Today we meet Emily Tester, the Liberal Democrat candidate standing in Brighton Kemptown.

She has been a member of the Liberal Democrats for three years and a member of its youth branch executive for two years.

Emily also has experience as a town councillor in West Sussex, working with her colleagues to save local facilities such as a theatre and a swimming pool from council cuts.

The Argus (TA): What is the biggest single issue in the constituency you are standing in?

Emily Tester (ET): This is truly an extraordinary General Election and it will be fought on one issue only: The European Union.

I am proud that my party campaigned against Brexit and that we are the only party standing in Brighton Kemptown fighting against a hard Brexit.

I believe the people of Britain deserve to have their say on any final Brexit deal – with the option to Remain being on the ballot.

TA: Do you believe that Brexit can bring about a positive change to Sussex?

ET: I wish that I could say that something good will come out of the Conservatives’ plan for a hard Brexit but I cannot in all honesty do so.

The Coast to Coast Local Enterprise Partnership, of which Brighton and Hove forms a large amount, received over £50 million in EU structural funds.

Countless jobs are reliant upon trade with other EU countries.

And do not forget all the EU citizens who live in Brighton and Hove who are the backbone of our public services.

I fear that leaving the European Union will be a disaster for Sussex and the UK as a whole.

TA: Who will win this election ?

ET: I think the Conservatives will win a sizeable majority, something they’ve not done in my lifetime.

TA: Who is your political hero and why?

ET: Roy Jenkins.

For being the most Liberal Home Secretary I think we’ve ever had.

We wouldn’t be the tolerant, liberal country that we are today without the reforming process that he started.

TA: What has been the best moment you have had out campaigning?

ET: It’s been so refreshing to see the enthusiasm from all of our new members in Brighton and Hove.

We’re five times larger in membership than we were at the last election and it’s been great to be running out of things for our volunteers to do.

TA: Is this election necessary considering we already have a majority government that was due to run until 2020?

ET: It does seem to be a tad opportunistic to call an election right now, but I welcome the chance to take on the Conservatives’ hard Brexit, and give the people of Brighton Kemptown a liberal voice to vote for.

TA: Can voters be confident that our current system is the best way to select a government?

ET: It’s no secret that the Liberal Democrats have long been in favour of reforming our electoral system.

At the last election, the Conservatives got less than 37 per cent of the vote but took 51 per cent of seats in Parliament.

This isn’t a fair way to conduct democracy.

We need a proportional electoral system to ensure that everyone has a voice in who runs our country.