I am standing for Havant in the General Election because I believe that we deserve a constituency MP that really understands the area and cares about the community they live in.

I was born in Havant and moved to Emsworth when I was 2 years old. I went to school in Havant and returned to the area after university to bring up my own family. I joined IBM and had a successful 25 year career in IT. I have 2 school age children and know the demands a full-time job and family bring with them. I now run a small business locally and don’t miss the days of commuting to London at all.

I am head of fundraising at the local school my children attend, raising much needed funds to replace broken playground equipment and days out for the children. I recently became a local councillor representing Hayling East and have cabinet responsibility for Coastal, Climate and Green Spaces.

I know from conversations with residents that people feel the Government isn’t working for them anymore. Our seas and rivers are dirtier than they have ever been, young people and families are unable to find affordable housing, our schools are suffering from chronic under-investment, it’s impossible to find an NHS dentist and people are having to pay for private healthcare to get the vital operations they need.

In April the tidal surge showed how vulnerable homes and businesses in our area are to flooding and the devastating consequences that brings. We all know how much time it takes to get infrastructure put in place. I will work with all the appropriate authorities to ensure that fully funded sea defences will be built to protect our homes and our harbour.

As your MP I promise to work hard for you. I will provide a positive voice for our area, focusing on what I can do to really make a difference to people’s lives. Quality jobs, affordable housing, clean seas, increased funding for schools, flood defences and the NHS.