These three words conjure a variety of connotations, more often than not, negative ones. Taken together the mix is considered to be a cloak and dagger approach to getting deals done and policies made.

It’s no secret that many people are disillusioned with the way our political process works. Politics isn’t about decisions made behind closed doors, but must be an open and interactive dialogue. I want to make sure constituents have the opportunity to engage in the issues that matter most to them. Politics should be an inclusive process that encourages public participation.

That’s why I have decided to publish my conference schedule.

We’re asking people to trust us, so they have the right to know what their public figures are up to, and must be able to hold their representatives to account.

This is my first conference as a Parliamentary candidate and I’ve been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of meeting requests I’ve received from commercial lobbyists, charity campaigners and pressure groups all pushing particular agendas.

I’ve accepted those meetings I believe will be of direct interest to the community I hope to represent. In addition I will be asking constituents to actively feed into the process by sending me their thoughts on the issues that affect them.

The more people are involved, the more we can ensure that their voices are heard. This way, they can be confident that working together to take on the challenges our communities face is an inclusive, collaborative effort.

Going forward, I will regularly publish my agendas and meetings, so people can have a direct say and aren’t left to wonder whether or not their best interest is at heart – they’ll know.

* Ibrahim Taguri is the Liberal Democrat PPC for Brent Central