With the General Election just one month away we have put together a bite-size guide to the candidates hoping to succeed Brooks Newmark as Braintree's MP.

 

James Cleverly, Conservative, was born in Lewisham and has been Greater London Assembly member for Bexley and Bromley since 2008.

He has already resigned as chairman of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, but plans to stay on in his £18,000 a year role representing his London constituency for 12 months.

The 45-year-old is a major in the Territorial Army and has the Territorial Decoration for long service. He has worked in magazine and web publishing.

Mr Cleverly was appointed as the Mayor of London’s Youth Ambassador in 2009 and in 2010 became chairman of London Waste and Recycling Board. In 2005 he stood as the Conservative candidate for the Westminster seat of Lewisham East, taking 24 per cent of the vote.

 

Malcolm Fincken, Labour, originally came to Essex as the head of English at Hedingham School. He stayed at the school for 13 years until he was promoted to a senior post at a school in Shoeburyness.

Later in his career he returned to teaching in Essex, first at Hedingham School and then at Notley High School.

Mr Fincken stood for the Saffron Walden seat at the 1997 General Election, coming third with a 21.5 per cent vote. He has been a district councillor for Halstead Trinity since 2011 and had two previous stints as councillor. Mr Fincken has served as a Halstead Town councillor since 1979.

He believes transport and roads, including dualling the A120 and building a Braintree bypass, are key issues.

 

Matthew Klesel, Lib Dem, lives in Chelmsford where he attended Moulsham High School.

He then studied at the University of Kent before going to work for the Lib Dem MPs Julian Huppert and Sir Alan Beith.

He previously stood in the 2013 Essex County Council elections for the Stock division, winning 4.1 per cent of the vote.

The 24-year-old currently works as a public affairs manager at the Advertising Association.

 

Richard Bingley, Ukip, began political life as a Conservative councillor in Corringham and Fobbing between 1997 and 2000.

He switched parties to become a Labour councillor for Tilbury between 2006-2010.

Mr Bingley also served as a senior press officer for Labour. He was head of Labour’s East of England and London media operations during Tony Blair’s second and third terms as PM.

Mr Bingley defected to Ukip last year after claiming to have become disillusioned with both his former parties. He lectures on security and counterterrorism at Buckinghamshire New University and has written two books. He believes Ukip is now the only party that supports democracy, social fairness and economic literacy.

 

Paul Jeater, Green, is a former Labour party member who served as a borough councillor for Redbridge between 1986-1992.

He stood for Ilford North in the 1987 General Election, winning 27 per cent of the vote.

Mr Jeater then worked as a campaign organiser for Labour MEP Caroline Tongue before returning to teaching at the Ursuline School in Brentwood.

He joined the Greens in 2011. Mr Jeater follows national Green Party policies on scrapping tuition fees and reversing NHS privatisation.

On local issues, Mr Jeater would like to ensure a passing rail loop on the Braintree branch line gets built and that green spaces are protected from developers.

 

Toby Pereira, Independent, worked as a civil servant until he was made redundant in 2013.

Since then he has launched a career as a stand-up comedian and has competed in several competitions in London.

The former King Edward VI Grammar School pupil has a master’s degree in philosophy and has written a book on the subject called Stuff And Consciousness: Connecting Matter and Mind.

This is his first foray into the world of politics and he hopes to secure at least 5 per cent of the vote in order to get his £500 deposit back. Mr Pereira is standing as an independent because he believes the party political system is flawed.