ELECTION 2015: Meet the people who want to be the next MP in Mitcham and Morden

There are 149,712 registered electors across the whole borough, and of that total 131,124 are eligible to vote in the General Election as European citizens are not entitled to cast a vote.

In the 2010 election for Mitcham and Morden, Siobhain McDonagh got 24,722 votes, with second place Conservative Melanie Hampton getting 11,056. Diana Coman, standing again this year for the Liberal Democrats, had 5,202 votes in 2010.

Here are your Mitcham and Morden candidates:

Name: Siobhain McDonagh

Party: Labour

DOB: 20/02/1960

Town of residence (and how long have you lived there): Colliers Wood all my life

Political history (previous constituencies where you have stood, the year, and the result): Local councillor for Colliers Wood 1982-1998 MP for Mitcham and Morden since 1997 Previously stood in Mitcham and Morden (only) in 1987 and 1992

Hobbies/interests: Live music and anything to do with fashion

Biography: Siobhain has been MP for Mitcham and Morden for 18 years and previously worked for Battersea Churches Housing Trust developing housing for homeless families.

She lives in Colliers Wood with her sister

Personal statement: Mitcham and Morden is in my heart. I was born and raised in Colliers Wood, and still live here. I never want to leave because there’s nowhere else I’d ever want to call home.

For me it’s all the people who live here that make it so special. When we come together as a community our strength is unstoppable. The 16 year campaign to save St Helier Hospital is an example of how much we can achieve together.

If re-elected as the MP for Mitcham and Morden I will launch a new and bigger work experience scheme for local young people bringing together local businesses and charities to create employment opportunities.

I will encourage local landowners to develop their sites and to commit to offer local families first refusal on all new homes. I’ll also establish a local landlords’ charter, highlighting the work of good landlords who are on their tenant’s side.

I will continue the fight to improve our schools and keep high quality services at St Helier Hospital.

• What is your motto/philosophy for life?

Application is all

• Which person, dead or alive, do you most admire?

Loads of people. If I had to choose one person who has impacted on my life it would be Doreen Fowler of Lower Morden, my life changing history teacher who taught me that all things were possible and without whom I would never have gone to university

• What is your greatest fear?

Going out without makeup on

• What trait do you most admire in others?

Generosity

• What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?

Assistant at the clothing counter at Woolworths

• What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Knocking down the high rise flats on the Phipps Bridge Estate and replacing them with houses with gardens

• Everyone has a skeleton in their closet. What’s yours?

I admit nothing!!

• As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A teacher

• What do you eat for breakfast?

Toast and peanut butter

• What do you love / hate most about your proposed constituency?

I love the people and hate some of the problems they face

• What is first on your list to change / do if elected?

I would launch a new and bigger work experience scheme for local young people bringing together local businesses and charities

• What’s your favourite TV programme?

The Good Wife Name:

Paul Holmes

Party: Conservative

DOB: 25th August 1988

Town of residence (and how long have you lived there): Londoner since birth

Political history (previous constituencies where you have stood, the year, and the result): No previous General Election constituency contested Former city councillor – Southampton City Council 2008 – 2012 Hobbies/interests: Southampton FC supporter Keen pub explorer Biography: Born in Lewisham and educated at local comprehensive.

Studied at Southampton University.

Two years in regional sales and currently parliamentary advisor to Stephen Hammond.

Personal statement: This General Election is the most important in a generation.

I’ll work tirelessly to improve Mitcham and Morden and make sure our streets are cleaner.

I’m working hard to bring some much needed investment to our town centres. Labour have neglected our area and I want to improve it.

Conservatives are reducing tax for the lowest earners, protecting pensions for our elderly – I’ll always campaign for more investment in our NHS and local services. I have opposed local Labour cuts to services for the most vulnerable.

Only I can deliver a EU referendum and will push for one for residents.

• What is your motto/philosophy for life?

Keep ploughing on!

• Which person, dead or alive, do you most admire?

John Major.

• What is your greatest fear?

A Labour government!

• What trait do you most admire in others?

Dedication and loyalty.

• What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?

Selling icecream.

• What do you consider your greatest achievement?

First one in my family to go to university.

• Everyone has a skeleton in their closet. What’s yours?

I’ll never tell a journalist my secrets!

• As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Airline pilot!

• What do you eat for breakfast?

Coffee and a muffin, preferably a chocolate one!

• What do you love / hate most about your proposed constituency?

Wonderful place to live – hate the Collies Wood Tower – thank God it’s being redeveloped.

• What is first on your list to change / do if elected?

Clean up Mitcham and Morden.

• What’s your favourite TV programme?

House of Cards (US version) The Inbetweeners

Name: Richard Hilton

Party: UKIP

DOB: April 1977

Town of residence (and how long have you lived there): Wimbledon, two years. I previously lived in Colliers Wood.

Political history (previous constituencies where you have stood, the year, and the result): This is my first General Election as a parliamentary candidate. I first stood for election to Merton Council in 2006 standing in Pollard’s Hill Ward. I was elected to the council representing Lower Morden Ward in 2010.

Hobbies/interests: Having always been a keen linguist, I love to travel and experience different cultures. I’ve lived in both Hamburg and Paris and achieved a business qualification from the Paris Chamber of Commerce. In a previous job I spent several months working in India.

I also enjoy swimming, reading and cooking.

Biography: I’m currently a programme director working in the telecoms sector. I’m not married and I don’t have any children.

I have worked for almost 15 years, in some of the UK’s biggest companies including holding management positions in household names such as Marks & Spencer and BT. I studied French and German at King’s College London.

Personal statement: Residents are sick and tired of reading about Merton’s Labour and Tory representatives blaming each other for deep cuts to NHS services and Adult Social Care.

Meanwhile years of mass uncontrolled immigration, and a lack of investment in the area by both Labour and the Tories have taken local services like our schools and hospitals to breaking point.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. UKIP has promised £3 billion extra for NHS frontline services like our St Helier hospital each year. We would provide an extra 20,000 nurses, 3,000 midwives and an extra 8,000 GPs. Paid for from savings on EU membership fees.

Plus we’ll scrap hospital parking charges costing £200 million paid for by ending international Health Tourism.

UKIP is also the ‘most trusted party to control immigration’. We would introduce a fairer Australian style points-based system treating EU and non-EU migrants such as those from the Commonwealth equally. And only UKIP offers a real EU Referendum.

I’m proud that UKIP came second in most wards in Mitcham & Morden during the recent Local and European elections. UKIP is now the real opposition locally and I will always act in the interests of local people.

• What is your motto/philosophy for life?

Sapientia Ianua Vitae (Wisdom is the Gateway to Life). I was taught about it during my time at Grammar School growing up and I stick with it to this day.

• Which person, dead or alive, do you most admire?

The Queen. The best of British - she’s calm, steadfast and internationally respected.

• What is your greatest fear?

Fear of Heights. Absolutely without a doubt.

• What trait do you most admire in others?

Loyalty.

• What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?

Leader of the opposition on Merton Council. The Conservatives and Labour became so similar you couldn’t get a cigarette paper between them and neither group was prepared to challenge the cosy status quo that has existed for years while residents are let down time and time again.

• What do you consider your greatest achievement?

As a local Councillor I was able to put a stop to some of the terrible practices going on within Merton Council that wasted so much of local people’s money.

In particular the Boomerang Bosses scandal which I spoke out about, where numerous senior managers were paid large redundancy packages only to be rehired by the council months later as consultants. It’s scandalous that this had been going on unchallenged. So much so it was covered by the Sun, the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail.

• Everyone has a skeleton in their closet. What’s yours?

I’m no longer in the closet. I’m openly gay! My private life is my own and I intend to keep it that way.

• As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A teacher.

• What do you eat for breakfast?

If I have time for breakfast I’ll usually get some toast and a piece of fruit. I’m usually in too much of a rush.

• What do you love / hate most about your proposed constituency?

I love the rich and vibrant history of Mitcham & Morden, the home of Nelson. I hate the litter that seems to be everywhere I look around me at the moment. One of the first local problems that needs tackling not just by politicians but the community at large.

• What is first on your list to change / do if elected?

The UK now has a worrying combination of big government, big banks and big business, while working people in the country have been sold down the river by the other parties through mass immigration and multiculturalism. This needs to change. Let’s stand up to failed corporatism and have an immediate EU referendum.

• What’s your favourite TV programme?

The Great British Bake Off – it makes me salivate and I’m amazed at the creativity of the contestants. I wish I could make food like that.

Name: Diana Coman

Party: Liberal Democrat

DOB: 27.02.58

Town of residence (and how long have you lived there): I was born in St Helier Hospital, I was brought up in Merton and educated in local schools – and my family home is in Morden.

Political history (previous constituencies where you have stood, the year, and the result): I stood as a parliamentary candidate in Christchurch in 2005 and came second. In 2010 I stood the parliamentary candidate in Mitcham & Morden and came third.

From 1998-2006, I was a councillor for Worcester Park ward in Sutton. During that time, I was a portfolio-a portfolio holder for housing, planning & regeneration, secondary education, sports & leisure, young people and the Olympics.

Hobbies/interests: Sailing. I am also a Merton School governor and the chairman of a local housing charity.

Biography: During my career I have worked for large and small organisations, set up a bookshop specialising in comics and now run my own business, working on projects that get people involved in taking action to improve their community.

Personal statement: I am excited by new ideas and new ways of doing things, and that is why being involved with the Liberal Democrats is so important for me.

Liberals came up with the idea of the NHS and pensions and it’s that radical tradition that remains at the heart of how we approach problems in our society.

Getting things done in our community should be about finding the best solutions based on the best evidence – not political point-scoring.

I think Mitcham & Morden has been taken for granted for too long by its current politicians – for example, the streets are still often left filthy, even though we’ve known it’s been a problem for years.

It feels sometimes like the council treats Mitcham & Morden as the ‘poor cousin’ in the borough.

The standard of secondary education in the borough is a concern for me. Education is the key to better opportunities and we are not preparing young people for the future as best we could.

The election is a great opportunity for a discussion about our community; no one has all the right answers, we should listen and learn.

What is your motto/philosophy for life?

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” (Attributed to Margaret Mead)

Which person, dead or alive, do you most admire?

Hillary Clinton

What is your greatest fear?

The social impact of climate change.

What trait do you most admire in others?

Tolerance What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?

I haven’t done any job that I’ve thought was so terrible to mention here; you always learn something.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Completing the Fastnet (sailing) Race.

Everyone has a skeleton in their closet. What’s yours?

Pass!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An interior designer What do you eat for breakfast?

Branflakes What do you love / hate most about your proposed constituency?

I love the people – and hate the litter and mess!

What is first on your list to change / do if elected?

I would focus on mental health – particularly in children and young people. I’d make sure that the extra investment promised is implemented and used effectively.

What’s your favourite TV programme?

The West Wing

Name: Mason Redding

Party: Green

DOB: 23.03.1992 Town of residence (and how long have you lived there): Wimbledon for 18 years

Political history (previous constituencies where you have stood, the year, and the result): I stood for the Village ward during local election in 2014 after helping to get the Merton Green Party going again early 2014. The response from the public was extremely encouraging especially given the short notice of my candidacy.

Hobbies/interests: My main hobby is skateboarding, I’ve been able to keep it up without serious injury since I was 14, some might say I’m not trying hard enough. It’s certainly my chosen method of transport through London and always keeps you on your toes!

I spend as much time as I can outdoors, Merton has fantastic areas for plants and wildlife so I’m always trying to find signs of the wide variety which live in the area. In the summer I always hope to have some money to visit music festivals in Europe, my favourite way to escape the hustle and bustle and half the price of British festivals!

Biography: I work as a rights of light surveyor based in London with my offices in Waterloo. I still work part-time however at the wonderful Mayfield Lavender Farm in Epsom which offers a much needed contrast to the daily grind of the City. The farm is also at the forefront of the remerging industry our part of the world was famous for, Lavender production.

My girlfriend is completing her studies down in Brighton so I am holding the fort here looking after the cats Poppy and Hendrix.

Personal statement: Firstly, I should say I had found myself disillusioned with politicians and politics in general and discovered the attitude and approach of The Greens refreshing – and the best way to rectify the issues I saw was to get involved.

Secondly, my principal reason for standing is to allow offer the opportunity to vote Green in Merton after having such a positive response since the local elections last year.

There is already very strong local interest in The Greens and this needs representation. There are also a large number of local groups and campaigns that are ethically linked to the Greens and it will beneficial to establish a presence and platform.

I hold that the values and policies of the Green party represent positivity and a much needed change for the public.

The Greens commitments would benefit the U.K nationally and locally, for instance: protecting the NHS; free education; affordable housing; tackling climate change; public ownership of transport. While other parties may claim to support these commitments they have had opportunities and have failed.

For me these are core beliefs and can only become a reality with continued and increased support for The Green Party.

• What is your motto/philosophy for life?

‘Each one teach one’ • Which person, dead or alive, do you most admire?

Gandhi • What is your greatest fear? The human race becoming so concerned with money we end up with no planet to spend it on.

• What trait do you most admire in others?

Respect for others.

• What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?

I’ve done many horrific jobs; toilets and bathrooms cleaner at University, working the pork wraps tennis at Wimbledon Tennis Champs, Bin man at Wimbledon Tennis champs - to name a few.

• What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Getting myself through high school to graduating from University.

• Everyone has a skeleton in their closet. What’s yours?

I am not a fan of One Direction.

• As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A Farmer

• What do you eat for breakfast?

Peanut butter on toast

• What do you love / hate most about your proposed constituency?

I love the variety of wide open spaces! I don't hate anything, although the amount of street litter is often a concern.

• What is first on your list to change / do if elected?

I would stand by the principals of open democracy: listening to constituents and local stakeholders, and together planning a way to ensure a liveable and sustainable future for Mitcham and Morden.

• What’s your favourite TV programme?

Breaking Bad

Name: Des Coke

Party: Christian Peoples Alliance

Age: 55

Mr Coke is facilities manager at the Kensington Temple, and is also a deacon for the Beit Nitzachon Messainic Congregation based in Stamford Hill.

He is married and has two children under five years of age and lives on Hassocks Road in Mitcham.

Prior to living there he was working as a care manager for Surrey County Council. He is standing for the Christian Peoples Alliance.

Personal Statement: If I were I elected I would support marriage and families, hold regular surgeries to support families in poverty and work to ensure that St Helier Hospital remains under the NHS and continues to be maintained for the community.

Although my focus is on helping the poor and needy, I support the Cricket Green charter, especially the development of a new cinema at Sibthorpe Road car park which would be good for the economy because it would attract more visitors into the area.

I would make a good MP because I have experience working at the grass roots level within the community.

I have a good track record of work done with residents in the London borough of Brent as a senior youth and development worker, where I helped to run arts and cultural festivals, worked within schools.

I have held a surgery with ex-offenders at a magistrates court.

Make sure you are registered to vote. Visit the Merton Council website by April 20.