Hi, my name’s Matthew Kirk and I am proud to be the Parliamentary Candidate for Holborn and St Pancras.

Full statement

I have practised as a barrister specialising in criminal law for nearly twenty years and spend my working life fighting to secure justice and protect the rights of all concerned in the criminal justice system.

I live in Kentish Town with my family. North London is where my roots are, as I am reminded whenever I pass the Royal Free, where my brother was born and my grandfather died.

My family and I are building our lives in this community. My daughter is at a local primary school. My wife, Katya Apekisheva, is a part of our rich cultural scene in Camden as a regular performer at the wonderful Kings Place and artistic director of the London Piano Festival.

I believe we need to take urgent action to confront the existential threat of climate change and environmental collapse, and to rescue our public services. But first we must resolve the Brexit crisis.

I have campaigned to promote European cooperation for over twenty-five years. I am passionate in my belief that the country has made a terrible mistake and must have the chance to think again. For our future peace and prosperity, and to find solutions to the problems we face, we must Remain.