The MP hopefuls for the Bromley & Chislehurst seat answer News Shopper's questions.

News Shopper:

BOB NEILL (CONSERVATIVE)

Age? 62

Where do you live? I live in Chislehurst

Where are you from originally? I originally come from Hornchurch, Essex

Why do you want to represent this constituency? It is home and I have represented it, either at City Hall or Westminster for the last 15 years.

What local policy are you most passionate about? Protecting our local green spaces.

Describe yourself in 3 words: Positive, pragmatic, optimistic.

Who is you biggest hero? Harold Macmillan (a former Bromley MP of course and the classic 'one-nation' Conservative).

What is your proudest moment? Being able to introduce my mum to Her Majesty the Queen when I was Local Government Minister.

News Shopper:

SAM WEBBER (LIB DEM)

Age? 30 (will be 31 by the election as my birthday is on May 1)

Where do you live? Bromley

Where are you from originally? Born in the PRUH and always lived in Bromley Borough apart from my 3 years at university.

Why do you want to represent this constituency? I am proud of this area as it is my home and it has so much going for it. So many excellent schools, local community groups, small businesses, pubs and restaurants. I would be proud to fight in parliament for my Bromley and Chislehurst to ensure that everyone got a better deal and that our community benefited from new development and economic growth.

What local policy are you most passionate about? As a daily train commuter into London I am passionate about securing the Bakerloo Line extension and ensuring it comes to Beckenham and Bromley, improving our transport links to the rest of London.

Describe yourself in 3 words: Genuine people person.

Who is your biggest hero? My late mother Kathy Webber (An inspiring teacher at Bullers Wood School who died very sadly in 2002)

What is your proudest moment? Standing here as a candidate here in the 2010 General Election and then shortly afterwards witnessing my party join a British Government for the first time in 65 years.

News Shopper:

JOHN COURTNEIDGE (LABOUR)

Age? 64

Where do you live? Beckenham, near Shortlands Station

Where are you from originally? South London until the age of ten, then Chislehurst, Bromley, Downe, etc.

Why do you want to represent this constituency? To help make Bromley and Chislehurst a fairer, more equal place - for everyone's benefit.

What local policy are you most passionate about? Reducing inequality - especially the vast differences in income: particularly hard on those who are struggling on zero-hour contracts, on those with benefit cuts, etc, and who don't know how to make ends meet, from one week to the next, but bad for all.

Describe yourself in 3 words: Scientist, writer, teacher.

Who is your biggest hero? Jesus

What is your proudest moment? Being elected by the Bromley and Chislehurst Labour Party members to be their 2015 Parliamentary candidate (yes, really!)

News Shopper:
EMMETT JENNER (UKIP)

Age? 33

Where do you live? Shirley, for three months, Bromley the rest of my life.

Where are you from originally? Bromley

Why do you want to represent this constituency? First and foremost, Bromley is my hometown so I owe a lot to the borough for the good experiences I’ve enjoyed throughout my life to date. This is why I want to stand in Bromley. I’ve chosen to stand on a UKIP ticket principally because I believe in Britain and I want the UK to control 100 per cent of its own affairs rather than the 25 per cent the other parties are proposing. I believe however you voted last time in 2010 makes no difference. The choice this time is 25 per cent under control of our Westminster parliament and 75 per cent by Brussels, as you’d get by voting for the other four candidates or 100 per cent controlled by the people of this country as you’d get with UKIP.  

What local policy are you most passionate about? Although once elected your MP is there to represent all local constituents it is critically important to make clear at this point that the general election is the most appropriate election to talk about national UK policy. For that reason, although we have local issues in the borough that I have views on, I want to take this opportunity to highlight where I feel this election ranks. This is the correct time to focus heavily on countrywide national issues which aren’t addressed in other types of election. 

Describe yourself in 3 words: Competent, honest, dedicated. 

Who is your biggest hero? I believe I’m really lucky to support the one party out of the five on the ballot paper which supports its leader completely. Nigel Farage is my biggest hero for his 22 years of dogged effort to show the people of this country that we are good enough to be an independent nation.  

What is your proudest moment? Generally speaking it fills me with pride to believe in Britain and to stand up for our great country every day. 

News Shopper:

ROISIN ROBERTSON (GREEN)

Age? Over 21

Where do you live? Nightingale Lane, Bromley

Where are you from originally? Born in Brixton, parents from Northern Ireland. 

Why do you want to represent this constituency? I have lived here for most of my life and have family ties here.

What local policy are you most passionate about? Restoring our public services - saving community libraries.

Describe yourself in 3 words: Resilient, Motivated, Compassionate

Who is your biggest hero? Nelson Mandela

What is your proudest moment? Celebrating the birth of my third grandchild, and the good health and happiness of my four sons and their partners.

For your guide to the General Election in Bromley, click here.