Corby by-election: Candidate list

The Corby by-election was triggered by the resignation in August of sitting Conservative MP Louise Mensch.

Mrs Mensch, who won the seat at the 2010 general election, announced she was standing down for family reasons.

The by-election will take place on 15 November to tie in with the police and crime commissioner elections.

Nominations for candidates have now officially closed. The candidates are:

• DAVID LAURENCE BISHOP - Elvis Loves Pets Party

• CHRISTINE EMMETT - Conservative

• IAN FRANCIS GILLMAN - Independent

• JILL HOPE - Liberal Democrats

• JONATHAN HORNETT - Green Party

• DR ROHEN KAPUR - Young People's Party

• ADAM LOTUN - Independent

• MR MOZZARELLA - Independent

• MARGOT PARKER - UK Independence Party

• PETER REYNOLDS - CLEAR Cannabis Law Reform

• GORDON RIDDELL - British National Party

• ANDY SAWFORD - Labour Co-op

• CHRISTOPHER SCOTTON - United People's Party

• DAVID WICKHAM - English Democrat

Find out more about each of these candidates below.

DAVID LAURENCE BISHOP - Elvis Loves Pets Party

Elvis Loves Pets Party candidate David Bishop is a retired painter and decorator, who is also a poet and musician.

He said that if elected he would call upon David Cameron to set up an inquiry into British vets' fees, which he believes are too high for many pet owners in the Corby constituency.

"I would also like to ban air guns to protect pets and wildlife and I would like to bring back the dog licence to curb irresponsible dog owners," he added.

"Finally, if MP Nadine Dorries eats live insects on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, I would like to see her prosecuted by the RSPCA when she gets back home, because the Elvis Loves Pets Party believes that eating live creatures on television is not entertainment but animal cruelty."

CHRISTINE EMMETT - Conservative

Christine Emmett accepts she faces a battle to retain the seat for the Tories

Christine Emmett is a businesswoman who runs a holiday lettings business and has worked for Marks and Spencer and the Channel Tunnel.

She accepts she faces a battle to retain the seat for the Conservatives. "Yes, things are tough but we're doing the right thing," she said.

"We're cutting the deficit, we're keeping interest rates down, so people have low mortgages but we need to work on investment and get more people to invest in Corby.

"We need to question if we're getting our youth trained for the right jobs. Last year we got 100 people coming out of Corby colleges with hair dressing qualifications but there were only six vacancies. It's really important people train for the jobs we have here."

IAN FRANCIS GILLMAN - Independent

Independent candidate Ian Francis Gillman, in an interview with BBC Radio Northampton, said he wishes to keep the pound and protect the City of London "from voracious attack from European bureaucrats".

"I am standing to support the constitutional monarchy of Britain, a free judiciary. We must judge ourselves, not allow foreign courts to judge us," he said.

If elected, he wishes to protect Corby's library service from cuts and the constituency's allotments from development.

He added: "We need to keep strategic gaps between towns and cities, for example Raunds and Stanwick are becoming joined gradually and we are losing the countryside, the green belt, in between."

JILL HOPE - Liberal Democrats

Jill Hope believes the seat needs "a real campaigner"

Jill Hope, 60, is married with four children and two grandchildren, and works as a local business banker in Corby and Kettering.

She said: "I'm standing to be the MP for Corby and East Northants because the seat needs a real campaigner; someone with a history of taking up causes and winning.

"Corby has the real problem of both older long-term unemployed people and a high proportion of young unemployed, living in families where they are second generation unemployed. East Northants also has unemployment issues, but here the issue is isolation and lack of access to work more than anything else.

"The Lib Dems have made this coalition government fairer, in a way that would never have happened if the Conservatives were governing alone."

JONATHAN HORNETT - Green Party

Green Party candidate Jonathan Hornett wants more wind farms

Jonathan Hornett, who lives in Wellingborough and runs his own gardening company, has been selected to fight the seat for the Green Party.

Mr Hornett said: "I'm standing to give the people of Corby and East Northamptonshire the opportunity to choose a positive candidate.

"The Green Party is the only alternative to cuts, climate change and social injustice.

"Locally we want more wind farms and public services; and no more housing developments, roads, warehouses or nuclear waste. I am standing to make Corby and East Northants fairer, safer, cleaner and greener - I want to represent you."

DR ROHEN KAPUR - Young People's Party

Dr Rohen Kapur advocates a new tax system

Dr Rohen Kapur, 42, is a qualified doctor who has worked in the NHS but has taken early retirement due to health issues.

His party advocates a new tax system based on the rental value of land, and the abolition of income tax and VAT, which he claims would maintain services and boost the economy.

He is against wind farms and would like to see a new hospital or health centre open 24 hours a day in the Corby area.

Dr Kapur said immigration from Eastern Europe was a concern in the constituency. "How I would sort this out is a little bit more complicated but I would do my best," he said.

ADAM LOTUN - Independent

Adam Lotun will be campaigning heavily on disability issues

A 49-year-old father of three, Adam Lotun has been involved in disabled rights and politics since 1990 and will be campaigning heavily on these issues, particularly on "fit for work" assessments carried out for the government.

"One of the major drivers for me personally is that I can no longer stand by silently and see some of the most vulnerable members of our society dismissed and silenced by this current administration," said Mr Lotun, who believes the tests for people on disability allowances have led to suicides.

Mr Lotun, a disability consultant who is disabled himself, said he was not standing solely on disability issues.

Among the policies in his manifesto are a "living wage" for all workers, increased recycling and the re-nationalisation of public transport.

MR MOZZARELLA - Independent

Mr Mozzarella is a supporter of the Don't Cook Party

Independent candidate Mr Mozzarella, a professional takeaway chef, is standing as a candidate affiliated to the Don't Cook Party.

He said as well as being a chef he is "also a politician, ready to prove myself as MP for the friendliest town in the world - Corby. Why?

"Me and my fellow takeaway chefs of Great Britain is angry. We is slavin' away in hot kitchens up and down the country ready to deliver your dinner, and yet many many people are trying to cook for themselves.

"Why you want to waste your time cooking these '15 minute meals' which actually take two hours, and tastes no good, when you could be sitting down, 'avin' a chat, or watching the telly?"

MARGOT PARKER - UK Independence Party

Margot Parker believes politicians must regain the respect of the public

Businesswoman Margot Parker became involved in politics in 2009 in frustration at what she saw as a "raft of anti-business regulation from Brussels" and the "government's need to micro-manage every aspect" of our lives.

A mother-of-two and a grandmother-of-one, Mrs Parker said she believes the country must have politicians who can regain the respect of the British people.

She believes the biggest problem facing Corby is youth unemployment, and has been critical of the town's Labour council over its £12m overspend on The Cube civic building.

"It looks like we won't pay the debt off until 2061," she said. "We would all be dead by then."

PETER REYNOLDS - CLEAR Cannabis Law Reform

Peter Reynolds is campaigning for the legalisation of cannabis

Peter Reynolds was elected leader of CLEAR, a single-issue party that seeks to end the prohibition of cannabis, in February 2011.

"One thing voters can be certain of is that if they vote for the main parties absolutely nothing will change," he said.

"The cannabis issue is an excellent example of how the main parties refuse to listen to public opinion, refuse to base policy on evidence and instead bend to pressure from the tabloid press and vested interests such as the alcohol industry.

"A regulated cannabis market would get the dealers off the streets, better protect children, enable access to safe and effective medicine, create tens of thousands of new jobs and boost the UK economy by up to £9.3bn per annum."

GORDON RIDDELL - British National Party

Gordon Riddell said he was concerned about a lack of jobs for young people

Gordon Riddell has lived in Corby since 1974 and has previously stood for the BNP in the town at borough and county council elections.

Mr Riddell, who works for a food manufacturer, said: "I am passionate about local jobs and housing for local people and I am very concerned about the lack of opportunities in the area for young workers and the continuing loss of jobs in the Corby area.

"I am also very concerned about the lack of care for our elderly and the services provided for them. I am also opposed to the constant destruction of our countryside and wish to see our farmers and fishermen given a fair chance from the constant ridiculous EU laws and rulings."

At national level, the BNP's policies include ending the involvement of British troops in the Afghanistan war, halting immigration, deporting illegal immigrants and withdrawing from the European Union.

ANDY SAWFORD - Labour Co-op

Andy Sawford said he would be working hard to win back voters' trust for Labour

Andy Sawford, son of former Kettering MP Phil Sawford, is standing for both Labour and the Co-operative Party.

He said winning the seat back for Labour would be tough, but that the party would be "knocking on every door" to win back voters' trust.

"I didn't just arrive here for this election - I'm a Northamptonshire lad and can trace my roots in East Northants back at least eight generations," he said.

"I've seen how two years of Tory policies from this out-of-touch government are hitting local families and businesses hard. I'll work hard to bring new investment and jobs to this area - particularly for young people and I'll fight tooth and nail to protect the vital services that people in Corby and East Northamptonshire rely on."

CHRISTOPHER SCOTTON - United People's Party

Christopher Scotton says tackling unemployment in Corby will be a priority

Christopher Scotton, 24, describes himself as a young working-class man who has struggled with periods of unemployment since leaving school and has only recently found a job he enjoys.

Tackling unemployment in Corby is one of his key campaign pledges, along with promoting tourism and regeneration in the town.

The United People's Party describes itself as a "non-xenophobic" Liberal Nationalist party whose policies include promoting industry, the armed forces and international co-operation.

Mr Scotton was chosen as its East Midlands regional organiser in September 2011.

DAVID WICKHAM - English Democrats

David Wickham wants to reverse the decline in manufacturing in Corby

David Wickham, a 43-year-old father-of-four, has lived in Corby for many years and has worked in food manufacturing for the last two decades.

"David is very aware of Corby's proud manufacturing history and would like to help in reversing the decline," said an English Democrats spokesman.

Mr Wickham supports ending "mass immigration" into Britain and wants an immediate referendum on membership of the European Union.

He is calling for England to have its own parliament and government.