I’m focussed on solutions for today and tomorrow. We need to make Luton a more resilient, successful town we are all proud to say we live in. We face big challenges in the short- and long-term. How to create more jobs, cut crime, build a more cohesive society, deal with climate change, and more.

I’m involving the people of Luton in coming up with Our Luton Plan. I have ideas and opinions that I’m bringing with me, but I believe some of the best ideas for Luton’s future come from Lutonians themselves. In the run-up to 2010, I’m talking to as many people to create together a plan we can all get behind – from ordinary people to the Council, business leaders to community leaders, shopkeepers to schoolteachers, children to charities, the future’s in us.

I’m putting Luton first. Everything I do, every vote in Parliament, will be for Luton not for a political party with other interests and priorities. For the past half-century we’ve had MPs from the ruling parties in Luton South, and it’s meant too little has been done for Luton and places like Luton. It’s time to change that. And by doing better for Luton, Britain can learn from Luton – the solutions we find can be solutions for many other places in the countries.

I’m good at bringing people together – not just in words, but also in action. In Save the Children I managed a global campaign to get education for children in wartorn countries, working with many people from all over the world to make positive change together in pursuit of a common goal.

I want to bridge the gaps in our society. We want to feel more like a joined up society, less divided. Inequality between the richest and the poorest has risen and the divide is hurting us all (under Labour it’s got worse and the Conservatives would do little to change this). Too often too many people are excluded, left out or left behind. This contributes to many other problems like crime, violence, social exclusion. These issues are not enough of a priority for the other candidates – for me, it’s essential we bridge the gaps in our society so we can prosper together.

I’m focussed on local empowerment and bringing politics back to the people politics is there to serve. I want us to build our town together for the benefit of all. There are some nice words from some of the parties, but in power what is there to say they would do much? They have done precious little when they’ve had the chance. It is in political parties’ interests to keep the status quo. For me, it’s clearly at the heart of who I am and what I’m trying to do.

I’m a doer, I’m more than a figurehead. I have both the experience and the energy to get things done for the people of Luton South.

I have integrity, I’m honest, I’m hardworking. I’m not tainted with the ways of the political parties. And being an MP is not about celebrity – it’s about “we” not “me”.