UKIP candidate for Islington North

Age: 44

Address: Highbury,

Marital status: Married

Children: Two, one aged six, one four. Both in Islington schools

Interests outside politics: My kids, they seem to take up most of my free time, eating out, mostly on Upper Street, motorsports.

Current job: Freelance database administrator.

Any directorships/other financial interests: I run my own company, an unpaid position at the freeholding company for my block of flats.

What jobs/ interests will you continue with if elected: I’d like to do a solid week’s work as an MP every week, and focus on being a quality MP for my constituents.

What is your local connection to the area: My wife and I bought our first home here in 2005, and just love the area. I did my British Citizenship at Islington Town hall.

If I am elected, the first thing I will do is: Push for the voice of Islington to be heard, as for far too long we’ve been considered a “safe seat” and our opinions are cast aside. As a Ukip MP, I would expect to be in the party that holds the balance of power, and could finally represent the residents with a voice that will be listened to. We need a referendum on the EU as soon as possible.

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How did/would you vote on the following issues:

Assisted suicide? Yes, assuming safeguards are in place so that nobody can be coerced into making this decision. If I had a terminal illness then I’d like to have this option open to me, and I think we should stop lecturing those people that are in such a situation and start listening to them. A person should always have ultimate control over their lives, and when you hear of people willing to starve themselves to death to escape the pain of a degenerative disease, then it’s impossible not to feel compassion and want to do whatever we can to help.

Gay marriage? Yes, so long as it’s not infringing on others. If a place of worship does not want to conduct the wedding as it conflicts with their beliefs, then they should not be forced to do so. I’m happy to know that the Islington Town hall is available for Gay Marriage, and I support an adults right to choose how to live their life. A marriage is a happy occasion irrespective of gender, and the only requirement should be that the two participants love each other, and want to express that love by joining themselves in a partnership of a common future together.

UK military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government? The concept of “bad guys” always seems to be changing, and at the drop of a hat our friends suddenly become our enemies and vice-versa. We should focus our Defence Forces on just that, Defence. Direct threats to the UK should be responded to, and just as we would object to external interference, we should respect a sovereign countries right to self determination. If we want to exert pressure on countries that don’t hold the same standards we do, then we should refuse trade and isolate them.

Humanitarian support in extreme cases would be warranted, but as has been shown so many times in the past, when we attempt to topple foreign governments to suit our own agenda it frequently does more damage than good. The rise of IS into the vacuum created by us and our allies is a prime example. I’m disgusted at the waste of human life that’s happened in recent years, and I would do all I could to keep our soldiers at home.

Smoking in cars? Everyone should be free to do as they please, so long as it doesn’t impact others. Smoking is problematic if there are non-consenting passengers such as children, plus consideration must also be made with respect to the distraction of the driver whilst smoking. I believe the current “should not” in Rule 148 of the Highway Code is sensible when the car is full of consenting adults, but that there should be a ban in place when children are present.