With the General Election taking place next Thursday, Richmond & Twickenham Times have interviewed candidates for Twickenham.

Read on to find out how the candidates will tackle issues affecting the Borough of Richmond:

How are you going to tackle the rise of knife crime in the borough?

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrats

"We need to increase the local police presence. We know that police funding has been cut to the bone under the current government, with station closures and a loss of police officers across the borough.

"Liberal Democrat proposals to invest £1bn in community policing would pay for two new officers in every council ward in the borough. If elected, I will continue to make the case for more police to patrol our streets across Twickenham, Teddington, Whitton, the Hamptons and St Margarets.

"We also need to take a public health approach to knife crime, identifying risk factors and treating them, rather than just focusing on the symptoms."

Isobel Grant, Conservative Party

"I believe that a community like Twickenham cannot thrive unless it feels safe.

"The rise we’ve seen in serious violence across London is deeply worrying and Twickenham is certainly not immune to it.

"Many residents have told me they want to see more officers with the powers they need to protect the public and cut crime.

"So we’re recruiting 1,369 police officers in London in the first recruitment wave, and a total of 20,000 nationally.

"We will also extend their powers to stop and search, to take knives and drugs off our streets.

"And unlike the Lib Dems, we will not be scrapping mandatory prison sentences for people caught with knives or acid."

Stuart Wells, Brexit Party

"I have always believed the way to tackle knife crime is tougher sentencing, during a study project I was involved in a while ago I was invited to talk to an ex gang member and he gave me a fascinating insight into the mindset of gangs and basically he told me that they live by a different code to the rest of us and have no fear of the law or the consequences they face if they had to use a knife to hurt or kill someone,

"So I would like to see a zero tolerance policy for the possession of dangerous weapons that would instantly pass down a hefty prison sentence to offenders and let people know that we are no longer going to tolerate this kind of behaviour."

Ranjeev Walia, Labour Party

"On knife crime, the Labour Party will reverse a decade of cuts to police and vital public services that have shown you simply can’t keep people safe on the cheap.

"A Labour government will take action to address the causes of crime and end the epidemic.

"We will rebuild our criminal justice services, focusing on crime prevention and early interventions, giving people the best chance of rehabilitation.

"We will rebuild our youth services and guarantee young people’s access to youth workers.

"We will re-establish neighbourhood policing and recruit 2,000 more frontline officers than have been planned for by the Conservatives."

How are you going to improve high streets in the borough and protect businesses?

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrats

"I will press for the Future High Streets Fund to be expanded. Nationally, Liberal Democrats are pledging to protect offices and shops from being converted to residential properties without planning permission, as well as proposing a reform of business rates.

"Alongside the Lib Dem council, I will support the Twickenham Business Improvement District, the high street associations in all our centres, and the community events such as Christmas light-ups that improve local high street footfall."

Isobel Grant, Conservative Party

"I will be a champion of business, to protect our high streets and deliver more jobs for Twickenham.

"It’s only with thriving businesses and a competitive economy that we can raise the money to pay for the public services we all rely on.

"A lot of people are frustrated with the Lib Dem council for what it has done with parking zones, speed limits, and increasing our Council Tax by 4.99 per cent, making our high streets less competitive.

"And if the Lib Dems nationally prop up a Corbyn government, the damage to the high street will be much worse.

"We’ve backed businesses by cutting corporation tax and helping people to start their own small business.

"And as your MP, I will push for Crossrail 2 to be extended to the Twickenham constituency, improving our transport infrastructure to make our local economy more competitive, while also bringing more affordable homes and improved access to jobs."

Stuart Wells, Brexit Party

"The retail trade accounts for more than 3 million jobs in the uk so it is vital we do everything we can to preserve our high streets, I believe we could achieve a more positive outlook for our high streets if rent was capped or even frozen for a period of time so that businesses that are struggling have the time they need to steady the ship and plan for the future resulting in job security for staff.

"I would also like to see free parking on our high streets where possible so people can park up and go and do there shopping or be able to stop at there local shops without the fear of receiving a parking ticket, I believe this would especially help the smaller businesses that need the passing trade."

Ranjeev Walia, Labour Party

"On high streets and local businesses, Labour’s ambitious investment plans will mean huge investment for business.

"There will be a more educated, healthy motivated workforce, with more women entering or remaining in work because of our proposals on pre-school support and child care.

"Businesses will benefit from billions of pounds being paid directly to companies – for local housing, infrastructure, health services, green energy etc.

"And we will be putting billions of pounds – in terms of pay, and benefits - into the pockets of ordinary local working people.

"And no doubt they will pass much of that on to local businesses"

The new 20mph zones have proved hugely controversial among some residents – do you support this scheme and will you be doing any more to address road safety?

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrats

"I have a track record locally of campaigning for and securing improvements to road safety as a former Twickenham councillor, and will continue to champion the cause.

"I support the move to make Richmond a 20mph borough to improve safety for both pedestrians and cyclists, particularly children. However, I welcome the amendments made to the scheme in response to the public consultation which have seen some limited 30mph stretches retained on key main roads."

Isobel Grant, Conservative Party

"If you hold a consultation with residents, you should listen to what they say.

"That seems to be a basic democratic principle to me.

"The Lib Dem Council held a consultation with the public and then ignored what they said, going ahead with blanket 20mph zones which residents were opposed to.

"I support 20mph in roads where there is a significant safety concern and where residents in that area have asked for it.

"But I don’t believe in blanket zones that disregard the wishes of residents and I am very concerned about reports the Council is recruiting vigilantes to enforce this."

Stuart Wells, Brexit Party

"I am not a massive fan of the 20mph zone, there is evidence that it causes congestion and increases air pollution, i think controlled speeds in residential areas where children might be out playing or outside of schools are sensible."

Ranjeev Walia, Labour Party

"On 20mph, I am very much in favour of measures to reduce road deaths and accidents and reduce air quality.

"I would have taken a more resident-led approach, rather than a blanket approach - involving residents more in what sort of neighbourhood measures might help their areas rather than a blanket, imposed approach.

"But let's see what comes of the Lib Dems' scheme.

"I hope it works.

"But much will depend on how it is implanted and enforced."

How will you help the NHS to improve services in the Borough?

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrats

"Two key issues face our NHS services – a funding crisis and a workforce crisis. On the former, I am committed to campaigning for additional funding for local health services.

"The Lib Dems would like to raise income tax by 1p specifically for health and social care, with one third of the money raised ringfenced for mental health – our local children and adolescent mental health services desperately need a funding boost.

"In terms of the workforce, we must stop Brexit in order to retain the tens of thousands of EU nationals who deliver NHS care, and to continue to attract new staff from the EU."

Isobel Grant, Conservative Party

"The NHS is always there for us – free at the point of use for everyone in the country – and truly showcases the very best of Britain. Nationally, we have committed to boosting funding by £33.9 billion, the biggest cash boost ever for the NHS. We are upgrading 20 hospitals and building 40 new hospitals.

"I am particularly pleased that Charing Cross Hospital, which is used by many residents in this area, is one of the hospitals that will benefit from this.

"And as your MP, I will always campaign and vote to ensure our Borough has the best access to NHS services."

Stuart Wells, Brexit Party

"I would like to see the NHS develop the Teddington memorial hospital into a multi purpose health unit that could provide local people with vital health services and medical care, this would alleviate the workload of local GP’s and help with the over worked staff and stretched services at the other hospitals in the area."

Ranjeev Walia, Labour Party

"Labour will give the NHS the funding it needs, end privatisation, and never let our service be up for grabs in any trade negotiation.

"We will increase expenditure across the health sector by an average 4.3 per cent a year.

"We will offer free prescriptions for all and free basic dentistry.

"A Labour government will develop a planned model of joined-up community care, enabling people to live longer lives in better health in their own homes.

"We will ensure the voices of local people and NHS staff are heard in future developments of the health system.

"A Labour government will also provide an additional £1.6 billion a year to ensure new standards for mental health are enshrined in the NHS constitution ensuring access to treatments is on a par with that for physical health conditions."

With environmental issues in the spotlight at the moment – what will you do to ensure a greener borough for residents?

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrats

"I will continue to campaign to stop Conservative plans for Heathrow expansion, given the huge impact this will have on our environment – increased greenhouse gases, as well as air and noise pollution.

"I am proud to see the Lib Dem council committing to being a zero carbon borough by 2030 and will support its initiatives to improve cycling and walking, as well as biodiversity."

Isobel Grant, Conservative Party

"Tackling the climate emergency must be one of the first priorities of any government, and I am proud of the Conservatives’ record on this.

"We were the first major economy to sign into law our commitment to reaching Net Zero emissions by 2050.

"Our investment has meant there are almost 400,000 people working in low carbon businesses and their supply chains across the country already, and we will create two million low carbon jobs by 2030.

"We have also banned plastic microbeads in care and cosmetic products, cut plastic bag use and doubled maximum litter fines to £150.

"Our Resources and Waste Strategy will end confusion over recycling and tackle problem packaging by making polluters pay.

"And our 25 Year Environment Plan sets out plans to further tackle the scourge of plastic and deliver cleaner air and water.

"For this Borough, the biggest environmental concern is stopping the third runway at Heathrow. It is unnecessary and it would significantly increase air emissions. This is why I have committed to voting against any legislation that would create a third runway at Heathrow."

Stuart Wells, Brexit Party

"I am very much against the Heathrow expansion plans and feel very strongly about the negative affect it would have on our borough, as a member of the national trust I cherish our local parks and green areas and we also have some of the most beautiful parts of the river Thames running right through our borough so I would do all I could to preserve and protect our natural environment."

Ranjeev Walia, Labour Party

"On environmental issues, our Green Industrial Revolution aims to achieve the substantial majority of our emissions reductions by 2030 in a way that is evidence-based, just and that delivers an economy that serves the interests of the many, not the few - creating a million new jobs.

"£250 billion will directly fund the transition through a Green Transformation Fund dedicated to renewable and low-carbon energy and transport, biodiversity and environmental restoration.

"We will also introduce a Climate and Environment Emergency Bill setting out in law robust, binding new standards for decarbonisation, nature recovery, environmental quality and habitats and species protection.

"We will introduce a new Clean Air Act, with a vehicle scrappage scheme and clean air zones, complying with World Health Organisation limits for fine particles and nitrous oxides."

If you went onto strictly come dancing and had to choose a dance routine that matched your personality which routine would you choose and why?

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrats

"Cha Cha Cha with Aljaz because it’s fast, fun and can be a bit spicy!"

Isobel Grant, Conservative Party

"I'd love to do a Cha-Cha, which I did learn in dance lessons back when I was at school at St Catherine’s in Twickenham, but I would probably stick with a Waltz given my dancing skills!"

Stuart Wells, Brexit Party

"I would probably have to go with John Travolta's “Saturday night fever” routine, the Brooklyn shuffle is one of the most iconic dance moves of all time and just like myself it’s a unique alternative to the same old routines that have got a little bit boring to watch."

Ranjeev Walia, Labour Party

"My strictly come dancing dance routine would be a break dance - a radical and ambitious dance that brought real change to the many at the time.

"Just like the radical, ambitious fully costed labour manifesto will bring real change for the many now."