Candidate Statement: Mark Durrant – Barnet Post

Liberal Democrat candidate for Chipping Barnet

My son Alex is autistic and needs full time care. When he was younger I was a single parent initially and let me tell you it wasn’t easy. It was hard to find the caregivers Alex needed, and it was also very expensive.

Anyone who has been a caregiver knows how rewarding yet challenging it can be. Liberal Democrats want everyone to be able to live independently and with dignity. We will introduce free personal care so that provision is based on need, not ability to pay. We also need to fix the NHS after years of underinvestment by the Tories.

We will invest a further £9 billion a year so that everyone can see a doctor within 7 days or 24 hours if it is urgent. I want to see a world where our children can grow up in a suitable environment to pass on to the next generation.

A vote for me is a vote to tackle climate change and stop sewage being dumped into our rivers. In addition, we need more good quality housing so that our children can own somewhere before they reach their 30s.

This should include social housing for the most needy, which is why the Lib Dems are committed to building 150,000 social housing units a year by the end of the next parliament.

If elected in May, I will work day and night to make sure Barnet gets a fair deal.

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The public they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

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