WE asked each Hartlepool candidate to explain to The Northern Echo's readers why they deserve your vote. Here's what they had to say.

Phillip Broughton, UKIP

The Northern Echo:

• Protect our NHS – fight for local hospital services

• Fairer school funding – based on need

• Vote for true Brexit – We get control of our laws, borders and money

• Fair economy – cut taxes for lowest earners; big businesses to pay their fair share

• Tougher policies on law and order – sentences that mean what they say and more police

• Controlled immigration- Australian points based system which treats everyone equally based on skills

Andy Hagon, Liberal Democrats

The Northern Echo:

Protect Frontline Services 

"I will prioritise the basic services that constituents rely on, fighting to stop the severe cuts to local healthcare, education and community services."

Create a robust and forward thinking strategic plan for Hartlepool

"I will create, with other interested parties, a strategic plan that details an exciting period of development while protecting the unique character and setting of Hartlepool and its villages."

Hartlepool Comes First

"I will be accessible, and will respond to constituent concerns."

Support jobs and apprenticeships

"I will work with local businesses to deliver jobs, apprenticeships and sustainable growth while ensuring Hartlepool’s economic voice is heard at Westminster."

Invest in young people

"Young people are our future - I will support young people’s services across the town and tackle child poverty, while protecting the vulnerable."

Inspiring, accountable and transparent leadership

"Hartlepool deserves the best leadership. I will ensure it gets it."

Mike Hill, Labour Party

The Northern Echo:

"As a local resident I am passionate about the place and its people. To fly the flag for Hartlepool in Westminster, to celebrate and promote the town, build on the hopes and aspirations of its people, would be an honour.

"I am a tried and tested campaigner for public services and the NHS and will fight tooth and nail to put a stop to Tory plans to privatise our NHS and decimate Social Care Services through underfunding. I will fight for more investment for our schools and public services and stand up for the citizens of our town and the most vulnerable in society like the elderly, disabled, homeless people and the mentally ill.

"All people across all generations, particularly the young, deserve full and meaningful employment. In a post Brexit Hartlepool I will fight for greater inward investment, meaningful apprenticeships to build up a much needed skills base and give young people the career opportunities they deserve. I will tackle the rip off of unregulated agency supply chains where job opportunities in our industries for local people, pay and national conditions of service are undermined by the use of cheap labour. I will fight to save jobs and bring more in. I will fight for a Brexit that will be fair for Hartlepool and protect the interests of its people.

"In short I will: 

"Put the people of Hartlepool first and be a champion for the Town.

"Fight to protect NHS and Social Care Services from decimation and privatisation.

"Fight to save jobs and bring more in. 

"Fly the flag for Hartlepool and campaign for greater investment.

"Protect our schools and public services."

Carl Jackson, Conservative Party

The Northern Echo:

"I am delighted to be Theresa May’s candidate for Hartlepool. For too long, Hartlepool has been taken for granted by Labour, and the polls show that next month we have a real chance to make a change.

"With the Conservatives committed to delivering Brexit and controlling immigration, a vote for UKIP here would achieve nothing and would leave Hartlepool without an effective voice in Parliament.

"Nationally, we have a choice between the experienced leadership of Theresa May or a coalition of chaos led by Jeremy Corbyn, who cannot even command the support of his own MPs.

"Locally, Hartlepool needs an MP who can pick up the phone to the next Prime Minister and get things done. A qualified solicitor and former advisor to Brexit Secretary David Davis, I now run a growing international company. I am the only candidate with the experience in law, politics and business that Hartlepool’s next MP will need to be a strong and effective voice for the town.

"I am optimistic for the future here in Hartlepool. I campaigned for a Brexit vote and believe that it offers huge opportunities for the town. Now I want to use my business experience to promote Hartlepool to the rest of the UK and the world.

"My priorities for Hartlepool are to:

"Work with Theresa May to get the best Brexit deal for Hartlepool.

"Strongly defend health services in the town

"Use my business experience to attract investment and create the jobs we need If elected on June 8th, my family and I will be proud to call Hartlepool our home, and I will fight to make sure that the town’s best days are ahead."