Mark Hughes is Ukip’s candidate for Harwich and North Essex.

His political past has seen him hold the role of chairman of North Hertfordshire District Council, stand as Conservative parliamentary candidate for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney and later for Wentworth, and be elected as the second youngest mayor of Royston.

Now 53, he runs a financial planning service based in Hertfordshire and has been married to his wife Hazel for 28 years. They have two children who are both studying at university.

In his spare time, he enjoys cinema, is an avid reader and is also a qualified youth football coach and referee.

Why you should vote for me

People are fed up with a political elite – Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs who care more about party politics than the people who they represent.

They’re people who studied politics at university, spent time as researchers for a party, were MPs’ assistants and then finally picked up a seat in Parliament. Some are even the children of MPs.

My father died when I was a teenager. Leaving school at 16, I had a series of jobs and experienced redundancy before studying for professional qualifications. I started my own business, which has now grown to employ more than ten people, managing assets in excess of £100million.

I have been leader, chairman and mayor of councils during a successful career in local government.

I believe that my breadth of life experiences will help me as constituency MP.

What I will work for, my ten pledges to you: n Planning – Ukip will protect the green belt.

  • Law and order – No further police station closures and no reduction in front-line officers.
  •  Transport – Improvements to ensure that the A120 is upgraded. Ensure commuter trains are provided with more capacity to meet demand.
  • Faster internet- Seek priority for fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) broadband, which could see speeds rise to 1Gbps (gigabit per second).
  • Education – Support for grammar schools.
  • Ensure our farmers and fishermen are not driven from their livelihoods.
  • Honour the military covenant.
  • Leave the EU.
  • Control our borders.
  • Reduce regulation on business.

Vote Ukip.