With campaigning for the General Election under way in the South West Wiltshire constituency we meet the Conservative candidate

DR Andrew Murrison is hoping there won’t be a change in direction with the next government and that he can continue to serve Wiltshire once again as a Member of Parliament.

The 54-year-old has been MP for the area since 2000 when he stood for Westbury, before holding the position of MP for South West Wiltshire since 2010.

And the former medical officer is keen to continue in the role.

“I’ve always been interested in politics, interested in medicine as well as the armed forces and I’ve been lucky enough to incorporate all that in my life,” he said.

“One of my key values is to manage my case load and be active and get results for the people of Wiltshire and I hope I’ve done a reasonable job.

“This is a particularly important election and I’m worried a lot by a change in direction if the view of the government changes because I think we’ve made a great deal of progress.”

Born in Colchester in 1961, Dr Murrison studied at Bristol University and qualified as a doctor in 1984 having been passionate about the subject since he was young.

He enjoyed a career in the Royal Navy for more than 18 years and left with the rank of surgeon commander, having served in the Gulf War from 1990-91 and a six-month tour in Iraq in 2003.

Dr Murrison has settled down near Warminster with his wife Jenny and their five daughters and has spent most of his life in the south west.

“I’ve always been drawn to the south west – I think because of where I have been based both during my time in the Navy at Plymouth and also where I studied in Bristol,” he said.

“Wiltshire is a beautiful place. It’s a mixture of small towns and villages with extremely attractive countryside and I can’t think of a better place to represent.

“I’m fairly consumed with my family and so most of my time to be honest is spent supporting and following what they do.

“When I’m campaigning I don’t really eat lots of chocolate or anything like that but my wife makes sure I keep hydrated so my car is usually full of water bottles.”

Should Dr Murrison be re-elected he has three key policies which he is keen to implement.

“One of my priorities is to make sure health care is as good as it can be and maintain community health care,” he added.

“Secondly, I want to provide housing for local need and ensure we build on brownfield sites only and protect what remains of our wonderful countryside.

“And thirdly I want to bring the Army back home from Germany, which I intend to make happen before the end of the decade. It will be good for soldiers and their families when it happens.”

FACT FILE

Age: 54
Address: Warminster
Occupation: MP for the past 14 years
Marital status: Married
Children: Five

  • Apologies for the variable sound quality of this video

Standing in South West Wiltshire are: George Aylett (Labour); Matthew Brown (UKIP); Trevor Carbin (Lib Dem); Andrew Murrison (Conservative); Phil Randle (Green).