A political hopeful whose first taste of life in Whitehall was guarding the steps of 10 Downing Street as a high-ranking police officer, says a vote for him would be a vote for change.

William Main-Ian has been chosen to stand for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in Carshalton and Wallington and says his background, which includes working as a guard to Princess Diana and others at Kensington Palace and getting commendations for various acts of bravery including facing an armed man, sets him apart from his rivals.

He said people should vote for him if they are tired of the three main parties' policies but urged people not to treat a vote for UKIP as a protest vote.

Mr Main-Ian was born in Scotland but joined the Metropolitan Police at 19 and did security work including guarding the steps of 10 Downing Street as a PC before the road had gates.

He was posted to Sutton in 1985  where he was instrumental in getting the troublesome St Helier Tavern closed down.

Following that he wanted a change of scenery and transferred to royalty protection where he guarded Prince Charles, Princess Diana and the young princes at Kensington Palace.

He said: "Meeting the Princess of Wales was definitely an interesting experience. She was a very nice lady from my experience of her. She would go out running in the ground after dark in a baseball cap so people wouldn't recognise her and we were strategically placed so intruders could be intercepted."

During the rest of his policing career he served around the capital and played a critical role in one of the country's biggest arms seizures.

He was forced to retire from the police in 2001 after losing a leg in a car crash, Since then he has worked with voluntary groups helping people recover from the mental and physical effects of injury and said it is his experiences since them that have pushed him into politics.

He said: "I've had enough of mainstream politics. I though 'enough's enough'. This country needs to go in a different direction and that means taking control of our policies and getting out of the EU.

"The public also needs someone who has done other things than just being an MP or a councillor. We have career politicians and Old Etonians who don't have a clue.

"I don't want people to vote for UKIP as a protest vote. I want people to vote for me because they see that I am a person with integrity and with a belief that things need to change."

 

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