
Asked if he believes he "really has a chance" in the election, the Tory candidate declared: "I love a fight. I've lived round here all my life. If we don't stand here, why should we stand anywhere else? This is about making sure people have a real choice.
"If I had to take notice of people over my political career, I'd never been elected to the council, I'd never been there in Wigan, I would never have been elected to anything. So what I say is, let's go out and do it."
Turning to the issues affecting the people of Wakefield, Mr Winstanley stressed that local businesses are struggling to cope financially, and he wants to "bring back the high street".
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Andy Burnham has confirmed he will run in the Makerfield by-election for Labour
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He explained: "I think the main issue that I've been experiencing when I've been talking to people is about the lack of regeneration on our high streets, and we can actually see the work that's going on here in Ashton, in Makerfield, which is the money that came from the last Conservative Government.
"We need to reclaim our high streets, and people are really concerned about that, and that is a big issue that's been coming up and people have raised with me, as I have been going around."
Mr Winstanley told GB News that the Tories want to "reduce business rates" implemented by Labour, led by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.
He said: "I think as Conservatives, we've been really clear about what we want to do.
"We want to reduce business rates, which will hopefully then make it easier for shops and businesses to thrive.
"We obviously want to cut some of that red tape and regulation as well, and that will help to drive the footfall and generate people back into our high streets.
Mr Winstanley told GB News that he wants to 'reclaim the high streets' and support local business
|GB NEWS
"And we've got a number of shops and high streets across the Makerfield constituency, including Hindley, that we really want to make sure people are coming back to and supporting our businesses."
Quizzed on whether he backs Labour's push to ban social media for under-16s, Mr Winstanley criticised the Government for their "flip-flopping" over the issue.
He concluded: "I think it's certainly something that we need to do now. Kemi has rightly been pushing this for quite a long time, and Labour has constantly been opposing it.
"And once again, late in the day, we've had another U-turn where they seem now to be changing the mind.
"What we need is clear consistency, and that's what we're getting from the Conservatives, rather than the flip-flopping from this system of Government."