Plaid Cymru – Lyn Ackerman

Lyn was brought up in Crumlin and has lived in Newbridge since 1989, so she knows her constituency very well. She was educated in Crumlin High Level and Newbridge Comprehensive.

She has represented Caerphilly on the country borough council for over 15 years and campaigns tirelessly for her local area.

She has two children, Emyr and Rhianydd, and is very active in the local community.

Email - lynackerman@plaid.cymru

Liberal Democrats – Brendan D’Cruz

Dr Brendan D’Cruz is the Welsh Liberal Democrats PPC for Islwyn.

He is a stay-at-home parent and a part-time Lecturer/Project Management Consultant. He is chairman of the South Wales East Valleys local party and promotes diversity.

He is fed up with voters being taken for granted in safe seats and things must change. He champions better Welsh NHS performance and increased funding, parity of mental health, affordable childcare, improved education opportunities, better paid jobs and apprentices, protecting our environment and communities, tackling fuel poverty, and clamping down on tax avoidance. Stronger economy, fairer society, opportunity for all.

Email - brendandcruz@bcs.org

Labour – Chris Evans

It has been my privilege to have served as your local MP. In that time I have met so many people who have suffered under this Tory Government.

The young who leave school not knowing if they will have a job, hardworking families stretching their budgets to pay for necessities and the elderly having to decide between heating and eating.

Islwyn cannot take another five years of Tory Government. We need a government with a plan for the many not the few. I pledge to work each and every day for you, to give my heart and soul to Islwyn.

Email - chrisevans4islwyn@gmail.com

Conservatives – Laura Jones

Born, raised and educated in South East Wales, Laura then went on to represent the area as a Welsh Assembly Member, 2003 to 2007.

Aged just 24 when elected, Laura was the then youngest Parliamentarian in Britain since William Pitt the Younger.

A keen sportswomen in her youth, it seemed apt that she then went on to become the Conservative spokesperson for Sport within the National Assembly.

Laura is a governor at the her son’s primary school in Usk, which she also attended and is a keen businesswomen and councillor, who is still very active within her local community on a voluntary basis.

Now having taken time out to start a family, Laura was keen to throw her hat back in the ring in an area that she cares deeply about, and that she formally represented in the Assembly, Islwyn.

Email - lauraannejones@hotmail.co.uk

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition – Joshua Rawcliffe

I'm a mixed race 26-year-old single dad. I ride a motorcycle and play in two rock bands and have toured Europe.

I've lived in the Newbridge area for nearly 15 years. It's where I grew up, went to school, where my friends are and will always be my home.

Over the past 10 years, I have worked both here and abroad with different charities trying to make a positive change in the world.

But becoming a father made me think about the world that will await my 16-month-old son. Britain needs change and reform, so what time is better than now.

TUSC is what Labour once was and should be - a party that truly represents and enables working class Britain. We are the only party that wholeheartedly opposes all the cuts.

Email - joshuarawcliffetusc@gmail.com

UKIP – Joe Smyth

Joe Smyth is 52 and lives in Newbridge with his family.

He joined the Royal Engineers at 16 in Chepstow as an Army apprentice and was later in the 9 Parachute Squadron RE, attached to the 3rd Battalion during the Falklands War.

After leaving the Army he joined the probation service as a supervisor for community service, his experience in the Army was well suited working with offenders.

He is currently employed in the transport and logistics industry.

He knows that he has the experience of real life/common sense and hard work behind him to make an impact for the people of Wales.

Joe has always been interested in people and politics and was the campaign manager and chairman of the Swansea branch of UKIP during the European elections of 2014, which UKIP won.

Email - joesmythukip@gmail.com

Green – Peter Varley

I have six key pledges for this election (six demands was enough for the Chartists, so it's enough for me)

1. End the austerity agenda by introducing a Citizens' Income,

2. Bring essential infrastructure back into public ownership, starting with the railways,

3. Support renewable energy,

4. Stop using unsustainable, polluting energy sources,

5. Keep our food GM free and safe to eat,

6. Defend ourselves and our future without attacking others.

Email - petervarley@walesgreenparty.com

Monster Raving Loony Party: Baron Von Magpie Bum

This is Baron von Magpie Bum’s first foray into the world of politics.

Von Magpie Bum is an ex punk rocker gone bad. He now amuses himself and others dancing with the Border Urban Morris Side and singing in Risca Male Choir. Generally not at the same time, or he falls over.

For the election ballot, he was requested to drop the Bum from his name, but constituents should be reassured there is only one Baron standing for the Loony part in Islwyn.

In real life, the Baron is studying to become a project worker for people with drugs and alcohol problems.

Twitter @MagpieBum