The general election is now little mnore than a day away. Here are the names and faces hoping to win your vote.

Chatham and Aylesford candidates:

John McClintock (Lib Dem)

John McClintock has a unique claim as to why he stands out from the rest of the candidates.

John has worked all over the world as an official for the European Commission.

He is based at the headquarters in Brussels, but he has also been posted to Sierra Leone and Poland. Before joining the Commission he worked in Africa for five years.

He said: “I am probably the only candidate who has had a machine gun pointed at his stomach and threatened with instant death.

“I am also probably the only candidate who has written a book explaining how we can bring peace and prosperity to all countries and all peoples.”

John, an Arsenal FC fan who likes real ale and his mum’s bubble and squeak, says he is the best candidate for the job because he follows his own conscience.

The married father-of-two says the first thing he will do if he becomes elected will be to set up an office, so he can “listen to the concerns of my constituents and take the necessary follow-up actions.

Tracey Crouch (Con)

If elected Tracey Crouch the Tracey to step into the House of Commons as an MP.

The 34-year-old describes herself as a true local champion.

If she gets elected one of her key concerns will be to stop a housing development being built in Capstone Valley.

She said: “I would make it clear to government inspectors that with houses being built on brownfield sites elsewhere in Medway, an overwhelming majority of local people and the local council oppose proposals to build 9,200 hoses in capstone Valley, one of the last remaining green spaces.”

Tracey says she also wants to tackle the issue of immigration.

She added: “Local infrastructure; schools, healthcare services, housing, in Chatham is under pressure in part due to the impact of uncontrolled immigration. Conservatives will bring the system back under control.”

Tracey is a big football fan and supports Tottenham FC. She is a qualified football coach and in her spare time she manages the Merdian Girls under 12s team.

Sean Varnham (English Democrats)

Sean Varnham may be young but it won’t be first election campaign.

In the 2007 he helped his nan to contest the Lordswood and Capstone ward in the local elections. He says his nan is also one of his heroes.

The 20-year-old added: “She took me in and taught me my values when my family fell apart.”

Sean grew up in Chatham and believes his upbringing helps him to relate to many families in the constituency.

He said: “My parents are divorced, I had to leave home at 17 due to personal problems and I’m an ordinary local man.”

“I have seen the area change in different ways and there are lots of issues I would tackle almost straight away.

“I would work with constituents to effectively tackle youth crime and disorder. I will try my hardest to make life more pleasant for my constituents of all ages.”

Sean has been a member of the English Democrats for five years and set up a youth wing of the party. He likes football, ice skating, swimming, cooking and gardening.

He said: “I enjoy socialising and see myself as a people person.”

Maureen Smith (The Christian Party) Declined picture

Grandmother Maureen Smith decided to stand for election after discovering there was not a Christian Party candidate in her area.

The 63-year-old from Snodland said: “I want to stand up for Christianity and for what I believe in.

“I am a committed Christian and I believe in the bible from cover to cover.”

Maureen, who has five children and seven grandchildren, enjoys art, line dancing and spending time with her family.

If elected she said she wants to give a voice to those who don’t usually get a voice.

“I want to be able to help the poor and needy. I want equal rights for everybody and I want people to get a decent wage so they can afford to pay their bills.”

Maureen said Jesus is her hero.

She added: “He tells us to live by 10 commandments and if everyone tried to keep to them, the world would be a much better place.”

Jonathan Shaw (Lab)

Labour candidate Jonathan Shaw would never betray his party colours, except when it comes to football.

His favourite colour is red but his favourite football team is Gillingham FC.

The father-of-two, who has been a member of the Labour Party for 20 years, has been a sitting MP since 1997.

If re-elected he has pledged to continue his commitment to the people of Chatham and Aylesford.

He said: “I won’t promise anything cannot deliver, I simply say I will continue to work hard and do my best fort people who need my help.

"That is what I have always tried to do."

The 43-year-old Van Morrison fan is married to Sue and has two children. In his spare time he likes walking, going to the cinema and cooking.

Jonathan cites his key concerns as improving education and life chances for young families, defending Sue Start children’s centres, protecting front line services, job security and seeing through improvements such as the new cancer care unit at Medway Maritime Hospital.

He says his hero is Aneurin Bevan, the founder of the NHS.

David Arthur (Green Party)

Formula 1 fan David Arthur hopes to be racing to the House of Commons this week to put some of his policies in gear.

The 2010 election is the first campaign David has taken part in.

He said he chose to stand because British politics has become corrupt and unsustainable.

If elected, he says the first thing he will do is put forward a motion towards proportional representation.

David has been a member of the Green Party for nine years and says Green leader Caroline Lucas is his heroine for “doing so much to raise green issues and awareness.”

He also describes his dad as his hero, for “finding a new career after serving 21 years in the Armed Forces.”

David is a rock music fan whose favourite meal is a curry and a glass of red wine. In his spare time he enjoys gardening, computing and listening to Radio Caroline.

Colin McCarthy-Stewart (BNP)

If BNP candidate Colin McCarthy-Stewart gets elected on Thursday he will be celebrating with a pint of his favourite tipple - Guinness.

The 51-year-old Pink Floyd fan also likes drinking tea and eating peanut butter sandwiches.

If elected, Colin has pledged to stand up and protect the rights of the British people.

He said: “I firmly believe that we are at a crucial time in this country where we need determined people to stand up and speak the truth.

"We need answers to the problems that we face in this country today. I am determined to get those answers and act on them.”

Colin says his key concerns are to “sort out the financial mess this country is in, to ring our military out of Afghanistan and Iraq, and to stop being ruled by unelected politicians in Europe.”

Colin, who speaks four languages, is married and has two children.

Steve Newton (UKIP)

UKIP candidate Steve Newton cites warrior Queen Bodicca as his heroine.

Because, he said: “She refused to put up with European power ruling this country.”

He said that his heroes are all of our soldiers on the front line in Afghanistan.

Steve, 55, was born in Gillingham and I has lived and worked in the Medway Towns for most of his life.

He said: “I know how the Towns suffered after the Dockyard closed and I would work to make Chatham and Aylesford a better place to live and work.”

Steve said the first thing he will do if he gets elected is conduct a survey of everyone in his constituency about the issues that are important to them.

He said: “UKIP will be a fresh start. I want to get rid of opportunistic, self-important career politicians in Westminster and make Britain great again.”

Steve enjoys cooking and his favourite food is anything he has cooked himself. His music tastes range from classical psychedelic trance.

Rochester and Strood candidates

Geoff Juby (Lib Dem)

What can I do to make you love me? As well as being the title of a song by one of Geoff Juby’s favourite bands, The Corrs, the question will be one the Liberal Democrat could be asking voters.

The 56-year-old, who has fought three general elections before, is hoping to become MP for Rochester and Strood this week.

Father-of-two Mr Juby said: “I have lived in Medway since 1987 and I understand the problems local people face daily.”

Mr Juby is married to Medway Maritime Hospital worker Nemia and says his major concern is the under funding of local services including schools, the NHS and the Medway Tunnel.

If elected he says his first job would be to “support policies that take people earning under £10,000 out of tax, create jobs for local people and fight for fair funding for local universities and the Medway Tunnel and to save local green spaces”.

Gillingham resident Mr Juby says his hero is Major James McCudden of the Royal Flying Corps who was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1918 and was one of most highly decorated flyers of World War One.

Mr Juby said: “He is a boyhood hero of mine who I discovered was a Medway boy.”

Simon Marchant (Green Party)

Climate change is at the top of the agenda for Green party candidate Simon Marchant, 46.

He has been a member of his party for six years, has fought two local elections and stood in last year’s European elections.

He said: “I stand for true fairness. I stand to oppose the building of a new coal fired power station as we cannot have that and meet our commitments on CO2 emissions.

“It is also true decentralised power generation would create more permanent jobs and our policies to insulate homes would reduce everyone’s energy bill.”

Mr Marchant, whose hobbies including tending to his allotment and his chickens, would back renewables and insulation instead of a power station at Kingsnorth.

He said: “This would create more local jobs and help to improve the truly awful air quality in Medway. I would fight for the Sustainable Communities Act to be adopted by Medway Council, bringing greater democracy to people.”

Mr Marchant is married to Trish Marchant, who is standing in the Gillingham and Rainham constituency.

Teresa Murray (Lab)

Hoping to carry on the work of outgoing Labour MP Bob Marshall-Andrews is Teresa Murray.

The mother-of-two, who also has two step-daughters, first started campaigning for the party in 1974 with her dad and uncle.

The 47-year-old said: “Rochester and Strood have done well under Labour, especially for improvements in education and health services.

"I am proud of my politics and believe we can achieve more.

“I live in the area, represent people in my role as local councillor and understand their needs and aspirations because I have fought by their side to preserve or improve the things important to them.”

The football fan, who supports Gillingham, is concerned about strengthening the economy.

She said: “We have a continuing need to support the economy through tough times, as it affects everything else.

“I would also start work straight away on trying to improve the availability of affordable housing followed by working to make our green spaces better and strengthening our local heritage like my idea for an industrial skills museum in Rochester to remember our proud engineering history.”

The prospective MP is also keen to promote Medway’s musical talent and is a keen supporter of charity Cancer Research.

Mark Reckless (Con)

Tory candidate Mark Reckless, 39, is hoping it will be third time lucky for him on polling day.

He fought to become MP for Rochester and Strood in the last two general elections.

He said: “I have fought to represent this area for over 10 years and believe that I have demonstrated the perserverance, principle and tenacity which I will need to fight for the interests of my constituents in parliament.”

Technology fan Mr Reckless, who has a website, blog and a Twitter page, also sits on the Kent Police Authority.

He said: “I will choose a new chief constable who will inspire Kent Police and put more police on the streets here in Medway, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights, and seek to help frame legislation to make those who oversee the police directly elected.”

Like a true blue Mr Reckless’s heroine is former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who he credits with “putting our country back on its feet”.

His main concerns are putting the economy back on track and reducing immigration. He is also a Euro-sceptic, a fact which led to the UKIP candidate for Rochester and Strood, making the decision to stand down.

Ron Sands (English Democrat)

Former soldier Ron Sands hopes to bring a little discipline to the world of politics.

The Hoo resident has lived in the constituency all his life, apart from the time he spent in the British Army.

The father-of-one said: “I understand local people’s concerns for the constituency as they are also my own concerns. I am not entering politics for my own political gain.”

Mr Sands, 57, says his main concerns are immigration, getting a devolved parliament for England, and creating local jobs for local people.

He said: “I would begin my term by campaigning to Medway Council to have a referendum on an elected mayor.

“This would allow the people to democratically decide how Medway Council is run.

“I believe that we now need to work on accountability at the local government level, not just national.”

Soul and Motown fan Mr Sands has been a member of the English Democrats for two years and lists party chairman Robin Tilbrook as his hero. He said: “He was the man to engage the nation on the issue of an English parliament and he is co-founder of the English Democrats.

“My heroine is my mother, as she taught me right from wrong, good English values and respect for other people.”

Gillingham and Rainham candidates

Gordon Bryan (Ind)

Rock music fan Gordon Bryan is hoping to make the journey from the checkout to the Commons this week.

Mr Bryan, who works at Tesco in Gillingham, previously stood in the Gillingham and Rainham constituency at the general election in 2005.

The 42-year-old, who lists people who work in the armed forces and the emergency services as his heroes and heroines, wants to make sure the views of voters are represented in parliament.

Mr Bryan believes standing as an independent means he will do the best job for his constituents.

The Gillingham resident said: “I would offer the constituents the chance to tell their MP how to vote on every legislation. I believe that’s what an MP is for but a party MP can’t do it as they are obliged to follow the party line.

“On getting elected I would make the constituency aware of how thhey can get involved with the process of deciding my MP vote in parliament, because my platform holds for the whole period of parliament.”

As well as being a prospective MP, Mr Bryan is also an author. In 2003 he wrote Transform Your Life in 21 Days, a book about the motivational and self-improvement techniques he has used.

Rehman Chishti (Con)

Marathon runner Rehman Chishti is fighting his first election for the Tories.

The 31-year-old, who has lived in Gillingham since he was six, says if elected he wants to concentrate on improving the commuter train service, cracking down on crime and improving health care for Medway residents.

He said: “As a councillor I have campaigned tirelessly to improve Rainham and Gillingham, making it a safer and better place to live.

“Residents deserve an MP who will stand up for them and bring the changes they want.”The sports fan, who enjoys watching Match of the Day, X Factor and legal dramas, says he wants to address issues of community safety and anti-social behaviour and get more police on the streets.

He said: “Under this Labour government police have been inundated with targets and bereaucracy which means they spend more time in the office than out on the beat.

“I want to change that.”

Mr Chishti lists his hero as Winston Churchill. He said: “He was a great leader who led our country to victory.”

Paul Clark (Lab)

Lifelong Gills fan Paul Clark will be hoping secure a fourth term as MP for Gillingham and Rainham.

The 53-year-old, who celebrated his birthday last Thursday, grew up in the area and married wife Julie at St Margaret’s in Rainham.

He said: “I have a history of commitment working for the communities of Gillingham and Rainham.

"I care passionately about the Towns, as a local and as a dad, and I want to make sure we get our fair share of resources for health, education and police.”

Mr Clark is a true Labour stalwart - he has been a member of his party for 36 years and his favourite colour is red.

If he is elected again he plans to do more to bring people together. He said: “I want to immediately start work developing an intergenerational centre to bring together people across the communities of Gillingham and Rainham.

“I think there’s a lot of good work to be done in this area.”

Father-of-two Mr Clark says his hero is Nye Bevan, the creator of the NHS, and enjoys the music of Abba.

Dean Lacey (English Democrats)

Father-of-three Dean Lacey believes one of his best qualities as MP will be his experience.

The 33-year-old, who has been a member of his party for two years, is an ex-soldier and a former government employee.

He said: “As a local resident, a veteran of the Armed Forces and as a former government employee working in health care, housing and street safety, I can offer experience and a critical view held by a resident who has been unemployed, homeless and lived off benefits.

“I am a representative of the ordinary man of Medway.”

Mr Lacey’s priorities if he is elected would be to look at tax increases for local businesses, unemployment, the NHS and housing and child development.

He would also take a look at translation services offered by Medway Council. He said: “This service must be reduced as many non-English speaking residents here in Medway have become dependant on this service.

“The current Tory council is encouraging these resident not to learn the English language and this will affect the ability to gain employment locally.”

Trish Marchant (Green)

Other than enjoying a roast pork dinner with outdoor reared orchard pork, Trish Merchant’s favourite pets are her ancient black cat and her Black Maran cockerel which she raised from an egg.

The 47-year-old Green Party candidate says she would like to see people put ahead of business.

She said: “I am standing for the Green Party because our policies put individuals and communities ahead of big corporations.

“I believe that most people in Gillingham and Rainham want a return to a local way of life which is sustainable and accessible for all.”

The football fan, who also enjoys singing and tending to her allotment, would try to implement a range of measures for the elderly and the young if elected.

She said: “I would work towards a minimum citizens pension of £170 per person and £300 for couples, and free social care for the elderly.

“I would fight for free bus passes for school children and increase investment in public transport to give my constituents travel choices into the evening.”

Mrs Marchant is married to Simon Marchant, who is standing for the Green Party in Rochester and Strood.

George Meegan (Medway Independent Party)

George Meegan has walked more miles than any other candidate running for election to one of Medway’s constituencies.

The 57-year-old holds the Guinness World Record for being the only person to walk from the tip of South America to the North Pole.

Father-of-two Mr Meegan is a lecturer at Kobe University in Japan. The Rainham resident says his priority on getting elected would be to help young people.

He said: “I would immediately visit every school in the constituency and begin to encourage problem kids to join me in a new approach, one based on their health, talents and dreams and all couched in our historic culture.

“That’s what I would do first.”

Mr Meegan says his heroine is Aung San Suu Kyi, for her “unflinching courage in her fight for democracy and the suppressed peoples of Burma.”

Bob Oakley (UKIP)

If Bob Oakley wins the Gillingham and Rainham seat on May 6, it will be a double celebration.

The Rainham resident will be marking his 55th birthday on election day, and is hoping to also win the seat in his third general election attempt.

The father-of-five, who has been a member of his part for 13 years, is mainly concerned with immigration, public services and the economy. He said: “We need to restore power to Westminster to be able to implement policies.”

If elected, Bob’s first act as MP would be to get rid of the high speed trains that currently operate through Medway.

He said: “They look good but have no benefit, so I want to rectify them.

“I also want to get the local press more involved in orchestrating referenda.”

Bob is an avid sailor, and races on the River Medway on Sundays. He is also a big music fan, putting Jethro Tull as his favourite artist. However, he wishes he had trained himself further musically, and said: “I wish I could play an instrument.”

Brian Ravenscroft (BNP)

Martial arts enthusiast Brian Ravenscroft will be hoping to fight his way in to Parliament as he tries to become MP for Gillingham and Rainham.

Having been a BNP member for 10 years and standing in his third election, Brian pledges to be “a voice of sanity” and promises he will “speak up for the silent majority.”

He is especially concerned with “putting the British people first”, and his first thing he would do if elected would be to “get some free parking for the Gillingham high street area and try and breath some new life in to Gillingham High Street.”

The 42 year old is a fan of cheese and marmite sandwiches, and in his spare time he likes to read and go on holidays.

His hero is Lord Byron for the way he “spoke out against the dark satanic mills,” and his heroine is Edith Cavell, a nurse who rescued 100’s of allied prisoners from the Imperial German Army in the First World War.

Andy Stamp (Lib Dem)

The youngest of all the candidates standing in Medway’s three constituencies, Andy Stamp is hoping his knowledge of Gillingham and Rainham will be an asset if he becomes MP.

The 27-year-old has been a Liberal Democrat for 14 years and said: “I was born and brought up in Gillingham, went to local schools and have lived here most of my life.

“I’d consider myself down to earth, with a good understand of the problems local people face on a daily basis.

“I’m young, enthusiastic and work tirelessly to represent local resident on Medway Council.”

If elected, the rugby fan would try to get planning policy changed to protect green spaces in the constituency.

He said: “Far too much has been lost over the years, impacting on quality of life for us all. Our local road infrastructure and air quality also can’t cope with the extra traffic new residential developments are bringing to the area.”

Mr Stamp, who is allergic to both cats and dogs, says his favourite charity is the Anthony Nolan Trust.