With campaigning for the General Election under way in the North Wiltshire constituency we meet the Labour Party's candidate.

HISTORY teacher Peter Baldrey is looking to promote a fairer and more equal society as he stands for the Labour party in the North Wiltshire constituency.

An active trade union member, Mr Baldrey has been interested in politics since the Westland Affair in 1986 when defence secretary Michael Heseltine resigned from the cabinet following a row with the then PM Margaret Thatcher.

And he’s hoping that his passion for public service will come across to voters ahead of May 7.

He said: “The Westland Affair dominated the news and I thought what is this all about and it was quite gripping at the time.

“I think I have a record for standing up for people. I’m an active member of my trade union, I do it because I want to help people out. There’s also a sense of public service, I became a teacher to give something back to society.

“Labour can deliver a fairer and more equal society. It seems perverse that those at the top are racing away from the rest of us. I’d like to squeeze it a little bit, we want to lift those at the bottom and ask those at the top to contribute more.

The St John’s teacher was born in Marlborough and brought up in Avebury and said he has enjoyed spending his life in the beautiful countryside of the county.

He also teaches A-level politics, helping to organise a mock election at St John’s where five candidates will speak to students to try and win their vote, and is a school governor.

He said: “I teach government and politics at A-level and I encourage kids to get involved in politics. I’m not here to tell them what to think but I’d rather they believe in something. It’s key to get them politically engaged.”

Mr Baldrey said that housing, the cost of living and the NHS would be his top three priorities for North Wiltshire.

He said: “One of the big challenges is housing, Wiltshire alone, according to Wiltshire Council, has 16,000 people who are on the waiting list for social housing, there’s a massive shortage that affects North Wiltshire.

“Also with the cost of living, we have seen big increases in gas and electricity bills. That’s why Labour is saying we will have a price freeze.

“I think the other issue has to be the NHS. A constituent wrote to me saying that they’d waited five weeks for a routine appointment with a GP. We are saying that 48 hours is how long you should wait. I think it’s an important issue for North Wiltshire.”

Age: 42

Address: Rockleigh Villas, Box, Corsham

Profession: Secondary school teacher

Marital status: Married

Standing in North Wiltshire are: Peter Baldrey (Labour); Pat Bryant (UKIP); Phil Chamberlain (Green); James Gray (Conservative); Simon Killane (Independent); Brian Mathew (Lib Dem); Giles Wareham (Independent).