Name: Maria Miller

Age: 55

Education: Brynteg Comprehensive School, Bridgend, South Wales; London School of Economics, University of London.

Profession: 20 years in business, latterly as a company director. 

Family life: Married to Iain and we have three children. 

What car do you drive? VW Tiguan

Last holiday? Canada to visit my 86 year old mother-in-law. 

Last thing you ate? A packet of instant noodles-no time to stop for real food during General Election campaigns.

Have you ever taken illegal drugs? No.

Last time you cried? When my father was taken into hospital.

Favourite book of all time? “ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”; it reminds me of very special times with my children.

What are your ties to the area you hope to represent? Basingstoke is where I live with my family, my children and my parents.

What’s your favourite restaurant in Basingstoke? Oliver’s Fish and Chip Shop.

Where do you do your food shopping? I love the new Aldi in Winklebury, the co-op in Old Basing for emergencies,  Ocado home delivery or Tesco in Chineham for everything else.

Perfect Friday night: Home, feet up, Ted my dog on my lap......

What’s your favourite drink? My first cup of coffee in the morning, usually in a travel mug on the way to the station.

Best place in Hampshire in your opinion? Nowhere beats a walk up to Five Lanes End from Mapledurwell.

In a sentence, why do you deserve the gig?
Basingstoke is a great place to live, work and raise a family, My Plan for Basingstoke will help keep it that way. 

What do you think the biggest issue facing residents of Basingstoke? 
Basingstoke residents need to see Brexit done so the whole country can move on, more uncertainty and indecision puts at risk jobs, the economy and therefore our public services. 

In a sentence, what do you want to change if you are elected?
Too many people, especially women, are put off standing for election because of the intimidation, threats and abuse MPs and Councillors experience; this weakens our democracy and has to be stopped so Parliament and our local government can be more representative of the communities we serve.