I’m mum to two young children, a primary school governor, studying for my PhD part time at the University of Kent and I also work a few days a week for Labour MP Rosie Duffield.

Before moving to work in politics and resuming my studies, I was a teacher for ten years. During holidays I often squeezed in some exam marking, or textbook copy-writing to help top up my wage.

I’ve lived in various places across the South East: Brighton, Horsham, Canterbury… before finally settling down in East Kent to teach and to raise my family. Now, we have just bought a little house in Kingsdown and before we get in there properly, we have to fit in some time to put in a new kitchen, get rid of some old artex and paint some walls!

I’m ambitious for Dover, Deal and the villages around and I know that our area deserves to be represented by an MP who really wants to fight for what is good for all of us – not just for the privileged few.

People here have had enough of the Tories putting our health, security and children and grandchildren’s education at risk with huge cuts. People have also had enough of Theresa May’s Brexit shambles, her embarrassing negotiations and her government’s inability to offer us confidence that they really have Dover & Deal’s long-term prosperity in mind. Things need to change; I want to be that change.

It will be a real honour to be returned as Dover’s first woman MP, but more than that, it will be my absolute privilege to represent an area I love and a community that has embraced me and my family.