UNEMPLOYED Mark Shuker readily admits he hasn't got much chance of becoming Worcester's next MP - but is relishing the prospect of dipping his toes in the water.

The 38-year-old soldier's son was never political, couldn't care less about the hurly-burly of the House of Commons and rarely took notice of anything politicians say until falling on hard times a few years ago when the recession hit.

So why get into it now?

"I was sat at home one day, out of work and I decided to read up on the parties, just on the computer to see what they're about," he said.

That was around two years ago, and it changed his life.

The former Nunnery Wood High School pupil was hooked and joined the Liberal Democrats' Worcester branch, until he decided to cancel his membership earlier this year to plough his own furrow.

Now as an independent, he's hoping to upset the apple cart by becoming Worcester's new MP, saying unlike many politicians he "knows the tough side of life".

Mr Shuker, who lives near Tallow Hill, started life as a newborn at a military camp in Stonehenge, Wiltshire, where his dad was a member of the Royal Corps of Signals.

His parents, who met at Norton Barracks, moved back to Worcester when he was one, starting a love affair with the city where he then grew up, eventually becoming a qualified engineer after studying at Worcester College of Technology.

Jobs followed, and there were plenty, with stints at Industrial & Tractor in Diglis, Worcester Bosch, where he sat in a lab testing products, a slabbing firm in Gloucester, a Rover base in Swindon and even a few months in Gibraltar, after he met a woman in the Cardinal's Hat in Friar Street and they decided to jet off for a new life, finding work with a ship building firm before he came back home.

But the work has dried up in recent years, and he's now on benefits after several months of struggle, living at his mum's house.

Temporary jobs have come and gone, included a miserable time with the Carphone Warehouse, which paid the bills for a while.

Now he says his life experience has pushed him towards politics - and his only regret is not trying to get into it years ago.

"I know when people see a leaflet through the letterbox and they see it's from an independent they might dismiss it, but I'm standing on my Worcester roots and experience of life," he said.

"People can't say to me 'you don't know what it's like' with any difficult situation they are facing, because the chances are I've been there.

"I know Worcester is one of those swing seats between the main parties, my message is that I would bring stability."

He also says life on the dole is tough, but he is hoping that running for parliament might help him get a job.

"If something comes from this, great - if I can't win at least I can get my name out there," he said.

"I don't see the benefits I'm on as income I'm entitled to, it's just the bare minimum to tie me over for now - but I do think benefits in general shouldn't be as controversial as it is."

His manifesto includes campaigning for a Northern Link Road, something he says is at the centre of his electioneering.

"I remember it being talked about when I was a kid, and here we are today," he said.

"Worcester needs that link built to take the traffic out, it's as simple as that."

He is also critical of Worcester's long-lost industry like the glove making, Kays, Royal Worcester Porcelain and other manufacturing plants which have gone, saying too many skilled engineering jobs have made way for supermarket roles and low-paid minor positions.

Mr Shuker, who has one sister, 36-year-old Sarah Shuker, also says flooding is a big part of his campaign, insisting new solutions are desperately needed to tackle surface water run-off on city car parks.

The impassioned campaigner has put the rest of his life on pause for these few weeks, taking to Twitter to spend day and night pumping out messages (where he can be found @Shukezz), getting leaflets done at the printers, conversing with city decision makers and trying to make a name for himself.

Politically, he describes himself as pretty centred, saying his only party experience was that temporary stint with the Lib Dems, which ended after he made a move to become its parliamentary hopeful, and the odd conversation with Green Party figures in the city, but he took that no further.

"I'm not political as such," he says. "I don't see myself that way. I'm very middle of the road."

When tested, he can debate world problems with anyone, saying his own personal interest in current affairs was sparked by the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, when he spent "night and day" arguing about them in internet chat rooms with pro-conflict Americans.

But it's his ups and downs in Worcester which have brought him to this point, a chance, regardless of how fanciful it may seem, to represent the city in parliament.

"I've never networked with people in Worcester as much as I have over these last few months," he said.

"But my only regret was not doing this years ago. Who knows what will happen?"