WITH the general election around the corner, The Bolton News is running a series of features with candidates vying for your vote. Here, politics reporter Elaine O'Flynn speaks to the Liberal Democrat candidate for Bolton South East Darren Reynolds

THE Liberal Democrat candidate standing in Bolton South East says he is hoping to return to 10 Downing Street — where he worked for years as a software developer for Tony Blair.

If elected, Darren Reynolds says he will also work to relax drug laws — arguing that in the right settings, 'taking LSD is safer than drinking coffee'.

The 44-year-old will stand against incumbent Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi in May, but says he recognises he has a tough fight on his hands to hold the Lib Dem vote.

The father-of-three from Burnley, who is currently looking to do a PHD in neuroscience, first joined his party in 2003 when the Lib Dems formally opposed the invasion of Iraq.

Since then he's worked with Liberal Democrat MP Gordon Birtwistle in Lancashire, where several high-profile campaigns — particularly focused on apprenticeships and protecting the local accident and emergency department — could also work in Bolton South East.

Speaking to The Bolton News, Mr Reynolds says he doesn't believe his party will be wiped out on May 7.

In 2010 the Liberal Democrats took 16 per cent of the vote, but as their popularity nationally has plummeted Mr Reynolds accepts holding this portion will be difficult.

"This election is so difficult to predict, and it is so hard to see what will happen", he says.

"I think what we have shown is that we can work in government and work in coalition."

Controversially, the budding scientist also believes that Britain should also adopt a more liberal policy regarding the legalisation of drugs such as LSD and MDMA.

"By criminalising the sale of drugs you put it into the hands of criminals who don't care about the quality of the product, and make it more dangerous", he says.

"There has been research carried out that show drugs like LSD can be used as therapies for past traumas or stress disorders.

"If you have people around you that you trust, in a safe place, with the right environment, taking LSD is safer than taking a cup of coffee."

"A lot of our MPs have a legal background, and we need more people involved in politics with a scientific background.

"If you give a question to a groups of scientists with degrees, they tend to reach a conclusion based on evidence, whereas lawyers will want to know what the top line is and then they will argue.

"That is one of the reasons I am a Liberal Democrat — we look at the evidence and do what is right."

During the Liberal Democrats time in government, he argues, there has been a rapid rise in the number of young people being taken on as apprentices, and people now receive the first £10,000 they earn tax free.

The introduction of the 'pupil premium', he adds, is another success story which shows that the Liberal Democrats can work in government, as is free school meals for every five to seven year old in England.

"We can improve overall educational performance by teaching, but there is more to it than that", he says.

"It is important to get the right level of nutrition, because if you don't have proper nutrition you can't learn.

"It is the science that underlines the demand for free school meals."

The NHS, he warns, is also in need of reform — but not privatisation.

"It is just too big, and I don't think it can survive as it is", he said.

"But the most important things is that it has to remain free at the point of entry — that is crucial.

"I'm very uncomfortable with businesses making profit out of people's ill health. If you are in the business to try and make money, you are not interested in keeping people healthy and that makes me nervous."

The Liberal Democrats would want Britain to stay in the European Union, he adds, but the institution needs to be reformed and made more accountable to this country's voters.

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