I lived in Woodmarket for over 30 years since moving here in 1984.

Full statement

I support Lutterworth Rugby and Cricket teams and I was Treasurer of the Cricket Club for 13 years. As Chair of the Town Hall Charity I obtained grants for the new lift and repainting the building - a task that needs doing regularly due to the pollution caused by the excessive traffic in the centre of Lutterworth.

I am very concerned about the plans for Lutterworth East which means that Lutterworth will not get an effective North South bypass that is urgently needed to stop traffic blighting the town. I recently asked a Freedom of Information request to Leicestershire County Council – apparently, they have already spent £39.4m on the project and may only go ahead with more warehousing on the fields on the other side of the M1. The proposed Misterton Quarry will exacerbate traffic issues without a by-pass.

Local representatives shouldn’t be dependent on party politics but on having someone who will effectively represent you. Having said that, many local elections recently have been decided on national issues with extremists of both sides making gains. I believe that we should work with others rather than against them. I wish we were back in the EU but if not should be in the single market and want fairness to all, especially minority groups, and electing me is a small way of supporting this approach.