With campaigning for the General Election under way in the Devizes constituency we meet the Conservative candidate.

Claire Perry is taking no vote for granted as she makes her way around the Devizes constituency in her battle bus – a VW camper van called Alice.

Mrs Perry got into politics in 2005 when she campaigned against the closure of her local post office in Broad Chalke near Salisbury.

She said: “It seemed mad to me that the government wanted to shut down the post office which is such an important part of the village community.

“I met the chancellor [George Osborne] at an event and asked if I could help him. I went to work for him voluntarily and then he hired me, so for about two years I was one of his policy advisors.

“I said I would only stand for a Wiltshire seat, it was really important for me to represent an area that I lived in and knew.”

The 51-year-old grew up in North East Somerset and was the first person in her family to stay in school past the age of 16, later going to Oxford University and Harvard Business School.

After spending about a decade working in business and finance in the US, she moved to Wiltshire with her family in 2000.

“This constituency is like my fourth child, I feel really passionately about it,” she said.

“I love the landscape, the history and the fact there are so many people. Wiltshire has a real spirit, it’s a real magical place.”

Mrs Perry believes that Britain’s best days lie ahead and is motivated by making sure the country’s debts aren’t passed onto the next generation.

“We are an astonishing country that is capable of really standing tall but in order to do that we have to make sure we are spending money wisely and investing in the right things,” she said.

“We need to invest in education, public services and we need to back businesses and make sure they grow.

“The most important thing is to have a thriving economy so you can pay for public services.”

When it comes to voting on May 7 Mrs Perry hopes people will think the Conservatives have the right values and offer a clear competent choice.

She said: “I hope people realise we’ve had a lot of success – putting services back in Savernake Hospital, backing business and getting more money for the armed forces – and think I work hard and try my best.”

Mrs Perry believes growing the economy, and improving health services and connections are the three biggest challenges Wiltshire faces.

She said: “We have to keep creating jobs. I’m very conscious that Devizes doesn’t have a primary care centre. I’ve been working hard with the local champions to make that happen.

“Transport infrastructure, good rail services, resurfaced roads and good broadband mean people can work in the constituency rather than having to commute to other areas.”

FACT FILE

Age: 51

Address: Pewsey Vale

Occupation: Devizes MP for the past five years

Marital status: Divorced

Children: Three

Standing in Devizes are: Emma Dawnay (Green); Claire Perry (Conservative); David Pollitt (UKIP); Manda Rigby (Liberal Democrat); Chris Watts (Labour).