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The General Election is fast approaching, but just how much do you know about the people competing for your votes?

Here the Telegraph aims to help you understand the people behind the parties and the policies in Coventry.

We asked the city’s prospective MPs seven questions which cover important issues, such as saving the green belt, and more light-hearted matters - such as taking on an army of mouse-sized Nigel Farages.

Here’s how Nicky Downes, Trade Union and Socialist Coalition candidate for Coventry North East, responded.

1) Why do you want to be one of Coventry’s MPs?

I believe that Coventry deserves to have an MP that will stand up for Coventry people. That will only take an average skilled workers wage and will fight austerity cuts at every level. I will use all my skills as a campaigner and activist in the National Union of Teachers to fight for better services and an end to privatisation.

2) Protecting the green belt was top of the list in the Coventry Manifesto. Do you agree that it should be saved from development?

I believe that it is important to save the green belt but it is equally important to use other brown site land to build social housing. I have seen as a teacher what effect homelessness has on families and there is a desperate need for affordable decent housing in this city.

3) Would you rather be attacked by 100 mouse-sized Nigel Farages or one Nigel Farage-sized mouse?

I’d take any of them on. I might be small but I teach Aikido to children at my school. All joking aside, Farage may come across as the man in the pub but one of his big political heroes is Margaret Thatcher and we all know she stood for the rich and fought a battle against ordinary people. He is a former banker, the very people that got us in to this mess!

4) What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever experienced on the campaign trail or in politics?

I’m not saying this is necessarily unusual, but I did have someone ask me in the other day to give me £50 towards our campaign. This was fabulous, particularly since TUSC does not get any money from big business.

5) Coventry’s ring road is a bit like Marmite. Do you love it or hate it? What about the rest of the city’s road network?

I don’t have to drive on it. Yet. I’m learning to ride a motorcycle though so I’m sure I’m going to have some very strong views about Coventry roads one way or another. I know that there are far too many roadworks though and as a pillion passenger I’ve definitely felt some of the poor road surfaces! There should be better planning so people can actually get around in this city.

6) Has Coventry been treated fairly by central government in the past five years and what would you change?

No it has not. The cuts to the city council budget have been horrendous with many job losses and cuts to services as I’m sure everyone is aware. As part of TUSC I would end austerity by stopping the richest one per cent getting richer and richer off the backs of the rest of us. I would do this by firstly bringing banks into public ownership so they cannot hold us to ransom again and then by re-nationalising the NHS and refusing to repay PFI.

7) People often say politics is boring, so tell us something interesting about yourself.

A motorcycle riding teacher not enough? But seriously I think mainstream politics is boring, the big parties all say pretty much the same thing, all are agreed on austerity. I see politics, real politics, as a battle between the rich and poor, between the one per cent versus the 99 per cent. That is why I am a Socialist.

With things like benefit sanctions it can be life and death. There are many politicians who would like ordinary people to stay out of politics so we won’t challenge what they are doing. TUSC, I believe, is the voice for ordinary people.