Political parties in Earley and Woodley election clash

The Earley and Woodley parliamentary constituency was created for the first time last year as part of a redrawing of the political map of England.

The new MP seat covers its titular towns the Reading suburbs of Whitley, Shinfield and the surrounding villages of Three Mile Cross, Spencers Wood and Sonning.

The constituency was created ahead of the next general election which can occur no later than January 2025.

You can see the candidates for the three main parties in the order that they were announced below:

Pauline Jorgensen 

Councillor Pauline Jorgensen (Conservative, Hillside) at the announcement that she will be the Conservative candidate for Earley and Woodley. Credit: Earley and Woodley Conservative Party

Councillor Pauline Jorgensen was announced as the candidate for the Conservative party in the summer last year.

She is currently the leader of the opposition on Wokingham Borough Council.

Cllr Jorgensen (Conservative, Hillside) said: “Earley has been my home for nearly four decades. Residents frequently contact me about problems and difficulties they are experiencing, I am always happy to help.

“I have spent years championing our area and standing up for residents as a Town councillor and as a Borough councillor.

READ MORE: Arch Brexiteer joins Earley and Woodley Conservatives for party meeting

“I am excited about the challenge ahead and am looking forward to continue meeting and listening to residents.”

Recently, cllr Jorgensen met with Gillian Keagan, the secretary of state for education to take with Virgin Media 02 apprentices.

She also met Tom Tugenhat, the minister of state for security, at an event for a Q&A to discuss world conflict zones and other matters, and visited the Lunar New Year Fair at The Wren School.

Yuan Yang

Yuan Yang has been selected as the Labour candidate for the new Earley and Woodley MP seat. Credit: Richard McKenzie

Yuan Yang was selected as the Labour candidate for Earley and Woodley in December last year, beating out stiff competition from three other candidates.

She has previously had a career as a Financial Times journalist, and is the co-founder of Rethinking Economics, which is described as a ‘global network of students and organisers’ dedicated to changing teaching and practising economics to ‘truly deal’ with real-world challenges.

Yuan Yang, Earley and Woodley Labour party MP candidate. Credit: ktbruce.co.uk

In a campaign video, Ms Yang said:  “I’ve run successful large-scale campaigns, I founded an education charity that’s trained and mobilised thousands of activists.

“I’ve spoken to voters across the whole constituency suffering from the Tory’s bad economic choices.”

Upon being selected, Ms Yang said running for the MP seat is “the honour of my life”.

Tahir Maher 

The launch event for the Reading area Liberal Democrat MP candidates at Forbury Gardens on Sunday. February 4. Credit: Adrian Betteridge, Liberal Democrats

Councillor Tahir Maher was revealed as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Earley and Woodley at a party event in Forbury Gardens on Sunday, February 4.

Cllr Maher has a long record of public service. He was the Mayor of Earley from 2022/23, and currently serves as a representative for Redhatch on Earley town council.

He said: “I am ready to work tirelessly for my community in the new Earley and Woodley seat, as I have done for the people of Earley and Wokingham Borough over the last twenty years.

“We need to stand up for our local services, our environment, and our democracy, and I will do just that.

Liberal Democrat candidates Henry Wright (Reading Central), Helen Belcher (Reading West and Mid Berkshire) and Tahir Maher (Earley and Woodley). Credit: Adrian Betteridge, Liberal Democrats

“I am also standing to bring back a caring society and one that values all residents.

“I want to be a hard-working and considerate MP for our area, which has been left behind for too long by the national government.”