I LIVE and work in the heart of Windsor having taken up employment in the town in 2002. I am currently a finance manager for Centrica plc.

I have been very lucky in having come from a close and stable family. They have given me a good grounding in life.

At University, I studied Politics and became Chair of the Debating Society. My conversion to the liberal cause was already in evidence as a founder member of the “Earth Action Group” which encouraged recycling and other environmental action within the University.

After University, I pursued my career but also a number of voluntary and charitable activities in my spare time.

My decision to get involved in politics was a very sudden one. I had previously been good friends with someone who stood as a parliamentary candidate (for another party!) and this de-mystified the whole thing.

Then Iraq came along and I could not believe how Labour, ably supported by the Conservatives, had led us to war on false pretences. I was watching a debate on TV and had a Damascene conversion. Something inside me flipped and I became so angry that I joined the party straight away and the very next morning I turned up to help.

I chose the Liberal Democrats because aside from their principled stand against the war they have always sung a different tune in British politics - they have refused to jump on populist bandwagons but have instead stood up for the environment, for civil liberties and as the only party wanting genuine change to our outdated and unfair political system.

Since then I have become increasingly involved as a local activist. My proudest moment was possibly our victory over the local Conservative council when we forced them to abandon their plan to build a multi-storey car park at Alexandra Gardens, one of the most picturesque spots in Windsor.

The reason I am standing now is that I believe Windsor deserves an MP willing to work hard and stand up for the people who elect them.