She's been a Labour Party candidate for less than a year, but Faiza Shaheen is sure she can represent the people.

Faiza Shaheen, 36, grew up around Chingford and was educated at Chingford Church of England Primary School and Chingford Foundation School.

She then went on to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University and then completed a PHD in Manchester.

She is now canvassing across Chingford and Woodford Green to speak "get a sense of the real issues."

She said: "I really enjoy finding out what actually concerns people. It is the domestic every day issues that people are truly concerned about.

"Fundamental issues that come up time and again are things like schools and school places, crime - especially given the increases in crime across the country, healthcare and social care, benefits and housing.

"These are the massive struggles that people face across the constituency."

Dr Shaheen and her team gather every Saturday from 11am to 1pm to allow residents of Chingford and Woodford Green to meet her and express their concerns.

She reported that growing up in the area would help her in acting as a representative.

Even now she says she can point out locations for big moments in her life as she walks around the area.

She said: "Chingford and Woodford Green is my first choice. I did not want to run in a safe seat where I did not know the area and its history. I'm running in this area because it really means something to me.

"It's my home turf and I'm going to fight for it. The libraries are where I used to go and read books. The schools are my schools.

"And I believe, given my work on economic inequality policy, I have a great understanding of the big change we need to see in terms of the climate, healthcare, automation and other areas because I understand the difference between the local issues and the larger policy that affects and causes issues and I've come really ready to go fight."

She has also been overwhelmed by the support from people from her past.

She said: ""During the session, I bumped into the father of an old school friend which was lovely.

"It reminded me that I would be representing people that were part of my childhood and that is an incredibly rewarding realisation."

Oxford-educated Dr Shaheen has worked in economic inequality policy for the past decade, devising policy around better wages for employment, improving public services, benefitting the climate, reducing youth unemployment and improving social mobility.

She believes this will put her in good stead for acting as the Member of Parliament for Chingford and Woodford Green.

The 36-year-old said: "I'm not from a privileged background. My dad was a car mechanic, my mum was reassessed for her disability benefits as she had heart failure, and we had an electricity meter in our house when I was younger. So, I know what it is to be on the receiving end of bad policy.

"My school, Chingford Foundation School, had really bad results when I was there, which impacted a whole generation of people that were so smart but were unable to fulfil their potential and attain high enough GCSE grades because the infrastructure was not there.

"I'm not just some rich kid. I'm from the area and I know what it is like to need public services.

"I believe I would be a good representative because the constituents will get someone with the kind of passion and understanding which unfortunately a lot of MPs do not have."

Now, she hopes a general election will be called as soon as possible.

She said: "For the sake of the country I hope there's a general election soon. If the current state of play continues until 2022, I cannot even begin to imagine the state of the NHS and the school system."

"Ultimately for a country hearing what I am hearing, we just cannot go on this way."