I am Alice Sakura Dartnell. I am 23 years old, was born and bred in Gravesend.

I currently live at home with my parents, as do many graduates who need to save on rent, near Kings Farm and Whitehill.

My father Stephen is one of many generations who were also born and bred in Gravesend. My mother Hatsue was born in Okinawa, Japan.

I went to Gravesend Grammar School for Girls where I did my GCSEs and A levels (including achieving a B in government and politics). In 2008 I graduated with a 2.1 from Sheffield University in management. Then after a girl’s holiday and celebration in Ibiza, I took off for a gap year in Australia, stopping first at Thailand where after a four week intense course, I qualified as an English teacher, so that I can teach anyone who does not have English as their first language.

Why I wanted to stand for MP of Gravesham

I decided to run for MP when I was came home after a gap year in October 2009. . After a year away travelling, I could now see too many flaws with the way things were being managed but more importantly, too many mistakes being made in our political system and politicians abusing their position.

I returned to Gravesend to find people's attitude about the economy, society and government was very negative. They was a massive disrust in MPs and politics in general. I realised then, that Parliament and Gravesham would benefit from having someone more normal, more relatable and who knew the area well.

  Examples and incidents that got me thinking...

      I was outraged by the expense scandal, the fact that over half the MPs currently in power greedily put unacceptable expenses on to the tax payer and many of them refusing to pay it back when they were caught out. This is a total exploitation of their position and authority, and abuse of our trust into them as our representatives. I understand the need for expenses on costs that are apart of the job, such as office and travel, but do not see how duck houses and decorating bills fit that!

      In October 2009 my father suffered facial injuries when he came off his push bike due to a pot hole that had not been filled in near Echo Square (and I know that he is not the only case in Gravesham). Then in January 2010 £200 worth of damage was caused to my parents car when I hit a pot hole at 20mph in Whitehill. I know I am not the only person who calls for better road maintenance! I realise that this is the council's job and not an MP, but it highlights the flaws in our governing systems and where my theme of intervention and prevention fits.

      Also, I became aware at just how over the top some of our ‘political correctness’ laws have become, for example, banning kids from singing ‘baa baa black sheep’ or no longer able to say 'black coffee'. I learnt that the Aussies are a pretty relaxed type, yet they are a thriving nation, healthy and happy. I realised that the average person living in Britain didn’t want these ridiculous rules in place either, it was the pen-pushers at the top who had commanded these.

I understand now that this is where we are going wrong in society and politics! There are too many rules and enforcements in place that the average person does not want. The reason being, that those at the top put them in place without any real understanding of what the people want, how and why. That is when I realised that what Gravesham needs is an  MP that has a bit more understanding of how the average person lives, what they really want from politicians and governing bodies and why they do the things they do. And surely there is no better understanding than experience itself, no matter how much research you do!

I decided then to run for MP of Gravesham... I am young and therefore in touch with modern thinking; am Gravesend born and bred yet have an understanding of other cultures; I also live a more ‘average’ life than the current MPs, shopping at Primark, eating out at the Harvester, catching public transport, having state education, drive a ford ka and visit my 70 year old nan every week.

I have an understanding of what it is like to grow up and grow old here. I currently work in Gravesend, socialise here, and have many friends and family based in Gravesham too. Who better to help Gravesham by becoming its MP than someone who has such knowledge and experience!