The Times Series has asked each parliamentary candidate to explain why they should become an MP at the General Election on May 7.

Here Liberal Democrat candidate for Chipping Barnet, Marisha Ray, explains why you should vote for her.

There has never been a better time to vote Lib Dem, writes Marisha Ray, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate in Chipping Barnet, a former councillor with council cabinet experience of community safety, public protection, performance management of all local services, financial planning and pension investment at another outstanding council in north London. She is experienced in health scrutiny and is a former member of a hospital board.

The Liberal Democrat manifesto focuses on:

Opportunities for all our children

Prosperity for all

Fair taxes

Protecting our environment

Quality health care for all

We have worked towards making our society fairer and commit to continuing to build a fair, free and open society, with a strong sustainable economy, with good public finances and the infrastructure we need to lead the world in this century.

We have already directed extra resources to children at school who are most likely to fall behind. We have created two million apprenticeships. A million more children attend good or outstanding schools. We will protect early years, school and sixth form budgets to raise educational standards further.

We commit to balancing our budget by focusing on sustainable economic growth and protecting public services. We have invested billions in growing modern British businesses and will double spending on innovation to make the UK a leader. We've made the biggest investment in our railways since Victorian times.

We have already cut income tax by £800 for low and middle income earners and we'll cut them by £400 more. We've secured the biggest ever rise in the state pension, and we want to legislate to guarantee decent rises every year.

Liberal Democrats have almost trebled renewable electricity generation in the UK, we commit to legislation to protect our country further.

We have funded 10,000 more doctors and 7,000 more nurses, we will transform lives by transforming mental health care. We planned from the start to fully fund the NHS with £8 billion per year extra that NHS leaders say they need.