The men who want your votes in May (From Gazette Series)

The men who want your votes in May

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Blair announced that the country will choose the next government on Thursday, May 5. Here is an introduction to the candidates standing in the Stroud constituency.

PIC TO COME

David Drew MP - Labour Mr Drew, 53, was born in Gloucestershire and is married with four children. He gained a BA in Economics from Nottingham University, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Birmingham University, an MA in Historical Studies from Bristol Polytechnic and a MEd from the University of West of England.

He has served as a town, district and county councillor and was elected as MP for Stroud in 1997 with a majority of 5,039, having first fought the seat in 1992. He is a member of the Procedure Select Committee and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee as well as treasurer of the All-Party Poverty Group and vice-chairman of the Rural Group of Labour MPs.

QZGD7592V-carmichael Neil Carmichael

Neil Carmichael - Conservative Mr Carmichael was born in 1961 and lives in Stroud with his wife, Laurence, and children, James and twins Alicia and Rebecca.

He was educated at St Peter's School, York, and Nottingham University, where he studied politics.

He is a public affairs consultant and has several other business interests including promotion of contemporary art, and small business incubation and development.

He is a governor of Stroud College and also a governor of Randwick School. Mr Carmichael has stood for election on two previous occasions in Leeds East and Stroud.

GSR1078V04 Peter Hirst

Dr Peter Hirst - Liberal Democrat: Dr Hirst, 53, is originally from Middlewich, Cheshire. To fight the campaign he is taking time off from his job as a locum consultant physician. He is married and has two daughters.

Dr Hirst's main political experience has been as ward member for Kinderton on Congleton Borough Council while he has also been a member of Middlewich Town Council for the past five years.

PIC TO COME

Green Party - Martin Whiteside: Mr Whiteside lives in Thrupp, near Stroud. He has been a parish councillor and is a Stroud District councillor. He is married with three children.

He is involved in many community initiatives including canal regeneration, protection of our green fields from badly planned housing development, development of community play spaces, making our roads and lanes safer and much more. He works as a development consultant advising organisations on their programmes in many countries.

UKIP have yet to announce whether a candidate will stand in Stroud.