Hello HongLing @HelloMBCLibdems

HongLing Dyer is a first time candidate standing on May 22nd in the ward of Mortlake and Barnes Common (MBC for short) for Richmond Council in London. In an exclusive interview she shares with CLDs her beliefs and background and why residents should vote for her.

"I celebrate Chinese New Year, and I eat rice on an almost daily basis. But my Chinese identity and interests are much more than this. In fact, much of my political outlook is shaped by Chinese values such as:

- Working hard to help others: Being a Liberal Democrat candidate means working hard all year round for voters in rain or shine. Chinese people don't shy away from hard work and neither do Liberal Democrats.

- Valuing hard work at home and in the workplace: I was a stay at home mum for many years and I recently went back to work. I persevered, but it was difficult applying for jobs in a recession. I want to do well in the workplace, but I know it is equally hard to work at home caring for children or for an older or disabled relative.

- Helping families: I currently work full-time in the public sector and I'm a mum of a two. I'm genuinely proud that, from free school meals to an £800 tax cut, millions of families and people on low incomes are better off thanks to the Liberal Democrats' commitment to helping families and to ensuring a fairer society for everyone.

- Supporting my local community: I volunteer with Contact the Elderly and the NCT, and at a time when more and more people are turning to local charities and community groups for help, Tories are making funding cuts faster and much deeper than necessary. In contrast, Liberal Democrats have been and always will be a true friend to our voluntary sector.

- Respecting nature: I have many reasons to be proud of the Liberal Democrats' record on the environment, not least because I am a keen cyclist.

- And like most Chinese people, I reuse or recycle whenever possible, rather than throw something away to end up in a landfill or incinerator.

Finally, I want other people in the Chinese community to know that you will always find fairness at the heart of every Liberal Democrat policy - and every Liberal Democrat candidate!"

If you would like to help HongLing make history as the first Chinese Councillor to be elected in the leafy suburb of Richmond upon Thames, come to MBC's action days or donate to CLDs for her campaign - email info@chineselibdems.org.uk for more information. You can also follow her and her fellow Council candidates Michael Dingemans and Anton McNulty-Howard on twitter @hellombclibdems .

For the full manifesto "A Fairer Greener and Safer Borough" click here.