On May 7, a potential 77,000 voters will head to the polling stations to elect Epsom and Ewell’s next MP.

Traditionally regarded as a safe Conservative seat, Tory Chris Grayling has been the MP since 2001.

In the 2010 General Election, which saw a 70 per cent turnout in Epsom and Ewell, Mr Grayling won 56 per cent of the vote and nearly 31,000 votes.

The Liberal Democrats came second, winning 27 per cent of the vote and nearly 15,000 votes, while Labour were third with almost 12 per cent of the vote and 6,500 votes.

There was a 2.1 per cent swing from Conservative to Liberal Democrat in the constituency.

This year, seven candidates are vying to become Epsom and Ewell’s MP from across the political spectrum.

With less than three weeks to go until election day, the Epsom Guardian asked each candidate to introduce themselves and explain why you should vote for them...

CONSERVATIVE 

Chris Grayling, 53

Your Local Guardian:

Epsom and Ewell’s MP since 2001, father-of-two Mr Grayling has lived in Ashtead for 15 years.

Having served as Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, and Employment Minister, under the Coalition Government, he worked in the media and television production before entering politics.

Afraid of not "being able to make a positive difference", his other greatest fear is of snakes. He admires people’s ability to laugh at themselves and most respects Abraham Darby - "the genius who started the industrial revolution".

He says his worst job has been “washing up greasy saucepans” and he considers his greatest achievements to be “hitting Dennis Lillee for 4 in a charity cricket match and being the person who organised the pardon for Alan Turing”.

He is married to Sue and his hobbies include walking, travel and watching football, with his favourite television programme being Game of Thrones.

Harbouring a desire to be a train driver as a child, his motto in life is "if you don’t ask, you don’t get".

First on his list to do if elected is to get Epsom station into Zone 6 and, if he is still Justice Secretary, to introduce specialist mental health centres into the prison estate.

Personal statement:

"Over the past 14 years I have always sought to be an active local MP, working on behalf of the community.

"I have been centrally involved in the successful efforts to see off five different attempts to downgrade Epsom Hospital, and have been instrumental in securing extra funding for school places in the area and oyster cards for Epsom.

"I have also been part of a Government over the past five years which has turned our economy around and brought claimant count unemployment down to its lowest since 1975.

"I have worked to deliver better support for the unemployed, and more recently to toughen up our justice system but also to improve the rehabilitation of offenders.

"I hope to win re-election in Epsom and Ewell so I can carry on my work on behalf of local people and also to continue to make a difference nationally."

LABOUR

Sheila Carlson, 62

Your Local Guardian:

An Epsom resident of 34 years, Ms Carlson became an Epsom and Ewell Labour borough councillor in 1997 and won subsequent elections in 1999, 2003, 2009 and 2011.

She served as the borough’s mayor in 2011 to 2012.

Trained as a special needs teacher, she has worked at the GMB trade union for the last decade, where she is now an officer.

Ms Carlson, who has three grown-up children, says her greatest achievement was "running my third London Marathon while still bald following chemotherapy for breast cancer".

Her worst job was working in an animal laboratory for Imperial Cancer Research.

"I lasted two days. One of the rats died and the others in the cage ate it, I left," she says.

Ms Carlson’s motto is “let those who have the broadest shoulders carry the biggest burden” and her greatest fear is “death of the NHS and loss of civil rights for all”.

She values honesty and sincerity in others and the person she most admires is Will Thorne – founder of the National Gas Workers Union, “an illiterate young man, taught to read by Eleanor Marx, who later went on to become one of Labour’s first MPs”.

She says the skeleton in her closet is that she was a poll tax dodger: “My mortgage went up by 16 per cent then Thatcher brought in the poll tax which doubled our rates, so I could either pay it or feed the children. I chose the children.”

Ms Carlson’s interests include art, natural history and running and, at the end of May, she will get married for the second time, to her partner Dave.

First on her list to do if elected is to create a “proper statue” to Emily Davison, the suffragette who died at the 1913 Derby after stepping out in front of the King’s horse, and to get proper recognition for the dead buried in Horton Cemetery.

Personal statement:

"I believe everyone has a right to earn enough to put a roof over their heads and feed themselves.

"That is why I joined the Labour party and why I want to see a rise in the national minimum wage to £8 plus an end to zero hours contracts.

"Austerity cuts have not worked for ordinary worker. I want to ensure everyone is treated fairly, not just the rich few.

"On the planning committee, I have spoken out about the lack of affordable housing in the area. We need more to be built with properly affordable rents, and protection for private renters.

"I will continue to push the owner of Horton Cemetery to either maintain it, or hand it over.

"Legislation by the Coalition which disadvantaged workers and allow hospitals to be closed will be repealed.

"On the doorsteps, the NHS is mentioned most by voters. The Labour party started the NHS, only the Labour party will protect it.

"A vote for me will ensure Epsom and Ewell has a local MP who will stand up for local people.

"I will not disappear into the House of Commons, nor will I ask you, the voters, to fund additional properties for me in Westminster."

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT 

Stephen Gee, 55

Your Local Guardian:

A chartered quantity surveyor and managing partner of his own construction consultancy, Mr Gee has lived in the Nork ward of Epsom for 24 years with his wife Anne and two children.

He has stood several times for election to Reigate and Banstead Council and Surrey County Council, and, in 2005, he stood as a parliamentary candidate for Wimbledon where he increased the Liberal Democrat vote by 40 per cent.

His greatest achievement is "forming a business in 1985 that is now a global construction consultancy employing 120 staff" and his life’s philosophy is the Happiness Advantage - "that being positive, happy and optimistic about things brings success".

On his business, Mr Gee says: “It wins awards under my leadership and direction for employment practises and innovative management based on freedom, trust and empowering staff to deliver results.

“These techniques I believe can and should be translated into political decisions to achieve a fairer and more open society that provides opportunities for all.

“I have run campaigns within my industry on graduate unemployment and actively work with Construction Youth Trust to engage with those from deprived backgrounds to bring them into the industry and provide employment opportunities.”

Mr Gee says he is “passionate about my family, my business and my sport” and that he enjoys playing football and cricket, running and keeping fit.

Wanting to be a professional football player for Everton as a youngster, Mr Gee says his worst job was cleaning toilets at university “and again in business in the 1990s recession when we couldn’t afford a cleaner”.

Valuing tolerance and fairness in others, the Liberal Democrat most admires Nelson Mandela and his greatest fear is “a majority Conservative government that would slash and burn the state to an unsustainable level”.

His favourite television programme is Spooks and voting for Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher in his first election in 1979 is the skeleton in his closet.

Asked what he most loves and hates about Epsom and Ewell, Mr Gee says: “I love the Downs, I hate Banstead station.”

First on his list to do if elected is to “deal with tax evasion and make companies and individuals pay tax in the country where they earn it”.

Personal statement:

"I believe passionately in a stronger economy and a fairer and open society that provides opportunities for all.

"We would spend less than Labour and cut less than the Tories and protect the most vulnerable in society who have been hit hardest by the austerity measures.

"It is a disgrace that so many big companies are avoiding paying tax in the countries in which they earn income and this has a real effect in times of austerity on the level of cuts in benefits that the poorest in society have had to bear.

"It is a great social injustice and something that has to be tackled if we are to create a fairer society.

"As a party we have just made proposals to raise £8bn of taxes in the next parliament which will include only raising it from the wealthiest in society and from companies that aren’t paying their fair share.

"I have supported campaigns across the Epsom and Ewell constituency including save Epsom Hospital, believe the Oyster zones should be extended to Epsom station, and the town centre needs active support and regeneration.

"My political interests include economics, business, housing and foreign affairs."

UKIP 

Robert Leach, 66

Your Local Guardian:

Chartered accountant and tax lecturer Mr Leach was a Residents’ Association councillor in Epsom and Ewell from 1999 to 2011 and won three elections to the borough council.

A keen pianist, he is married with three grown-up children and says that, as a Christian, he most admires Jesus Christ.

His greatest fear is "becoming disabled" and the worst job he has ever done is "attending a committee meeting".

He considers "achieving a measure of success in different disciplines: accountant, writer, musician, politician" as his greatest achievement.

His life’s motto is "accept everyone".

"That does not mean you have to agree with them or condone what they have done. It does mean recognise them as a fellow person," he says.

Mr Leach, whose favourite television programme is Inspector Morse, hates that "so many people have to use food banks, Wonga and pawnbrokers" in Epsom.

First on his list to do if elected is to “clamp down on migration to the UK”.

Personal statement:

"I am a local man who would be available to constituents rather than pursuing a parliamentary career.

"I have a record of achieving things for residents rather than jumping on populist bandwagons.

"UKIP would leave the bureaucratic and expensive European Union, control immigration, cut taxes, abolish bedroom tax, restrict overseas aid to genuine cases, ban the export of live animals, and develop renewable forms of energy.

"More details can be found on our website www.molevalleyepsom.ukipbranch.org."

GREEN 

Susan McGrath, 51

Your Local Guardian:

Mother-of-two Ms McGrath works as a psychotherapist at her own private practice and was a counsellor at the University of Surrey until August.

She has worked in mental health for the past 15 years and is passionate about emotional intelligence and wellbeing.

Originally from Glasgow, Ms McGrath, who is divorced, lives in Dorking and has been a Surrey resident for 15 years.

She joined the Green party 18 months ago because of her concerns about climate change.

Her children are her greatest achievement but the worst job Ms McGrath has ever done is “changing nappies”.

She most admires a sense of humour in other people and the skeleton in her closet is that she is a Bay City Rollers fan.

“Another five years of austerity” is her greatest fear and the person she most admires is Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist who founded analytical psychology.

Ms McGrath’s hobbies include singing in a choir, yoga and meditation, walking her dog and working on her allotment.

Her motto is "an unexamined life is not worth living", a sentiment attributed to Greek philosopher Socrates.

First on her list to do if elected is “managed change from fossil fuels to renewables, creating jobs and prosperity in the process”.

When asked what she loves and hates most about Epsom and Ewell, Ms McGrath says: “Hate is too strong but I wish people could feel the sense of urgency around the environmental challenges we face and the link to global capitalism.

“I love the fact that most people have been supportive of a Green candidate in the election even if they do not agree with the policies.”

Personal statement:

"I want to give the people of Epsom and Ewell the opportunity to vote Green.

"The Green party promotes the common good and stands up for equality, sustainability and fairness.

"Those principles apply to all the issues of the day.

"On every level our society is broken and morally bankrupt. The ideology of privatisation and unfettered capitalism is robbing ordinary people of the opportunity to thrive.

"Our wellbeing is being sacrificed on the altar of profits.

"There is no greater example of this folly than the banking crisis where ordinary people had to pay for private recklessness.

"The problem is not wealth generation it is what happens afterwards.

"If I am elected I will be promoting the living wage as a way of building an economy that works for everyone.

"I would be campaigning to restore public services.

"I believe we have to move from fossil fuels to renewable energy if we have any chance of adjusting to climate change.

"We have the technology but not the political will.

"The Green party has the will and it is our mission to protect our planet for future generations to come.

"Voting for the Green party is a vote for hope."

INDEPENDENT 

Lionel Blackman, 55

Your Local Guardian:

Criminal lawyer Mr Blackman, who has a local practice, has lived in Epsom for 45 years and is a married father-of-two.

He lectures in law in the UK and abroad, has undertaken many overseas human rights missions including in Burma and Kazakhstan, and was the first solicitor to lead and win a case in the Supreme Court.

Mr Blackman was an Epsom councillor from 2005 to 2007 and a parliamentary candidate for Esher and Walton in 2010.

His interests and hobbies include international human rights, piano playing, dog walking, table tennis and history.

His greatest fear is false imprisonment and the person he most admires is Gandhi.

Mr Blackman values others’ ability to listen and a “morning paper round on a wet and cold winter’s day” is the worst job he has ever done.

The solicitor considers his greatest achievement to be “persuading a judge in the House of Lords to overrule himself” and says having “lots of skeleton arguments in my filing cabinet” is the skeleton in his closet.

"Smile and the world smiles with you" is his life’s motto.

First on Mr Blackman’s list to do if elected is “protection of the Human Rights Act 1998 from further assaults in parliament and media”.

Personal statement:

"As an Independent candidate my primary objective is to attract votes away from the Conservative parliamentary candidate in order to oppose his party’s professed desire to take our country out of the European system of international human rights safeguards.

"Chris Grayling declared before a Conservative party conference that his party would 'scrap the Human Rights Act'. Such a step is backward for our country, Europe and the world.

"The UK should not be so selfish. We have responsibilities both to the world’s nations and to following generations to support universal human rights.

"Many in the Conservative party, including the immediate past Attorney General and Lord Chancellor Ken Clarke, disagree with their party’s policy on the Human Rights Act.

"There is also disillusion with many aspects of party politics and it would be healthy for our parliament and politics to have more Independent MPs at Westminster.

"If elected I will be independent of any political party.

"I will vote according to good reason and my conscience.

"I will make no irresponsible or unjustified expenses claims. Indeed I made no claims at all, even when entitled to, as a local councillor."

INDEPENDENT 

Gareth Harfoot, 35

Your Local Guardian:

An Ewell resident of three years, Mr Harfoot was born and raised in Hong Kong and moved to the UK 17 years ago.

Having done various jobs, including working in a shoe shop, at the British Museum, and in door-to-door sales after dropping out of medical school, he has worked as a cameraman in the film industry for the past decade.

Mr Harfoot, who lives with his girlfriend, believes people should "question everything and enjoy yourself when you can".

He most admires empathy in others and says the skeleton in his closet is "periodically suffering from depression".

The cameraman’s hobbies and interests include history, cooking, writing, miniature modelling, playing the guitar, playing board and video games, reading, learning and eating.

Mr Harfoot says the person he most admires is The Muppet Show producer Jim Henson because “he taught kids, he brought joy to the world and, from what I hear, he was just a good guy who wanted to make the world a better place”.

His greatest fear is “that voter apathy and political misdirection create a country in which I no longer wish to live and world in which I wouldn’t want to bring children into”.

He most admires empathy in others and says the worst job he has ever done is door-to-door sales.

“I hated that job so much, but it was that or back into the soul-destroying life of being on jobseekers’ allowance where you’re repeatedly told what you’re worth as a human being and how little that is,” Mr Harfoot says.

Asked what he considers his greatest achievement, he says: “If I can convince anyone to vote for me at all in the face of overwhelming odds, or if I can impart the information so that someone else can run, it will be this election.

“Britain in general lives too much in the past and could look towards future great achievements instead.”

Mr Harfoot hates that Epsom and Ewell is a ‘safe seat’ “so people are less likely to upset the status quo here”.

First on his list to do if elected is “stop making video diaries about how to run for election and start making videos about how the government runs” as well as “begin trying to convince 650 Independents to run in the next election”.

Personal statement:

"I want to believe this system works and the best way of proving this is by throwing myself into it.

"The people of Britain deserve MPs that represent their needs and desires at Westminster rather than those of a party and its donors.

"I’m running to show that it’s possible, that you, your children, or your grandchildren could stand, and that change isn’t entirely out of reach of the people.

"I believe in egalitarianism, in human rights, free public healthcare and legal aid.

"Neo-liberal economics has failed the masses and the world is becoming less equal.

"I feel Trident reimplementation is money that could be better spent on teachers, or nurses, emergency services and prisons.

"Finally, I hold true that education can set us free from the fallacy that debt, benefit fraud and immigration are the top issues facing Britain today.

"Vote for me only if you think I can represent your views, if not then please vote for someone who can; but I urge you to please vote for good reasons, not for continuity, xenophobia, as a protest, or for a laugh, but for someone who will work hard for you and your interests."

For more General Election coverage visit www.epsomguardian.co.uk/generalelection2015