DAN COOMBS runs the rule over all the parliamentary candidates for the Gazette area who are standing in the forthcoming general election
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
IN 2005, the turnout in the constituency (then Uxbridge and West Drayton) was 59 per cent, with a 5.9 per cent swing from Labour to Conservative.
Conservative
JOHN Randall has been MP since winning a by-election in 1997. He emerged unscathed from the expenses scandal that plagued Westminster last year.
Born and raised in the area, he runs the family-owned Randall's department store in Vine Street, Uxbridge. He is also a keen wildlife enthusiast.
He said: "I am running on my proven track record. I have lived here all my life and can be a strong voice in parliament for the area.
"As someone who owns a business I understand the problems a National Insurance hike would create; it really is a tax on jobs.
"The NHS is important to me. The government wants to downgrade Hillingdon Hospital, and we want to fight that.
"I am keeping tabs on high-speed rail and am in favour of controlled immigration. It is important we talk about the issue and do not let extremists make capital out of it."
Of the £150million funding shortfall that has affected the borough's schools, he said: "I do not think this should be used for capital gain.
"I understand why the leader of the council has made the decision he has."
Labour
SID Garg is currently a councillor for Yeading ward on Hillingdon Council, and has a masters degree in European law from Cambridge University.
He said: "I have pledged to high standards of integrity, transparency and accountability. I seek election not for personal gain but to serve the public, and I can do so living in Uxbridge and not claiming for a second home.
"I married my wife, Narinder, in Uxbridge." Talking about the aborted programme Building Schools for the 21st Century, he said: "By now, the council should have agreed its plans with the government to secure the funds and start work. I am utterly dismayed by this short-sighted and political decision by the leader of the council, which is putting at risk the education of our children for years ahead.
"Why don't the local Conservatives and the Conservative MP have any ambitions to improve schools for our youngsters in this constituency?
"While I support the Labour government in most of its policies, I am vehemently and completely opposed to the proposed third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow, and I am not shy to say so. I stand side-by-side with the community and residents in opposing them."
Liberal Democrat
MIKE Cox is a Hillingdon Council member for Manor ward in Ruislip, and graduated in economics from Brunel University, in Kingston Lane, Uxbridge.
Away from politics, he has his own chartered accountancy business in Rickmansworth, which employs more than 30 people.
There are four main issues on which Mr Cox is fighting: fair taxes; a fair future creating jobs; a fair chance for every child; and a fair chance by cleaning up politics.
He would back proposals to pay any young person completing work experience £55 a week, and cut class sizes in schools, while encouraging one-on-one tuition.
He said: "By lifting the personal tax allowance to £10,000 a year and cutting the average working age person's income tax bill by £700, we could cut pensioners' income tax bills by £100. We want to radically rebalance the tax system."
Also standing Jessica Lee (Green) and Keith Hardman (BNP).
Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
THE turnout for the 2005 election was 65 per cent (then Ruislip-Northwood), with a 3.5 per cent swing in favour of the Conservatives.
Labour
ANITA MacDonald is also a Hillingdon councillor for the Heathrow villages.
She said: "I've been inspired by the determination of people in our area. When the global financial crisis struck, we didn't let the recession take its course. "I supported Labour action: Job-boosting measures and extra help for families, businesses and home-owners. Today the economy is still recovering and we must maintain support for people in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner. When growth is secured, we will halve the deficit over four years in a fair way.
"My priorities will be securing economic recovery, protecting front-line services, a future fair for families, standing up for the many and new industries and future jobs."
Conservative
NICK Hurd has previously served as the MP for the old constituency of RuislipNorthwood.
He said: "I am in politics for one reason only - to help improve the lives of others. As the MP for RuislipNorthwood it was my privilege to help more than 5,000 individual constituents and fight successful campaigns to protect things we value, such as the cancer centre at Mount Vernon.
"Now I want to throw all that energy and experience into serving the new constituency of Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner.
"The national choice is clear: Five more years of Gordon Brown or vote for change with the Conservatives."
Green
GRAHAM Lee said: "I am standing for economic and environmental fairness.
"Key areas are resisting cuts in public spending, which are harming the economy and destroying jobs both directly and indirectly - you can't cut your way out of a recession - and cuts in public services will impact most heavily on the poorer people, who most rely on them. Green Party policies will create jobs.
"I want to bring public transport back into full public ownership and properly fund it, to make it fully accessible to all. I wish to protect the NHS against wasteful and expensive privatisation." Liberal Democrat THOMAS Papworth describes himself as a political commentator, liberal activist and politician. He was born at Northwick Park Hospital and is a ward councillor for Crystal Palace in the borough of Bromley.
He said: "A cycle of red-blue, blue-red government has got us into the current economic crisis and political malaise. It is time to try something new. If you want better, choose different, choose the Liberal Democrats.
"We will create a fair society and a different and better sort of politics. We will reform our economy so that everyone gets a fair deal and fix our rotten political system so that the right decisions are taken."
Hayes, Harlington and West Drayton
THIS is a constituency with a diverse community living at the heart of many of London's large-scale transport and housing developments.
In 2005 there was a 56 per cent turnout (then Hayes and Harlington) with a 4.1 per cent swing from Labour to Conservative. Labour won the seat with a majority of more than 10,000 votes.
Conservative
A LONG-SERVING councillor for Northwood and a successful businessman, Scott Seaman-Digby has turned his attentions to the constituency where he lived as a child.
It will take a 14 per cent swing to unseat the ruling party, but Mr Seaman-Digby said he plans to take the fight to Labour.
He said: "Of course, the third runway continues to be a massive issue for the people of Hayes and Harlington and, as a party, we will continue to fight the proposals.
"Alongside the other parties we back high-speed rail, but specifically we believe that a direct, high speed line to Heathrow would be a good opportunity for Hayes. As well as substantially reducing the number of short-haul flights from Heathrow, making the third runway unnecessary, it will also open up greatly improved transport links for our local communities.
"Securing a targeted investment plan for Hayes town and other centres in the constituency will also be a key priority - similar programmes have done wonders for other areas in the borough.
"We want businesses and residents to take pride in their environment, and this will form the building blocks for a tangible sense of community and place. We propose starting with Coldharbour Lane and giving back the heart to the heart of Hayes.
"It is a wonderfully unique and vibrant area. It is time that people came before politics and Hayes and Harlington was given a louder voice, one that is respected and listened to by those who can help make a difference."
Labour
JOHN McDonnell has been the MP for Hayes and Harlington since 1997, and only narrowly lost in the 1992 election, trailing the Conservative candidate Terry Dicks, by 53 votes.
A left-winger and a vocal figure in parliament, he can be seen traipsing around his constituency on any given day, and his can-do attitude and will-ingness to listen to residents' concerns and act affirmatively has endeared him to the people of Hayes.
He said: "For over 35 years I have devoted my life to our community as the MP, GLC councillor and as a volunteer in numerous community groups. In this election I will again be the only mainstream candidate who lives in the constituency.
"In parliament I have been a strong and independent voice, speaking and voting on what is best for my constituents, never afraid to stand up in the best interests of our community.
"I have always sought to serve with integrity, and was proud to be one of the few MPs described by the press as 'one of the saints' for my honesty." Liberal Democrat SATNAM Kaur Khalsa is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hayes and Harlington, and in this constituency, the party has traditionally fallen some way behind the Tories and Labour.
Mrs Khalsa was an unsuccessful candidate for Feltham and Heston in the 2005 election, and she hopes that a focus on green initiatives will give her party the edge this time around.
She said: "We have been campaigning against the third runway for a number of years. Many residents have come to me on this issue in particular, and we will continue to work alongside the council in our opposition to the proposals.
"We are very keen to promote environmental policy - getting people on their bikes and encouraging people to reduce their carbon omissions. The area is massively congested, so improvements to the area's transport networks are much needed.
"This area has a lot of quality parks and green spaces, and we will do all we can to protect these spaces.
"Sprucing up Hayes and Harlington is also something we would look to make inroads with. It's the small things, such as the state of the roads, which affect the everyday lives of residents and which are detrimental to the outlook people have of the area.
"Improving local policing strategies will also be key in generating comfort and wellbeing for people living in Hayes."
Also standing: Chris Forster (BNP), Richard Wells (UKIP), Mike Harling (Green)
South West Hertfordshire
Liberal Democrat
CHRISTOPHER Townsend , borough councillor for Dacorum, lives in Tring with his wife and two young children.
At the heart of Christopher's campaign are three key issues: fairer taxes; handing power to the communities to give ordinary people a stronger voice in politics; and better opportunities for local schoolchildren.
Mr Townsend is concerned that some pupils are not getting the support they deserve, or gaining entry to the school of their choice. He endorses his party's plan to invest an extra £33.9million in Hertfordshire schools and supports parents' campaigns for more school places.
On why the people of South West Hertfordshire should vote for him, Mr Townsend said: "I will be an active and considerate advocate for the values and aspirations of each constituent.
"I will stand up in support of parents in Three Rivers who are campaigning for more school places.
"And I will help put pressure on Herts County Council to deliver better value for money, particularly in respect of road maintenance and repair work." Conservative DAVID Gauke, 38, lives in Chorleywood with his wife, Rachel, and three young sons.
He was elected to Parliament as MP for South West Hertfordshire in 2005 and was appointed as a shadow treasury minister in 2007.
Speaking about key issues for South West Hertfordshire, Mr Gauke said: "If re-elected my priority will be to continue to campaign for a new school in the Rickmansworth area.
"I am pleased that the county council has agreed to fund a new school and that Conservative Party policy is to make it easier to build new schools. I will do all I can to ensure that there is rapid progress in building this school.
"Other issues include ensuring that local people have greater say in planning matters, preventing further 'garden-grabbing'.
"At a national level, the big issue is the economy - reducing the enormous deficit without bringing in damaging tax increases.
Labour
HARINDER Mann , 35, lives in north London and was educated at Harrogate Grammar School and the London School of Economics, to PhD level.
He has worked as a lecturer and political adviser and his hobbies include cricket, reading and charity work. Mr Mann said: "I got involved in politics to make a difference.
"I'm passionate about making sure we all work to improve the communities in which we live and work. We all have a role to play, whatever age, gender or class."
Speaking about the three main issues facing constituents in South West Hertfordshire, he said: "Firstly, we need to do more to ensure that local services remain.
"Our children should have access to local schools; we should all have access to local hospitals. I will campaign hard to stop council cuts and lobby government to continue the investment in our schools and hospitals.
"Secondly, community cohesion and bringing together both rural and urban parts of the constituency is an important issue.
"Thirdly, more needs to be done to ensure we protect the environment locally, not just from planning but from the changing global climate.
"This winter was just an example. "If I am selected, I'll work tirelessly to ensure that people's views and needs are represented locally and nationally."
Also standing: Deirdre Gates ( British National Party)
