UKIP has selected Dr John Hyslop, a consultant radiologist at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, as its candidate for Truro and Falmouth in the forthcoming General Election.

John Hyslop has lived in Truro, and now Falmouth, for 30 years. He began working at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in 1985, charged with building the hospital’s ultrasound service, and is now a Ccnsultant Radiologist. He is also a qualified teacher, helping deliver the Peninsular Medical School’s training of the next generation of doctors.

A founding trustee of Heart Race Cornwall, he is chairman of the Duchy Health Charity and a former governor of Cornwall College.

Mr Hyslop said: “As a health care professional with almost 40 years’ experience I have seen significant changes in the NHS. Our health service must be protected from external pressures, EU regulations and top­down interference. I am against further use of PFI and I will always stand up for first class treatment which is free at the point of delivery.

“I believe in reinvigorating politics. For too long, career politicians in the established parties have given us little choice, and even less hope – continually promising to give us in five years’ time, what they claimed they'd deliver five years ago! For this reason I wholly endorse UKIP's policy to make politicians more accountable, and I will campaign to give voters the right to recall their MP.

“Local issues should be decided by local people, particularly when it comes to development. I support UKIP's policy on local referendums, directly giving people a say in how their community is run. Together we can decide on the direction of travel – standing up for our communities, businesses and for our unique society.

“Like many people, I didn't find politics – rather, it found me. I didn't set out to become an MP and I've never been interested in being a career politician. But the lack of trust in the established parties and their broken promises has encouraged me to stand in what may be the most significant election for UKIP to date, supporting hope and optimism for our future.

"I want to give the people of Truro & Falmouth the chance to be represented by a good candidate, supporting sound policies; in the knowledge that 'a vote for UKIP gets you UKIP' is a legitimate assertion of democratic choice which cannot be denied.”