The Green Party's Kenilworth and Southam Candidate for the 2024 General Election, Cllr Alix Dearing, says she will put public wellbeing as well as the environment at the heart of her campaign.

The former Mayor of Kenilworth, Warwick district councillor, town councillor for Park Hill and now town councillor for Abbey, is a longstanding resident of Kenilworth and the constituency, and believes she has a "real understanding" of the issues facing voters.

Cllr Dearing says: "My background has provided me with insights I want to build on.

"Since the Green Party took joint control of the district council last year we have made fantastic progress.

"We will invest in the NHS, improve the quality of our housing and high streets, and take a hard look at where new developments are being located.

"I also want to ensure active travel infrastructure is improved.

"Warwickshire deserves cleaner rivers, and more attractive towns where biodiversity is valued. In fact we need a whole new approach to government".

Prime minister Rishi Sunak announced yesterday (May 22) the general election will be held on July 4 - despite many predicting an autumn election.

Cllr Dearing is standing in a general election for the first time and says she "feels strongly" that the area needs a "genuine representative of the community who actually lives here" and will vote independently to be a "voice for Kenilworth".

"This May 2, our percentage gain in seats was more than any of the other main political parties, and I want to take this success to national level where we are looking for the next generation of Green MPs," she added.

"If I'm elected, a group of Green MPs will be able to pull the next government in the right direction.

"Trust in politics has been terribly eroded.

"Decisions should start in the interests of Kenilworth and Southam, and I feel I must stand up and be counted.

"People are finished with the old systems and want real change, and we're ready for that."

Sir Jeremy Wright has already been announced as the Conservative candidate and Jenny Wilkinson the Liberal Democrat candidate for Kenilworth and Southam.