10 commandments for general election candidates: Our manifesto for what we want from SE London and north Kent MPs

Now it’s time for all of them who want to represent the good people of SE London and north Kent to get real.

It’s time for them to start making proper pledges on the things that really matter and more importantly the things they can, and WILL, deliver if elected next month.

To help them out we’ve put together this list of 10 commandments for all the local parliamentary candidates to follow during the general election campaign, and beyond if they win the backing of voters.

Think of this as our manifesto – but rather than it being us delivering this programme of policies, we hope it is acted upon by the MPs you choose.

If you think we’ve missed out any crucial issues, feel free to add your comments below.

1. Battle Southeastern

We’ve been plagued by train troubles for as long as we can remember and Southeastern is often named as the culprit.

@Se_Railway the result of you forcing Hayes passengers into the 0815 at lewisham. Why do you think this acceptable? pic.twitter.com/zw55cQoUKo

— M.R.Michael (@The_Cybermatt) January 13, 2015

Delays, cancellations, trains that are too short are just some of the issues readers face every day.

Thamesmead and Erith MP Teresa Pearce is one of the politicians on the train company’s case but we hope any newly elected parliamentarians carry on campaigning.

2. No sleaze

Back in 1997 Tory Beckenham MP Piers Merchant was disgraced when he was papped kissing 17-year-old Anna Cox, a Soho hostess, in a local park, while his wife was out canvassing for him.

He held a press call the following day to deny it, kissed his wife in front of the cameras and then carried on the trysts with the teenager. Finally, he resigned after an old friend installed secret cameras showing the pair having sex.

We don’t necessarily want our politicians squeaky clean – a bit of character does no harm - but we want them to keep their minds, and hands, on the job they were elected for.

3. Hands off our pubs

One thing News Shopper readers are very concerned about is the state of pubs across south east London and north Kent.

Mottingham residents were up in arms when the Porcupine was threatened (and are still fighting supermarket firm Lidl for the building) and many were devastated to see the Catford Tavern go up in flames recently – keep an eye out and make sure they’re safe. Or else PubSpy will get even grumpier...

4. Someone with a bit of a grit

Beckenham’s Bob Stewart and Gravesham’s Adam Holloway both had army careers before turning to politics and occasionally this shows.

In October 2013, Mr Holloway dashed to help a family whose baby was almost killed when a car crushed the buggy. In 2005 we reported how the same hero made a citizen's arrest after a flasher exposed himself to young children.

We like it when our politicians show a bit of character – especially if they save innocent children in the process.

5. Keep awake in parliament

One of our MPs fell asleep in parliament during a bedroom tax debate. We’re not saying who, obviously, (ok – it was Bob Stewart) and we’re not saying we’ve never fallen asleep at work because obviously we do all the time but at least try and do it out of the view of cameras. If you can.

6. Protect our hospitals

Just leave our hospitals alone. Lewisham East Heidi Alexander opposed the closure of Lewisham A&E, as did News Shopper and thousands of people, and that’s what we’d like to see more of in the future.

Don’t use the NHS to score election points though. Saying one thing in your campaign and then doing something different if you’re elected is not cool.

Also, if there’s a choice between backing the health secretary’s evil plans and backing protesters in your constituency, you know what to do.

7. Don’t be too quiet

Eltham MP Clive Efford was recently told off by the Speaker John Bercow for “squawking”. But we like a bit of noise and commotion so we were quite pleased.

Perhaps don’t overdo it, but making yourself heard in the Commons and actually being noticed isn’t a bad thing.

8. Get to know the areas you represent

In News Shopper’s experience, it definitely shows when an MP actually lives in their constituency.

Mr Stewart told us in 2012 he made it his mission to live in Beckenham if he got elected there. Teresa Pearce recently took us on a tour of Thamesmead and was full of knowledge, having lived in the area for almost her whole life.

So do get to know the area – there’s normally quite a bit happening in NewsShopperland.

9. Clean up the mess

The unsightly and smelly rubbish mountain at Waste4Fuel in St Paul’s Cray has blighted residents’ lives for years. There’s finally some light at the end of the tunnel on this situation, but it shouldn’t have been allowed to drag on for so long.

Chances are, something like this will occur again somewhere – an out-of-control mess that makes people miserable. When it does, don’t just pay lip service to it and prattle on about how bad it is and how it must be awful for residents living nearby. Instead, roll your sleeves up, get a wheelbarrow and start shovelling the crap up yourself, at least metaphorically speaking. Do something about it instead of just speaking about it. Be a man or woman of action, not just words.

10. Be cross about the Dartford Crossing

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson is always on about the Dartford Crossing – last year he said how residents were “sick and tired” of it.

The crossing certainly seems to be the source of many people’s nightmares so it’s good Mr Johnson sticks his neck out and keeps an eye on the bloody thing.

What’s not good though is that after nearly 50 years motorists are still paying to use the crossing.

When the first tunnel was built in 1969, the government promised to scrap the tolls once enough cash had been raised to cover construction and maintenance costs. Despite the bill being paid in 2003, the tolls remain albeit in the form of free-flow electronic charging now.

The politician who finally achieves getting the tolls scrapped altogether will win a place in a lot of people’s good books for ever.