Ms Santos, who was born and raised in Dunoon, is the fifth candidate vying for the seat, along with Alan Reid, Alastair Redman, Mary Galbraith, and Brendan O’Hara.

She told the Advertiser she has always been interested in politics – but this is the first time she will stand.

She said: “I think I am facing criticism for not living in the constituency. My family all still live in Dunoon. I left Dunoon when Emily and Matthew were slightly older, so I moved to Renfrewshire – I felt education wise they would benefit more. “I went to Dunoon Grammar School which was fantastic, but that was in the 70s when teachers were a bit more liberal thinking.

“I do not have a political background, but I have always been really interested in it.

“I’ve never got involved due to family commitments. For me bringing up my children was a priority, so I could never pursue a political career and do that.” Her daughter Emily is also involved in politics, and is taking on Alex Salmond for the Gordon seat. One of Ms Santos’ main issues is Britain’s membership with the European Union.

Ms Santos said she became ‘aware’ of how the EU affects Britain around 15 years ago, whilst she was employed in the social work sector.

She said: “I would have been working in the care industry, we had to adhere to certain regulations and they were crazy, especially when dealing with children from disadvantaged background.

“There were rules that you weren’t able to cuddle a child without another member of staff present, even if that child was crying and upset.

“It was little niggly things like that, and I started to wonder where they came from.

“Although we do set our own directives, a lot of these regulations come from Europe.” Ms Santos also addressed the stigma associated with UKIP.

She said: “I’m not racist, racism is everywhere, it’s part of life. I have two mixed race children – they are still subjected to racism, if they had ginger hair they would get it as well. “We want more control over who gets in and out of this country.

“We should have some control over our borders. You or I couldn’t just move to New Zealand because we wanted to, and that is quite right to have border control.” She told the Advertiser she did not expect to be elected, but hoped by standing she would ‘pave the way’ for others in the future.

She said: “The reason I got involved with UKIP is that they tick most of my boxes, not all of them, but more than any other party in Britain or Scotland.” “As I see it, I’m not going to be elected as an MP but I’m paving the way for other thinkers.

“I’m not naive enough to think that I will get elected.” Ms Santos said that she ‘took an opportunity’ to run for the UKIP.

She told the Advertiser: “I am what I am, just Caroline mum-of-three who has worked her way up, and took an opportunity.”