Dear Charles Bennett,

Thank you for your email. My approach to these issues is informed by my Christian faith as well as by my politics, I do therefore believe that religious belief has an important role to play in society - in making it imperative to stand up for social justice and the marginalised of our society.

Morally I believe abortion to be wrong and I would support a reduction in the term limit to a point at which a foetus is viable (probably 20 weeks but possibly 22). I believe that much more should be done in terms of sex education to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. I do not believe that it is realistic at the moment to reduce the term limit further as it would not command support and could lead to a growth in back street abortions with resultant adverse effects on the health of the mother.

I oppose poverty and neglect of the elderly which is why the Liberal Democrats have put fairness at the heart of our manifesto.

On voluntary euthanasia I do not believe that there should be preservation of (sic) in all circumstances. Ultimately this should be down to the individual taking a decision affecting them (even if morally I disagree with their decision). However there must be very strict safeguards to ensure that such a decision is not taken whilst the balance of their mind is disturbed or under any form of moral pressure.

As Christian I believe in the importance of marriage. However families come in all shapes and sizes and this needs to be recognised and my moral views should not be forced on to others. In respect of bringing up a family what is important is a stable and loving relationship from parents. In particular I disagree with the Conservative's plans to encourage marriage through tax breaks. As a widower, it seems bizarre that I should have been penalised financially when my wife died.

I believe that we should have an immigration policy which treats people as human beings. Currently it does not. I support the right to asylum and I also support the regularisation of the status of overstayers if they have been here for 10 years, have learnt English and have been law abiding. I do support controls on immigration but also recognise the benefits which immigration has brought to this country.

I support the aim of 0.7% of Gross National Income going in overseas development aid and also an international financial transactions tax to provide further development funds. I also support Liberal Democrat plans for a reduction in carbon emissions by 40% by 2020 and a carbon neutral economy by 2050. I hope this provides some indication of my views on these very important issues.

Yours sincerely,

Chris Nicholson

Labour

Chuka Umunna

Dear Mr Bennett,

I am sorry for not responding to you before now. I have been receiving hundreds of emails on issues every day and I've struggled to keep on top of them to be frank. At the same time we are trying to get me around (face to face) the constituency's 72,000 electors. I give this by way of explanation rather than excuse.

If elected I would not vote to legalise assisted suicide or euthanasia. There are heartbreaking cases where a person suffering may wish to end their own life but is unable to do so, and may want a family member to help them, but I feel in general the risks associated with such a policy are too great. With the terminally ill or disabled often being in a very vulnerable position the potential for abuse in such a situation is too high, and I would not wish to see the law changed.

I do not think an abortion should ever be considered lightly, and I wish to avoid women ever being encouraged to have one, but nevertheless I believe abortions should continue to be an option of last resort. A painful history of backstreet abortions demonstrates the danger if they were to be re-criminalised, and I do not feel it is my place to say that a woman or indeed girl should proceed with a pregnancy if she feels unable to do so. I recognise that the timeframe in which abortions are permitted is much greater in the UK than in much of the rest of Europe, and I would support a reduction in this timeframe if strong medical evidence supported it.

I am committed to do everything in my power to eliminate life-cramping poverty. It is shocking that people in this country and indeed in Streatham still live in poverty and I am determined that this should no longer be the case in the 21st Century. Helping the poorest in society is one of my driving forces - it's why I joined the Labour party and why I am in politics today. Likewise, I am committed to helping the most vulnerable in society, and the elderly are foremost in this category. The elderly have contributed such a lot to this country, and they deserve all our respect and our support. Increases in the state pension, free TV licenses and public transport, and help for energy bills during the Winter demonstrate Labour's commitment to helping the elderly, as does the government's ambitious plans to reform care over the next 5 years. I am proud of this record, but even more needs to be done to help, and If I am fortunate enough to be elected I will do all I can to make this a reality.

Whilst I agree that families are the building block of society, and more needs to be done to support them, I do not think this support should just extend to those families with two married parents. Help should be given to all families, those with two married parents, those where the parents are not married, and those where one parent is bringing up a family by themselves. Often it is the latter where the most help is needed, and the hundreds of thousands of single parents who tirelessly work and bring up their children should be given all the support they need.

I completely agree with your sentiments regarding migration. I agree that immigration rules must be applied with fairness, decency and respect for the individual. I think far too often politicians of all parties fail to uphold these values. If elected I will fight for every person who comes here to be treated well irrespective of whether they are able to stay or not, and for their human rights to be fully upheld. I see in Streatham the rich diversity and life brought by many different cultures living together, and would not like this to change, and I am adamant that Britain should continue to be a haven for refugees and those fleeing persecution abroad. In my view we have a responsibility towards the poor overseas as well as those at home.

Regarding our relationship with developing countries, I believe we should continue to increase the percentage of our GDP that we give in overseas aid to bring us into line with our UN agreements, as the government has committed to do. On trade, we must make the situation fairer for developing countries, by ending huge agricultural subsidies in the US and Europe and agreeing changes at the global level to give producers in the developing world a fair deal.

On stewardship of the environment, I believe climate change to be one of the great challenges of our generation, an issue that requires strong decision making from leaders and personal change from individuals. Neither will be easy, but I am firmly committed, both personally and through any influence I may gain if I'm fortunate enough to be elected; to work towards solutions to reduce carbon emissions and stop the destruction of our planet. I have already taken steps to raise the issue locally, and have close relationships with Sustainable Streatham and Transition Town Brixton.

In January, I brought the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Miliband to the Town Hall to address local residents and hear their views and suggestions before he represented us at the Copenhagen Summit a few days later. I have spoken publicly then, and on many other occasions of the need to urgently address the issue of climate change. Personally I have signed on to the 10:10 pledge, committing myself to reducing my carbon emissions by at least 10% this year. I have also purchased land designated for the third runway at Heathrow, to demonstrate my opposition to the plans.

I am extremely supportive of people of all faiths getting involved in politics and contributing to public life. As a Christian myself my faith is very important to me, and contributes to many of the beliefs that affect my political positions. I hope that my positions and reasoning behind each are clear, and that on those issues where we may disagree you can understand how I have come to my point of view.

If I am fortunate enough to be elected I will do all I can for the people of Streatham, and continue to stand up for what I believe is right, rather than narrowly following the party line. If elected I will make it a policy to always listen to the views of my constituents and so please continue to write to me if you disagree with me on any of the points above.

With best wishes,

Chuka Umunna