Nick Ramsay Conservative NICK Ramsay is 29. He is a Monmouthshire county councillor, a school governor and works for the Conservatives in the Assembly.

Nick grew up in Cwmbran and attended Croesyceiliog School before gaining his degree from Durham University. He is from a local family. His grandfather played rugby for Pontypool.

Nick says: This election is about taking action on the issues that really matter to people in Torfaen.

Our hospitals are in crisis. 10% of the population in Wales are on a waiting list. We must cut waiting times in our health service by providing more choice for patients. We need to cut bureaucracy and provide more funding for frontline staff. We must stop the spread of superbugs such as MRSA by introducing a member of staff with responsibility for cleaning up wards.

The Conservatives will cut crime by recruiting 5,000 new front line police across the UK. We will end Labour's early release scheme and we will introduce directly elected police commissioners. In our schools, head teachers will be given the power to exclude disruptive pupils. This will restore discipline. We will cut teachers' paperwork and restore choice to higher education by scrapping fees and reforming the student loan system.

Pensioners have been particularly badly hit by rises in indirect taxes and council tax bills under this government. I believe we must now restore the link between pensions and earnings, while protecting benefits such as free prescriptions, winter fuel payments and this year's one-off £200 payment.

We need a fair immigration system that helps genuine refugees and gives priority to those who want to come to Britain and make a positive contribution. The Conservatives will set up 24-hour surveillance at ports of entry.

I will defend local schools from the council's ill-thought out closure proposals and I will support a referendum on the future of the Welsh Assembly.

This is a fantastic area to live but I believe it could be so much better. Local people need a change from generations of one party rule. If elected, I will take real action work to improve life for people in Torfaen.