We contacted all of the candidates vying for your vote to be the next MP for the Glastonbury and Somerton constituency, asking each of them the same questions. We've taken their responses exactly as they were sent to us - so you know where each of the candidates stand, to help you decide who to vote for.

Here's their responses to the question:

What are your plans to support local businesses and boost the economy in Glastonbury and Somerton? How will you address unemployment and create job opportunities for residents in our area?

Jon Cousins (Green Party):

Street and Glastonbury's economy is based on retail, agriculture, and small business, particularly the food and beverage sector, travel and tourism, entertainment, recreation and hospitality. To help address unemployment and create job opportunities, as a Green Party MP I will support these types of businesses – for instance, Green policy would give local authorities discretionary powers to exempt socially and economically essential local enterprises from business rates. Greens would protect the night-time economy through a review of planning regulations and giving local authorities the powers to ensure there is space for cultural life. Greens would also support local sports clubs, and music and art venues by exempting cultural events – including everything from theatre and museum tickets to gigs in local pubs – from paying VAT.

Having grown up on a farm, I am keen to see local farmers and producers supported, getting more local people involved in this essential sector – and I am pleased to say that the Green Party is dedicated to increasing domestic food production in the UK; incentivising growing a much greater variety of plant food types to protect sourcing and enhanced nutrition. As a founding director of Plotgate Community Farm in Barton St David, local alternatives to big food manufacturers are close to my heart, and I am also pleased to say that the Green Party support the development of local food networks, community-supported agriculture, and other grower and producer co-operatives.

On a wider scale, Greens would also support the construction and building industries by building more social rent homes, acquiring more from the private sector, and insulating homes so they are warmer. In addition, the Green Party would invest £50billion in green technology innovation, including electricity generation, transmission, and storage. This is good news for local companies such as British Solar Renewables Ltd., and for the growing number of Community Renewable Co-operatives such as Glastonbury's Avalon Community Energy (which, for the sake of transparency, I should mention I am a founding director).

Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrats):

The Liberal Democrats will invest in renewable power and home insulation to drive a strong economic recovery, bring down energy bills and create clean, secure, well-paid new jobs. The Liberal Democrat-led Somerset Council is proud to have secured a £4 billion investment by Agratas in a new electric vehicle battery factory near Bridgwater. Following the announcement, I asked the Minister what infrastructure will be created to bring more ventures like this to the South West. Green investment is a key priority for me and I'm determined to attract more of it to Somerset. There are currently 929 people working full-time in net zero jobs in Glastonbury and Somerton, 13.1% of the workforce.

In the last Parliament, I held a debate on government support for rural communities. The rural economy is 19% less productive than the national average, costing the UK economy £43 billion a year, as employers face difficulties recruiting staff because of poor public transport connections and higher travel costs. The Liberal Democrats will also support entrepreneurs, back small businesses, and reform business rates to help our high streets.

Hal Hooberman (Labour):



Local businesses in Glastonbury and Street make both towns the outstanding places that they are. From independent high street shops, to self-employed tradespeople, and our wonderful creative industries - local businesses need support from central government, not neglect and instability. I will support local businesses in Street and Glastonbury by backing Labour's plan to reform the business rates system to level the playing field between high street retailers and online giants. We have to take action on late payments to ensure that small businesses and the self-employed are paid on time for their hard work. Barriers to small business' exporting need to be removed whilst access to capital and investment needs to be widened.

My number one priority is to get Britain building again - this means new homes, rebuilding our infrastructure, and a ramping up of green energy production. All of this will fuel economic growth in a fair and green manner.

Tom Carter (Reform UK):

No response received

Faye Purbrick (Conservative)

No response received