Michael Law-Riding is the Conservative Party candidate for Blackburn.

Do you think the veil worn by some Muslim women is a 'mark of separation' and hinders community cohesion?

There are two (main) issue here: 1) Freedom of Choice (to wear what you want) and, 2) Freedom of Expression (to express yourself). I absolutely protect the right of anyone to have the choice to wear what they want - as long as it complies with public decency.

Freedom of Expression is also an unalienable right in a democracy - as long as you don't limit someone else's similar freedoms. Obviously, one has to be certain that these Freedoms are being exercised and not being imposed (which is wrong on all counts).

I worry if any group wants to behave in a way which limits their engagement in society; but welcome all things that encourage that engagement.

If the veil is about Freedom of Expression, Choice, and encourages engagement with society then I am all for those things.

2)What do you think is the best way to help small businesses in the present economic climate?

The easy answer is to say less regulation, but it is a good thing to have good hygiene in a food store, adequate insurance for a taxi driver, and adequate health & safety for customers. We need to make sure all these things happen.

What we can't have is the proposed increase in national insurance which increases costs for all employers. What I'd like is far more credit being made available to small businesses from the Banks we now own.

The south Asian communities are famous for their hard work, their flair for business, and we need to support and encourage that - perhaps by setting up Business Colleges & local Development Banks.

3) What would be your exit strategy if any, with regards to the war in Afghanistan?

Let me be clear: we should not be in any foreign country allowing our men and women to face daily dangers without a very good reason for being there. We need to keep that reason very clear at all times, or we'll suffer the same fate as befell the Soviets: defeat and shame.

Like Northern Ireland, we need to be clear who are the key players, and bring them to the table. We need to ensure that we support ordinary Afghans in improving their own lives, by getting a good education, good health services, and good jobs building their nation back again.

In order to do this, we need the voice of the authentic Afghan people involved in building that future - not just of a particular clan, city or group. We need to treat all people with respect too.

So no to a hurried time-table - yes, to a clear plan.

4)Would you increase the number of days a terror suspect can be held without charge or do you think current laws are sufficient?

One of the great institutional defences people have fought for in this country is the concept of habeas corpus.

Once upon a time, powerful lords & barons would abduct people off the streets and they would disappear.

In this country we limited that through centuries of struggle. We must not throw these core British values away.

It is important that we have as transparent a process of holding and investigating suspects as we can, where everyone can be assured that the right things are being done.

This is too important for a "them" and "us" situation, which is what it feels like at the moment, with Muslims being the "them". It effects "all of us"

5)Name the best thing you would do to help your constituency if you are elected as MP?

Nearly 40% of the constituency I want to represent is of Muslim faith now.

I want to do the things that will benefit everyone: get in more jobs and support manufacturing, reduce the huge waste there is in the council, NHS, and other statutory sector.

I want to restore some self-confidence back into my Muslim constituents who feel let down with a 30 year legacy of an MP [Jack Straw] who has used his time to further his own career in Cabinet, at the expense of his own electorate.

He raised the issue of the veil; he said that it was only his signature that ensured we went into the Iraq war resulting in the deaths of 600,000 innocent souls; he did little that was effective when Gaza burned. Blackburn is one of the most divided towns in England, and that is Jack's legacy.

I will knock those walls down and bring all communities together.