The Times Series has asked each parliamentary candidate to explain why they should become an MP at the General Election on May 7.

Here UKIP candidate for Chipping Barnet, Victor Kaye, explains why you should vote for him.

1) Our country needs real change, which neither of the old parties can give us. We need a trading agreement with the EU without being controlled by Brussels. We need a sensible and fair immigration policy such as in Australia. We need a major housebuilding programme on brownfield sites, with at least 40 per cent affordable homes. And we need proper support for the NHS, defence and the public services.

2) The biggest myth in this election is that the Tories are competent at handling the economy. The reality is that they have doubled the annual deficit they inherited from Labour, and doubled the cumulative debt to an eye-watering £1.5 trillion. What an inheritance to leave to our grandchildren!

3) It has been all pain for no gain, but they propose to double the dose of quack medicine if they get back in. Yet more savage cuts in welfare, and yet more drastic cuts in public services.

4) UKIP’s answer is to save the £55 million paid per day in EU membership fees. Plus by targeting foreign aid to where it is needed most we could save the £10 billion per year currently wasted. We would cancel the unnecessary HS2 project. And we want a real crackdown on tax dodgers.

5) UKIP is neither to the right nor the left. We have a common-sense, non-ideological approach to the issues, putting the national interest first.

What has happened to democracy in Chipping Barnet? Three of the planned public hustings events have had to be cancelled, apparently because the Conservative and Labour candidates are “too busy” to appear on the platform. Do they both assume that this constituency is a cinch for the Tories? If so, have I got news for them!