Matthew led local and national chapters of Round Table (young Rotarians) during the 14 years he lived in Hong Kong, which gave him a taste for the demands and satisfaction of helping people help themselves.

Full statement

Before leaving Hong Kong in 2016, he experienced, first hand, Hong Kongers' gallant fight for self-determination from an overweening state... and wept for their failure.

Britons are in a similar fight: Brexit has been de-fanged by faceless bureaucrats and spineless politicians who are too afraid of being seen to fail, to try to succeed.

The Nation is in crisis: A crisis of civility, of law and order, of biological reality, of fiscal responsibility, and, yes, of defence of the realm and of our borders.

The state is too large – and too sclerotic – to achieve any meaningful results. We need to cut deep and excise the cancer of mediocrity from our public institutions. We need to stop rewarding failure, self-aggrandisement, and laziness. We need to pull together.

Only one party has the vision to Reform the United Kingdom: I vow that if you vote for me to represent you in Parliament, I will not cease from mental fight, nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, 'til we have built Jerusalem in England's green and pleasant land.