Voters think too many politicians are all the same, straight from the Westminster bubble without real world experience.
I don’t think it gets much more real world than working as a Doctor in A&E or volunteering as a policeman and I have done both.
I have seen it all, believe me!
It taught me a lot about people and the problems they face.
And we don’t have enough people in Parliament who understand the challenges on the front lines of our public services.
My Mum was a nurse and my Dad was a policeman and growing up they taught me the importance of stepping up and serving.
I hope that gives you a good idea of my commitment to helping people & making a difference and I will always try and do that for you.
My Dad's family were farmers and we had a small holding when I grew up so I spent most of my weekends in the countryside. Its where I feel most at home.
Bexhill, Battle and the many villages that make up the constituency all have their own challenges and needs. It is my job to work all year round on those. Here are just some of the issues that residents talk to me about that are important to them:
CLEANING UP OUR WATER
The government has brought in new unlimited fines and the tightest ever monitoring of discharges into our rivers and sea front. It is my job to relentlessly push the water companies to clean up their mess-no excuses.
SUPPORTING OUR FARMERS AND PROTECTING OUR COUNTRYSIDE
My Dad's family were farmers & growing up we were lucky enough to have a small holding so I spent most of my weekends in the countryside. Farmers put food on our tables & are stewards of our lands. I have campaigned for new laws to protect livestock from dog attacks & will oppose solar farms on prime farmland.
OPPOSING THE PLANS FOR THE NORTHEYE ASYLUM DETENTION CENTRE
I will always be willing to stand up for my constituents if the government gets things wrong. The plans for Northeye are not the right ones for Bexhill and I will do my best to get the Home Office to reconsider. You don't win on every issue but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try.
SECURING INVESTMENT IN OUR LOCAL HOSPITALS
I spent more than 10 years working on the frontline of the NHS as a doctor in A&E before entering politics. I wanted to use my experience to improve the NHS for all of us. Labour will freeze plans to invest in our local hospitals. I want to drive forward that investment so our staff are working in first class facilities.
BACKING OUR HIGH STREETS & BUSINESSES
I have spent time speaking to retailers about how I can better support our high streets in Bexhill, Battle and the villages. We need to back our police when they take a zero tolerance approach to shoplifting. We also need to make use of new laws to get absent landlords to work with us to fill vacant spaces.
FIGHTING ON LOCAL ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU
Each town and village will have local issues that are important to them. Whether it is speeding through our rural villages, houses being built in the wrong places, potholes on our roads or getting more public toilets opened in Bexhill - you tell me what is important to you and I will do my best to help.
But I want to hear your priorities. Complete my residents survey online and tell me what you think!
I look forward to speaking to as many of you as possible over the coming weeks of the campaign!