IN the run up to the General Election on May 6, the Harrow Times is featuring daily profiles on the candidates vying for your votes in Brent and Harrow.

Today features Atiq Malik, Independent candidate for Brent North.

For comprehensive election coverage, click here.

Atiq Malik, 46, is a married father-of-four who is stepping down from Brent Council after four years to run for MP.

He won the seat in May 2006 from Labour as a Conservative, but after a falling out with the party he defected to the newly-formed Democratic Conservatives.

During his time on the council, he served on several committees and as chairman of the Kingsbury & Kenton Area Consultative Forum.

Atiq wants to help improve the quality of life for the residents of Brent North with better public services, a patient-led NHS, and a cleaner, greener environment.

He puts at the top of his agenda tackling anti-social behaviour in Brent, working with the council to improve services, and helping small businesses to flourish.

About himself, Atiq, a keen sportsman, says: “I will work to restore Trust in politicians, I will do so by what I do as much as what I say.

“I will never forget that it will be local residents who put me in Parliament.

“Being MP is about doing what is right for ones country and ones constituency. It must never be about doing what is right for one self. Sadly far too many MPs seem to have forgotten this basic point.”

Atiq's key priorities are:

- Tackling Crime and Anti-social Behaviour

- Our Local NHS - The Hospitals , GPs and Services in the Community

- Fairer central government funding, especially for schools and elderly care

- Fair deal for Pensioners

- Family Housing

- Support local businesses, help create local jobs

- Better Sports & Leisure facilities

- The Environment - Protecting Green Spaces, Cleaner Streets and Public Places

- Transport - Better Public Transport and Traffic Management

- Campaign against high density, multi-storey housing, and replacement of private houses by blocks of flats.