People often ask what I stand for. Some people think politicians are all the same and there's little difference between us. That's not the case - for example, I believe that the State should not interfere in every aspect of people's lives as New Labour does.

Local resident Nicholas Bailey asked David a few questions about his views and what sort of an MP he would be.

What would a Conservative Britain be like?

 I thinK David Cameron has spelt it out very clearly.  In a Conservative Britain, if you put in the effort to bring in a wage, you will be better off. If you save money your whole life, you’ll be rewarded. If you start your own business, we’ll be right behind you. If you want to raise a family, we’ll support you. If you’re frightened, we’ll protect you. If you risk your safety to stop a crime, we’ll stand by you. If you risk your life to fight for your country, we will honour you. We will reward those who take responsibility, and care for those who can’t." 

The Conservatives believe in this country and its people.  We want safer communities, an end to uncontrolled immigration, dignity for our pensioners, better education for children and an NHS that is the envy of the world.  None of this can be achieved overnight.  First we must repair our economy and our broken society.  We are all in this together.  With your support it can be done.

Many people will vote for their local candidate rather than the party leader.  What sort of an MP will you be and how will you be different to the current Labour MP?

I live in a flat just off the High Street so I use the same local services and shops as everyone else in this community.  I use an NHS doctor and dentist and have experienced local A&E the same as many of my neighbours.  I have enjoyed holding public meetings, some with shadow ministers others on my own and I'll continue to hold those regularly in addition to weekly surgeries.  It's important for people to get the chance of asking their MP tough questions in person - and not just a few weeks before an election.  I'll be a familiar face around the constituency, day in day out.  I'll hold an annual reception for those who contribute to our local community, and I will volunteer for at least 5 working days a week to make my own voluntary contribution to the community.

I'll host an annual Young People's Conference to enable younger residents to feed their ideas and opinions into the system; and I'll carry on with my street surveys throughout the next parliament as I have over the last 4 years.  I am not afraid to speak up on the issues that matter to my constituents, regardless of whether or not it makes me popular with my own party leader.  David Cameron knows I am here to put Eltham residents first and he respects that.

What would you say are the biggest issues for people in this constituency?

Based on thousands of conversations, letters, surveys and emails, I think it's obvious everyone is anxious about the economy and how it affects them and their families.  People are worried about their jobs, keeping their homes, and paying the bills.  Add to that the cuts in services at local hospitals with more in the pipeline, the state of local schools, uncontrolled immigration and the massive waiting list for council houses in Greenwich and you can see why people are looking for a change in direction.

There have been some suggestions that the Conservatives plan savage cuts.  For example, Labour claim you plan to cut SureStart, you want to triple tenants' rents, cancer patients will suffer under the Tories, and you'd be easy on criminals.

Labour have spread some nasty and unfounded smears because they're desperate.  They said we'd abolish Winter Fuel Payments and abolish the Freedom Pass.  Not only would we keep both, but it's a Labour government that cut nearly £30 million from the Freedom Pass!  Greenwich Labour councillors voted for council rents to rise by more than 6% when inflation was almost negligible while the Conservatives opposed such punishing increases.  We plan an extra 5,000 new SureStart health visitors.  The Conservatives would create a new £200 million Cancer Drugs Fund to enable patients access to the drugs they need.  And as for Labour accusing us of being soft on criminals...coming from a government that allowed tens of thousands of convicts out of prison early, many to reoffend, just shows how out of touch they are!

How will families be better off under the Conservatives?

For a start we won't raise National Insurance by yet another 1%, meaning 7 out of 10 working people will be better off - and nobody will be worse off.  Labour's tax on jobs would result in the loss of thousands of jobs, many of them at the lowest pay grade.  We'll end the financial penalty imposed on couples living together to raise their kids.  We will introduce more health visitors, work towards freezing Council Tax, fight crime, and improve education standards in all schools.  We will restore the link between earnings and pensions and reform social care.

Thank you David.  

If there's anything you'd like to know my views on please email me and I'll get an answer posted as soon as possible.