The Liberal Democrat candidate for Chipping Barnet

Mark Durrant, Liberal Democrat candidate for Chipping Barnet

My son, Alex, has autism and needs full time care. When he was younger, I was initially a single parent and let me tell you this was not easy. It was difficult to find the care workers Alex needed, and it was also very expensive.

Anyone who has been a carer knows how rewarding but challenging it can be. The Liberal Democrats want everyone to be able to live independently and with dignity. We will introduce free personal care, so that provision is based on need, not ability to pay. We also need to fix the NHS after years of under investment from the Tories.

We will invest another £9 billion a year so that everyone can see a doctor within 7 days or 24 hours if it is urgent. I want to see a world in which our children can grow up in an environment which is fit to pass on to the next generation.

A vote for me is a vote to tackle climate change and stop sewage being dumped in our rivers. Plus, we need more good quality housing so that our children can own somewhere before they are in their late 30s.

This should include social housing for the neediest, which is why the Liberal Democrats are committing to building 150,000 social housing units a year by the end of the next parliament.

If I am elected in May, I will work night and day to make sure Barnet gets a fair deal.

Here is an overview of the contest and statements from five other candidates: David Farbey – Green Party, Hamish Haddow – Reform UK, Richard Hewison – Rejoin EU, Dan Tomlinson – Labour and Theresa Villiers – Conservative.

Barnet Post approached Independent Kay Lauer for a statement but did not received a response.

Note: Barnet Post approached all candidates for the borough’s seats and offered them the opportunity to make a 250-word statement. The purpose of these statements is to give voters the clearest possible understanding of the perspectives of people who are asking for their support. In doing this, we acknowledge that some views expressed my cause offence and distress and apologise if this is the case.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.