Former businessman Lee McCall has put his name forward as an independent candidate in the General Election for Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

He is the seventh to announce he is standing.

Cllr McCall, who is also on Swale borough council and Sheerness town council, said: "Since the last election in 2017 I have been extremely busy within the area.

"I was elected to Swale council as an independent councillor with 807 votes to represent Sheerness and I am also on the newly-formed Sheerness Town Council.

"I have always campaigned to get the best for my community and that will not change. Sheerness has been listed as the most deprived area in Kent and is the 48th most deprived area in England. This needs to change.

"We need to raise the standards of living not just in Sheerness but for the whole of the constituency. We need to create jobs, school places, social housing, improve infrastructure and get Brexit done."

But he added: "This election is not just about Brexit but about who will best serve the people of Sittingbourne and Sheppey after Brexit. I believe that person is me.

"I will work tirelessly for every single constituent and will always be contactable unlike our current MP who seems to just turn up before an election or for a photo opportunity."

He added: "Gordon won the last election in 2017 with a majority of 15,211. But 30,328 people within our constituency did not vote. I constantly hear people say their vote doesn’t matter when it clearly does.

"We have changed the look of Swale council with many independent candidates taking seats from long-standing members. Let’s do the same nationally for the betterment of our country to make Great Britain great again."

Cllr McCall lives in Sheerness and operated a bus hire business. He now works for Sheppey firm Travelmasters. His family has ran the Sheppey Summer Carnival for 17 years until it stood down last month.

His announcement follows today's news that Medway councillor Clive Johnson is to stand as MP for the area.

Others who have thrown their hats into the ring to fight the election for Sittingbourne and Sheppey on Thursday, December 12, include Sheppey's Mad Mike Young of the Monster Raving Loony Party, Swale Cllr Ben J Martin (Lib Dems) from Faversham and working mum Evie Martin (Brexit). Sam Collins (Greens) has launched an on-line crowd-funding to page to pay for her £1,200 campaign costs. Gordon Henderson is standing again for the Conservatives.

Read more: All the latest news from the Isle of Sheppey

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne

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