Macclesfield: Prestbury business owner to stand as Independent in General Election
By Alex Greensmith
29th Feb 2024 | Local News
An Adlington resident and local businessman is to run for parliament in the next General Election.
Christopher Wellavize, owner of Prestbury Plant and Garden on London Road in Prestbury, will stand to be Macclesfield's next MP.
He will be running as an Independent candidate, affiliated with no political party.
Mr Wellavize, who was a Prestbury Ward Councillor For Macclesfield Borough Council in the 2000s, lived in Prestbury for over 30 years.
He still lives in the constituency, having recently moved to Adlington. His wife is an Adlington Parish Councillor.
"At the next general election I would like to be the new MP for Macclesfield," he said.
"No, stronger than that I intend to be the next MP for Macclesfield. Why? Because the current political system is completely broken. Two parties both shadows of their former selves.
"The Conservatives catastrophic: feckless incompetent and totally without shame for the appalling damage that they have inflicted on our society. Labour. Can anyone think of anything good to say about them? They appear toothless and timid, have no policies, no leadership and no vision.
"They don't even know how to bury the Conservative corpse. It is tempting to say that if elected I won't go near the sinking ship that is Westminster, but fight tirelessly to bring prosperity back to our communities from here in Macclesfield. Very tempting. But that would leave many of the current incumbents still in place feeling smug and safe.
"No we need to clear them out of the sinking ship and bring a new breed of people to Westminster.
People who can renew our democracy and restore trust in our representatives. People who care about us. People who are strong, chosen by their community and have the nouse and experience in life to do a good job.
"With enough independents we can strive for a meritocracy where the best rise to the top elevated by people who know how to get things done and are able to work together.
"Eton taught the toffs one thing: how to deceive us. It is time to send them packing."
Mr Wellavize wants the community to write the manifesto with him.
"No one person has all the answers," he added.
"We know the problem, what has gone wrong and together we can find a way forward.
"I want you to write the manifesto with me; I want you all to be my research assistants.
"I will speak to groups of people of any size, I will take your calls, answer your emails, talk to you in your workplace, coffee shop, pub, park, a walk, or at the nursery [Referring to his business Prestbury Plant and Garden].
"I want to know you and for you to know me, to know that you can trust me and that I am fearless and determines to succeed."
In his spare time, when he is not running his business, Chris is a Member of St. Michael's Church in Macclesfield, and enjoy playing golf, table tennis and going for walks.
And it won't surprise you to know, given the nature of his business which he has ran for 33 years, that the grandfather-of-seven is a big fan of gardening.
His intention to stand means Macclesfield will have an Independent running for parliament for the first time since 2017, when Mark Johnson got 1162 votes.
The next general election will take place no later than the end of January 2025 and so far the Green Party (Amanda Iremonger), Conservatives (David Rutley MP), Labour (Tim Roca), the Liberal Democrats (Neil Christian), and the Social Democratic Party (Dickie Fletcher) have already announced their candidates for Macclesfield. The Reform Party will also be standing.
So with the addition of Christopher Wellavize (Independent) there will be seven candidates standing in a Macclesfield general election for the first time.
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