WATCH: Run the Gauntlett - There’s no health without mental health says Inverness, Skye and West Ross-Shire Labour candidate Michael Perera

With days to go before the general election I took an opportunity to get under the skin of the candidates fighting for our votes. I wanted to look beyond the policies and find out what makes them tick.

• Yesterday we met Angus MacDonald, the Liberal Democrat candidate.

• The day before, we were with Drew Hendry of the SNP.

We complete the trilogy of front-runners (according to polls) for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-Shire seat with Michael Perera, who is the Labour candidate.

Michael, who wore a casual pair of denim jeans and blue fleece, had a different demeanour about him. While I was speaking with a potential MP, it very much felt like having a discussion with a local Highlander passionate about the wellness of the people in his city, Inverness.

As we strolled along the River Ness, while getting struck by relentless gusts of wind, Michael spoke with members of the general public about their concerns, encouraged youngsters to study in the Highlands and gained a vote or two.

The Labour candidate spoke about topics such as the housing crisis, bookable holiday homes, mental health and changes needed to restore a fair democracy.

After spending years asking the general public questions about politics, and their opinion, I have often found that they either don’t have the knowledge to give an answer on the topic, or they simply don’t trust politicians and therefore don’t care to answer as they don’t feel listened to.

So, I was keen to know how Michael tackles this issue and how he plans to regain trust.

He said: “I think it comes down to integrity and I think we have had quite a few years now of politicians promising things and not following through. Politicians have been seen gaslighting the public on occasion, which we saw through the gender debate, where half the population's views were written off as invalid by a former First Minister.

“From our point of view, we want to be a listening party and my background in mental health means I have lots of skills in that. I was taught how to listen to people and appreciate people’s opinions as valid.”

In terms of political false promises made time and time again by individuals and their party, Michael defended Labour by saying: “When Labour was in power, the wave of change that we saw was tremendous.

“We did save the NHS in 1997, it was getting dismantled by the Tories across the country at that time and the wave of investment that we had, had a huge impact on waiting times, accident and emergency, and on cancer survival rates.

“And, the increase in investment in mental health made a huge difference to the most vulnerable people in this country.

“So, my view is that the Labour government doesn’t over promise, but it does promise that it will put people before the party and will ensure that the workers and most vulnerable will be the future for the government.”

Michael believes that his background in mental health has the potential to be the backbone of his campaign and listening to the public falls into his strengths.

He said: “There is no health without mental health and I think that all governments have appreciated that, but we are seeing that the more people that come forward, and are encouraged to come forward, the longer the queues get and it makes it difficult for people to get the help that they require.

“On a personal level, the scale of the major mental health conditions, numbers-wise, like depression and anxiety, I think these are signs and symptoms of a society that isn’t working.

“As a society we are showing signs of post-traumatic stress because of the damage we have had from the Tories and the failures of the SNP.

“These are diseases of despair, so people are very unhappy.”

After seeing how the housing crisis is detrimentally affecting those keen to get onto the housing ladder, as well as rent, I was keen to know what Michael intended to do locally to relieve the burden on residents.

He said: “I think the state of the housing market is almost scandalous.

“When I bought my first house it was three times a salary; it's between seven and eight times now, with massive deposits required. It just makes you think, how can anyone get on the housing ladder?

“The situation we are in now is because of our governments have choked off the housing supply. So, the solution to that is to accelerate the social housing programme for the rental market and look at the planning laws.

“We have got the skills here, and I think Inverness is case in point, with accelerated housing development, but the prices are accelerating away from local people’s ability to buy them.”

When discussing the sheer population of rental holiday home properties spotted across the Highlands, Michael said: “I think one of Labour’s plans is to put 100 per cent community charge on bookable holiday venues and I think there are lessons to be learned from some of the European cities like Barcelona who have put a cap on the amount of holiday lets that can be available for the tourist market.

“Balance needs to be struck because tourism is obviously hugely important to the Highlands, but I am picking up on the frustrations with the people who live here all year round, particularly those who live along the North Coast 500.

“I went to Skye a few weeks ago, and it was a real eye-opener. It was almost like a car park from one end to the other.”

With just a few days left before the general election, Michael is busy continuing to speak with the general public, listen to local concerns and looking at potential improvements, should he be elected on July 4.