MY BACKGROUND

I was brought up in a quite run-down part of central Manchester by parents who worked at Ferrodo, the local car parts factory.

I studied hard at the local state schools and, eventually, got a place at University in Brighton.

After finishing my course I moved up to Crawley to work at was then Rediffusion Simulation, now Thales, on Manor Royal.

In the thirty plus years since then I have put down deep roots in Crawley: I was married in Crawley registry office, bought a house here and my son was born in Crawley Hospital, went to school and grew up here.

WHY I’M STANDING IN SOUTHGATE

I value community. As the recent pandemic has shown – we need each other. We rely on each other.

I believe Southgate needs someone who is prepared to give the time and commitment to deal with its concerns. To listen to what its residents have to say. To do his best to deal with matters which come up.

I believe that person is me.

I bring thirty-plus years of real working and life experience with me. I am someone who has spent his working career steeped in an ethos of understanding and delivering on commitments. I’m not someone who makes big speeches then is neither seen nor heard of again until the next set of elections. I will work hard to deliver for the residents of Southgate because it is in my DNA.

I am also someone who believes that the community is made up of everyone. Our environment, our streets, the world we wake up to every day, after all, belongs to, is used by and affects everyone, irrespective. So everyone should be represented.

You can have confidence that I will do my best to deliver for everyone in Southgate.