WITH the general election just four months away, The Bolton News is running a series of features with candidates vying for your vote.

Here, political reporter Elaine O'Flynn speaks to current Labour MP Julie Hilling, who is standing again in Bolton West.

BOLTON West MP Julie Hilling will be back on the ballot paper this May — and says she’s determined to hold her seat in Parliament.

The former unionist and youth worker was first elected to Bolton West five years ago, scrapping through with a majority of 92 votes, making the constituency one of the most hotly contested in the country.

Since then, she has run numerous campaigns, leading calls for stronger legislation for owners of dangerous dogs, to make life-saving skills compulsory in schools and proper investment into Bolton’s railways.

The Oxford-born former youth worker said working six days a week to represent the people of Bolton West hasn’t been easy, but she’s not prepared to give it up just yet.

Ms Hilling said: “One of the things I have tried to do, because it is a marginal seat, is work very hard for my constituents.

“I am driven by fairness. It’s making sure that ordinary people have the same opportunities as the rich, so in terms of education access to public services — so we are not having people die because of the cold, or the disabled being told they are fit to work when they are clearly not.

“It is about having a proper and fair safety net, helping people into work and providing that safety net for those who can’t.”

With Labour in power, she argues, the economy will grow — while it reduces the country’s deficit as a slower rate.

The party has pledged to bring back the 50p top rate of tax if elected, while putting a starting rate of tax at 10p.

It would also scrap the under occupancy charge — also known as the "bedroom tax" — tackle “abusive” zero-hour contracts by putting new rules in place for employers, and set up a jobs guarantee for young people who have been unemployed for a year.

“The economy is so vital”, Ms Hilling said.

“If we don’t have decent jobs, we don’t provide decent prospects for people and we have people continuing to live in poverty.”

Along with the economy, Ms Hilling says the biggest issue for people on the doorstep is immigration. While she would vote to stay in Europe, should there be a referendum, she says reform of the system is needed.

“We need to make sure that we have fair immigration — that we make sure that people can only claim benefits if they have put into the system.

“I don’t believe there is such a thing as benefit tourism, but I do think there are some flaws in the system.

“For immigrants to be able to claim benefits for children at home is crazy. At the same time, we need to make sure we address a lot of the myths about immigration.

“For example we already have a points based system. My surgery is full of people who are desperate to bring their family over but can’t, because we already have very strict immigration control.

“For non-EU, migrants there is a really robust system, but within the EU, there is free movement of workers — and we just have to make sure that is free movement of workers.

“We have a large number of jobs in the North West and Bolton West that are dependent on using part of the EU.

“Companies like MBDA export to the rest of Europe, and create jobs for Bolton people.

“We also have more British people living in the rest of Europe than any other country.”

On healthcare, Ms Hilling said more resources were needed closer to people’s homes and doctors and nurses need more support.

“The other massive issue at the moment is privatisation and cuts — already the Tories and UKIP it will be free at the point of entry, but they are still saying we should privatise and fragment the system.

“The facts are UKIP is a deeply right wing party, that wants to privatise the NHS, cut taxes for the rich, cut public services and reduce employment rights.

“Those are things that if you are a working person, UKIP would be awful for you.”

And can Ed Miliband be Prime Minister?

“I think Ed is great”, Ms Hilling said.

“I think he has been very much targeted by the right-wing press, who desperately don’t want a Labour government.

“He has some really solid policies, and he is on the side of ordinary people. He wants to make a difference to the lives of people living in Bolton West.

“The Tories have proven they are on the side of the rich. They are not on our side.”

What do you think? Have you say by emailing letters@theboltonnews.co.uk