BECOMING an MP was never in Tina McKay’s plans.

She never thought it was attainable; it was something for other people - mainly privileged men in suits - to do.

But that all changed in 2015.

Enter Jeremy Corbyn, the late entrant to the Labour leadership race who ran out eventual winner on a wave of grass-roots support.

So, in Mr Corbyn, Mrs McKay certainly sees political parallels.

The lively Northern Ireland native, who left the province in 2001, said: “I wouldn’t say I’m new to politics.

"Yes, in the more formal sense, but not as an activist. I was involved in politics on an issue by issue basis and being working class I would have naturally been aligned to the Labour Party.

"For years I didn’t think politics or politicians spoke to me or even for me. That has changed significantly in recent years."

She added:"For me, my campaign is not going to be about Tina McKay, it will be about the community and a manifesto which will bring the best for the people of Colchester and that’s what I am pressing when we are knocking on people’s doors.

“I really enjoy talking about politics and what a Labour Government under Jeremy Corbyn could bring for people.”

She added: “Yes, there are people who I’m talking to who might be staunchly Lib Dem or Conservative, and that’s fine, but I’m still keen to ask to them what we could do to help them; politics aside, I want to help people.”

Rewind to spring 2015. Ed Miliband had led Labour to a General Election defeat and the Conservatives had taken a majority. The less said about their former coalition partners, the Lib Dems, the better.

The 38-year-old, who is married to Sgt John McKay, who works at Colchester Garrison’s Military Corrective and Training Centre, added: “I sat up all night watching the results come in and I really felt the country had been let down by the result.

"I knew the devastation that a Conservative Government would bring to our communities and public services.”

"I actually felt I had to get involved and be part of the fight back, the change that we would need. I joined the Labour Party the day after.”

At the time, her military husband was based in Catterick - not quite a Labour stronghold.

When she learned the pair would be relocating to Colchester, she looked up the town’s Labour contingent online.

The military charity communications officer said: “I was over the moon. It was clear the constituency party was thriving and I was genuinely looking forward to coming down and being involved.”

Despite a strong showing against Tory incumbent Will Quince, Labour’s Tim Young received a blow after the snap General Election in 2017.

Labour bosses had decided Colchester was one of scores of target seats which would have to be contested by a female candidate in the future in a bid to encourage a gender balance in Parliament.

And at a hustings in May, Mrs McKay was elected as the party’s parliamentary candidate by local party members, ahead of four other female candidates.

Undeniably, her election ruffled a few feathers in the party.

She said: “I really felt it was important for someone who really believed in the previous manifesto and socialist policies, which is what had really captured people, especially in Colchester at the last election.

"So I spoke to a few people and I decided quite late on to throw my hat in the ring."

READ MORE: Labour's Tim Young on party's undeniable split

The staunch Liverpool football fan recalls the Greenstead Social Club hustings as "a bit of a blur", adding: "I remember I wasn't feeling great and I think I'd had a hectic week in work in London so I just thought I would answer each question as me.

"I wanted to say: 'This is what I think so if you vote for me, this is the sort of thing you'll get.'

"I never expected to win it but people were saying to me afterwards: 'Did you not detect the positive reaction when you were talking?'

"I genuinely didn't; I was just caught in the moment."

If she were to win the next General Election poll - whenever it may be - MP would be her first job in official public service, having never served as a councillor - a role some feel should be fulfilled before moving into Parliament.

But Mrs McKay doesn’t see that as a drawback.

She said: “Does that mean you can’t be an MP?

"Of course the position carries great importance and responsibility but the beauty of our party is that there is no rite of passage.

"I think it is a wonderful thing that anyone who wants to serve their community, as I do, can have that opportunity.

"It enables everyone to do what I have done and apply. I don’t think you need to have years of public service to recognise that nor does it mean that you would not do the job well.”

So what should the people of Colchester expect from her campaign?

"We're putting a team together," she said, "so that's moving along, but as I said, this isn't going to be about Tina McKay, it won't have to be because the manifesto and our pledges to the community and the people of Colchester will do the talking.”