The general election campaign is well and truly under way following the dissolution of parliament last week.

We caught up with the five candidates for Sittingbourne and Sheppey to ask them how electioneering is going and what they feel is residents’ number one concern.

Gordon Henderson (Conservatives)

“We’ve already delivered two newspapers to 44,000 households and we are in the process of undertaking a full-scale canvassing campaign.

“We’re getting a good reaction [from people]. A lot of my support is based on me having been their MP for the last five years. My motto is ‘putting people before politics’ which is recognised and people appreciate that.

“The issue that came to the forefront is the NHS and I think that’s the number one concern.

"They’re saying they’re worried about waiting lists but there are number of other issues like a lack of surgery appointments and in some places that’s due to a lack of GPs.

“Different people will have different concerns depending on their experiences they’ve had. I suspect a lot of it is their perception based on stories they read in the newspaper nationally which they then impose on their local views.”

Gary Miller (Green)

“I’ve been leafleting in Faversham where I’m also standing as a town councillor.

“Although our membership has roughly trebled since this time last year, we haven’t had the resources to get around Sittingbourne and Sheppey yet.

“ I’ve set up a Swale Green Party Facebook page so details of our manifesto and campaign information can be found on there.

“On the doorstep, people are worried about austerity and the cuts which are hurting the economy. People have gone from full-time to part-time jobs or reduced hours.

“People are telling me that not enough money’s circulating so traders can’t keep their shops going. There’s no job security anymore and there’s more cuts to come next year.”

Guy Nicholson (Labour)

“I have been meeting and talking with residents and voters about our future and why a vote for Labour can work for them.

“I have been listening to the different challenges and problems we are up against and talking about how we can tackle these challenges and work together to build a better future for us all.

“We all want things to be fairer than they have become and we want someone to be there when we have need to call on them.

“People do want things to be fairer, with lots of talk about the NHS. Another lot of us talk about zero-hour contracts and wages and homes for residents.

“I don’t think there is one [issue] that is most important for everybody. I would say it is with a toss of a coin as to which one of these things is the most important.”

Keith Nevols (Liberal Democrats)

“We are finding it difficult to get past the media ignoring our achievements. We need to shout as loud as we can about what we have done.

“We have made mistakes: tuition fees – that’s the one that stands out – but it’s all part of our political education and we will continue campaigning.

“We are quite a small party in this area so it’s just a case of concentrating efforts but we hope to have street stalls and hope to go door-to-door but we haven’t done so yet. Facebook I would say is playing more of a role.”

“People are raising the NHS. Mostly local health services. Partly Medway hospital, obviously it’s not in our constituency but it affects people locally.

“Concerns about privatisation. Concerns about the provision of services, especially on Sheppey.”

Richard Palmer (Ukip)

“It’s going really well. The biggest disappointment I’m coming across is the number of people saying they are just not interested in politics – I think there will be a low turn-out.

“People saying they are promised everything before the election and then nothing happens. Last election they promised not to put up VAT - and then it did rise.

“We’re not going to form a government on May 8. We might have 10, we might have 20, we may have more MPs, but we will push for a referendum.”

“We’re leafleting and don’t ask me how many doors [I’ve knocked on] – I’ve done a lot of walking, I’ve lost a lot of weight, I’ve learned a lot of things.

“People are talking about mass housing madness. We are being squeezed into this little corner of Kent.”

• What do you want to hear from the candidates? Let us know what matters to you, by emailing timesguardian@thekmgroup.co.uk