With the countdown until the 2015 General Election underway, the Times Series has put together an overview of the candidates due to stand in Hertsmere on May 7.

Potters Bar is represented by one parliamentary seat, Hertsmere, which also covers the rest of the borough, including Borehamwood, Elstree and Radlett.

Created in 1983, the constituency has traditionally been seen as a safe Conservative seat. Since 1992, it has been represented by James Clappison, who received 56 per cent of the vote in the 2010 elections, achieving a majority of 17,605. He is standing down in May.

Labour came second in the 2010 elections, racking up 18.8 per cent of the vote, while the Liberal Democrats came third, on 17.4 per cent of the vote. UKIP came fourth, receiving 3.6 per cent of the vote.

Hoping to retain the seat for the Conservatives is Oliver Dowden, who was Prime Minister David Cameron’s deputy chief of staff before being selected to stand.

Other candidates who have thrown their hats in the ring include Richard Butler, a Kenilworth councillor who will contest the seat for Labour, and Frank Ward for UKIP, a former Labour councillor, retired builder and manager who is also chairman of Hertsmere UKIP.

The guide to candidates standing in Barnet's three constituencies can be found here.