Housing, the NHS and the engagement of young people are some of Steve Pound’s key priorities as he fights for re-election in Ealing North.

Having left school at 15, Steve worked various manual jobs on buses before getting into politics and starting his parliamentary career in 1997 at the age of 49.

He said: “In my opinion someone has to have experience in the world in order to be an MP.

“Too many people think that an academic background qualifies a good MP when it necessarily doesn’t.”

Steve later got a degree in economics from LSE at 29.

Now Steve is fighting for re-election as he is worried about the threats he sees the Ealing community facing under a Conservative government.

He said: “The danger our country and community faces is being divided with the Conservative demonization of people like immigrants or those who are on benefits and welfare.

“It depresses me. There is an existential danger. Collective rights are better than individual benefits.

Steve has vowed to campaign for housing in Ealing in the face of the housing crisis.

He said: “Ealing is one of the few boroughs that is building new housing.

“Why should we have 30% rent and 70% buy. What’s wrong with renting? Is it insecurity? Why do we have a national obsession with ownership?”

As a result of the benefits cap on housing, Steve said many people have had to move out of their homes into another area away from Ealing.

He said: “There is a terrible division because of the benefits cap. Mrs May’s agenda is changing society. All of our primary schools have places because people are being moved out of the area.

The NHS is an issue particularly close to Steve’s heart.

The maternity unit at Ealing Hospital closed in 2015, with the A&E also facing closure.

“I was born on the same week as the NHS. I was born on the Saturday and the NHS came into force on the Monday,” he said.

“The NHS is life and death for people in this country. If we don’t have healthy people we don’t have a healthy workforce and if we don’t have a healthy workforce we won’t have a healthy economy.”

The NHS has faced severe constraints on funding and resources in recent years with more pressures lying ahead.

He said: “We are at risk of losing something and as the saying goes you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. If we don’t have the NHS we will wonder why did we let this great thing go.

With youth turnout possibly proving crucial in the election, Steve said it was crucial that young people ensure their voices are heard.

Steve said: “A huge number of young people feel that politics is what other people do.

“Young people have to let politicians know their views in order for policies to reflect that.”