Can the Conservatives hold fast-changing Fenland?

Market towns like Chatteris belong to the North East Cambridgeshire constituency

The Cambridgeshire Fens are a traditional Tory heartland.

The rural seat of North East Cambridgeshire has been served by Conservative MPs since the 1980s.

But this wildlife-rich and agricultural region is changing, which could also impact the political landscape.

Fenland has seen significant development in recent years, partly thanks to its popularity with young families and commuters into Cambridge and Peterborough.

North East Cambridgeshire includes the Fenland towns of Wisbech, March, Chatteris and Whittlesey

Fenland has among the lowest house prices in Cambridgeshire, and its population is expected to grow in the next few years.

Nearly 23% of people living in the constituency are aged 65 and over, the highest proportion in the county.

That means housing and public transport are proving to be key campaigning issues here.

So are controversial plans to build a waste-to-energy incinerator in Wisbech, which have not been welcomed by many people living in the town.

Here is what candidates hoping to be North East Cambridgeshire's next MP have been saying.

Steve Barclay is the Conservative candidate

Steve Barclay (Conservative) represented the constituency between 2010 and 2024 and won 72.5% of the vote in 2019.

He is opposed to the Wisbech incinerator, and during his tenure as environment secretary, had to step back from making decisions on the plans.

Mr Barclay said he wanted to secure more investment for Fenland and support local sports and arts groups.

David Chalmers is running for the Liberal Democrats

David Chalmers (Liberal Democrat) is a councillor in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, and promised to bring his "full attention" to giving Fenland a voice in Parliament.

He said the project to build an incinerator in Wisbech showed a "total lack of respect" for the concerns of local people.

Mr Chalmers said the Liberal Democrats would make "real steps" to combat climate change and stop sewage being dumped in rivers and waterways.

Andrew Crawford is the Green Party candidate

Andrew Crawford (Green) has lived in Fenland for more than 20 years and said the area had become "excessively developed".

He said there needed to be better infrastructure for walking and cycling and cheap and convenient public transport.

In reference to the Wisbech incinerator, Mr Crawford said the government had "decided Fenland will become a site for waste disposal" and that local people should have their say.

Javeria Hussain represents Labour

Javeria Hussain (Labour) is a councillor in Luton and said people in Fenland had the opportunity to "vote for change".

She said Labour had a plan for more teachers, more doctor and dentist appointments, and green jobs for the future.

She said she would "take the concerns of local constituents to government" about the Wisbech incinerator, but added: "We must drive down the amount of waste we produce in the first place."

Clayton Payne is from the Workers Party of Britain

Clayton Payne (Workers Party of Britain) lives and works in Fenland.

He said Wisbech was a "beautiful town" and that no-one would want to live there if the planned incinerator went ahead.

Mr Payne said he wanted better roads for Fenland and an expanded service at North Cambridgeshire hospital in Wisbech, so constituents would not need to travel as far.

Christopher Thornhill is the Reform UK candidate

Christopher Thornhill (Reform UK) works in life sciences and said he is concerned about the Wisbech incinerator, especially if it leads to more trucks driving on Fenland roads.

He said food security was important and he opposes the building of solar panels on productive agricultural land.

Mr Thornhill said he would "put Fenland on the map" to attract support and investment.

Also running is David Patrick (Independent), a Fenland district councillor who represents Wisbech Walsoken and Waterlees.

'Good neighbour'

MVV Environment, the company behind the incinerator plans, said more than £300m would be spent on the project.

They said they would be a "good neighbour" to the local community as they build and operate the new facility, "as we have already demonstrated at our facilities in Plymouth and Dundee".

You can find a full list of candidates in North East Cambridgeshire here.