Unlike the bulk of the traditional media, The GIN Lady magazine is apolitical; we have no allegiances to any one political party. Yet as an individual, on many a recent occasion I have wished I was living in the Hampstead & Kilburn constituency. Because if I did I would have the chance to vote for Tamsin Omond, the candidate of The Commons party. As one of their regular blog followers, we chuckled in dismay over their attendance at a local Tory bash, where they weren't allowed to eat one of the Conservative's blue cupcakes boasting David Cameron's face! As The Commons blog says "I guess in their ‘Big Society’ only the Tories get to eat cake." This Tory encounter really sums up the problem with the huge majority of political parties - they've forgotten the power of sharing and working in a co-operative manner to solve modern Society's problems. Enter Tamsin Omond, the passionate lady MP candidate standing for Hampstead & Kilburn, a must-read for local constituents, political enthusiasts and future MP hopefuls.

We first heard about Tamsin Omond via John Grant's Co-opportunity blog, a highly revered social change agent who has put his full backing behind Tamsin's candidature. We couldn't resist meeting up with Tamsin to find out what she and The Commons are all about. And over a highly enjoyable seasonal, locally sourced feast, we were introduced to a highly refreshing approach to politics: The Commons listen.

The Commons is centred around YOU, not those needs dictated to us in a top-down fashion. I regularly write to my local MP and I sometimes wonder if they have actually read my words. Instead I get one of those run of the mill generated responses. Funnily, while Tamsin and I ate and chatted, it was Tamsin scribbling down notes at top speed rather than me (I should have otherwise I'd be able to share some fantastic quotes!). We simply can't imagine the same happening if we were lunching with Gordon!

Tamsin is highly likeable, caring and intelligent. This MP candidate is incredibly passionate about sharing power: by respecting and giving everyone an equal voice; by co-operating together to bring about true democracy; being transparent in the political process. The Commons also care deeply about sustainability and "believe that long term interests and short term needs can be met by the same community-led solutions." Unlike the typical glossy manifesto, The Commons party is setting up a manifesto social network to allow the community to upload the community-led solutions that inspire them, and how they could be supported at national level. In other words, this is open-source politics!

Well, this may sound all well and good, but does Tamsin actually have a real chance of becoming a local MP? It's a small constituency of around 75,000 voters, and many of whom will be young or first time voters for starters. At 25, Tamsin is likely to inspire many young or disenchanted voters, particularly with her freewheeling, fun yet sincere approach to canvassing. And she's no stranger to being bold or holding strong onto her selfless beliefs, having set up Climate Rush, a suffragette inspired climate change activist group.

This is what Tamsin has to say on her website....

"I’m not your typical activist. I left university wanting a normal life (whatever that is…). But the more I found out about the world – about our world and our future – the more I realised that it is falling apart.

And yet we're told we are powerless to stop it.

It has to be time for something new. I’m sick of being told Britain is ‘broken’. I want to play a part in fixing it. That is why I am standing for Parliament on behalf of The Commons. We're all ‘solutions’ people, flexible in our outlook, optimistic and unafraid to question any convention, privilege, subsidy or tax. If it isn’t working for the common good, we'll fix it."

If Tamsin gets the vote and makes it to Parliament, then they'll be a The Commons MP standing in every constituency at the next general election. Heck, it could even be you! Just imagine, a highly participatory political system where true democracy is restored. Definitely worth thinking about. Even better, vote for it. Apparently over 30% of us still haven't made up our minds...

Visit To The Commons for more information.