Dad-of-one Gareth Allen, of Normanton, is making his first foray into politics by getting in the running for the seat.

The 34-year-old will go up against current Pontefract and Castleford MP, Labour’s Yvette Cooper, in a bid to win the new enlarged        constituency.

Mr Allen, a local business manager for Barclays, said: “I can pinpoint to the day when I was inspired to stand.

“It was the European elections when the BNP won seats, I could see it coming and it wasn’t a massive   surprise.

“I spent the next weekend thinking about what I could do.

“Many years ago I read a book by Tony Benn where he said people who don’t agree with candidates should stand themselves.

“I thought if it was good enough for Tony Benn, it’s good enough for me.”

Local priorities for Mr Allen include tackling anti-social behaviour and helping struggling high streets.

Nationally, he wants to increase public spending as the country continues to climb its way out of the credit crunch.

Mr Allen said: “People talk about voter apathy and say voters don’t care – they do care about a lot of things but they don’t feel anyone is listening – it’s anger more than apathy.

“Parties are all talking about cutting public spending and I think that now is not the right time to start doing that.

“The government is the biggest customer in Britain and it needs to get out there and shop.”

He added: “One of the biggest issues is anti-social behaviour, that’s what keeps more people awake at night, not the recession.

“There is a street in Normanton where elderly people live and youths are gathering on its grass area, smoking and drinking.

“Young people do need an outlet but there they are starting to intimidate residents and all police can do is move the problem on.

“High streets are another big concern.

“To be honest Normanton high street is dying, there are quite a few empty units and in Castleford it is the same.

“That needs attention or we will end up looking at our cobweb-covered towns in ten years.”