A 23-YEAR-OLD is campaigning to become MP for the borough where she was born and bred.

Alice Sakura Dartnell is standing as an independent parliamentary candidate for Gravesham at the upcoming general election.

She says she understands what the people of the borough want because she has lived there most of her life, and her family’s ties to the area go back five generations.

The Truro Road in Gravesend resident said: “I understand what it is like to live here, work here, socialise here, and have friends and family here.

“Who better to help Gravesham by becoming its MP than someone who has such knowledge and experience?”

Miss Dartnell, who has a degree in business management, says she wants to be an MP people can relate to and approach with ideas to improve the borough.

She said: “I want to include all members of the community when making decisions, so I will hold regular focus groups and think tanks.”

Although she is aware some may view her youth as a disadvantage, Miss Dartnell says she will draw on the experience of her family, friends and constituents.

For example, she says talking to her father, who is a Met Police officer, and her mother, who is from Japan, helps her understand issues relating to crime and ethnic minorities.

Miss Dartnell says being an independent MP means she “will not sacrifice policies which benefit the people in favour of climbing the political career ladder”.

The expenses scandal and an accident her father suffered were two key moments that inspired her to quit her job in retail to try to become an MP.

She said: “People should be able to trust their MP, so I will publicly display my expenses online.

“In October last year my father suffered facial injuries when he came off his push bike due to a pothole near Echo Square.

“That pothole should not have been there, and there are lots of other problems that need to be fixed. I want to fix them.”

For more information on Miss Dartnell’s campaign, call her on 07506 363394 or go to aliceformp.co.uk