A MONTH after being ousted as the borough's MP, Chris Pond says he is keen to represent the area again.

Mr Pond, whose eight-year tenure as Gravesham's MP ended on May 5, wants to return to parliament one day to complete "unfinished business".

He wants to see through the changes he brought to the benefit system to ensure single parents and people with disabilities always get the benefits they are entitled to.

The former minister for work and pensions said: "I had the awesome privilege of being able to make some important changes.

"I halved the amount of fraud in the benefit system and I was able to introduce reforms in housing benefits and make a real difference to people's lives in the area and across the country."

The father-of-three admits it has been hard to adjust from parliamentary life but he is content to spend more time with his family.

He added: "It does seem strange. It's a lot less frenetic. I'm no longer rushing from pillar to post, trying to be in different places at once.

"I know it's a cliche but now I can spend more time with my family and my four-month-old daughter, which is a real treat and luxury."

Although he says he was sad to lose the Gravesham seat to Conservative opponent Adam Holloway last month, the experience has not deterred him from going back into politics.

He added: "It was a huge blow to lose the seat. But politics is still in my blood and I would like to return to parliament and complete unfinished business and to be given the opportunity to represent the people of Gravesham again.

"The Government has made a real commitment to changing the benefit system.

"We have tried to ensure we never see a return to what life was like during the days of Tory rule.

"For now though, I will enjoy my break and concentrate on other things in life, such as my family and spending more time doing charity work and writing books on different policy areas."