Arlene Dearlove, Reform UK candidate for the 22nd May, Carshalton South and Clockhouse ward by-election

Arlene Dearlove is the Reform UK candidate for the 22nd May, Carshalton South and Clockhouse ward by-election in the London Borough of Sutton. We spoke with Arlene about her decision to stand.

“I have been involved in the local community as a provider of not-for-profit social care and support to our most vulnerable members of society for over 27 years”

Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run?

I have been involved in the local community as a provider of not-for-profit social care and support to our most vulnerable members of society for over 27 years. In this role I assist children and young people with profound physical and sensory difficulties to access local services and activities.  Also, for over 17 years I have been running day services, offering respite to families with activities including horticulture, cooking, baking, pottery and skills for living.

I am a Christian and my faith is my foundation as I seek to serve the local community to the best of my ability.  It is a real privilege to be the local Reform candidate for the upcoming council election.

“We feel the council didn’t fully back us when we raised concerns over ULEZ, and we don’t feel the council is backing residents over concerns on crime and anti-social behaviour”

You’re the candidate for Carshalton South and Clockhouse ward. What are the main concerns in the area?

Carshalton South and Clockhouse ward is such an interesting and varied ward covering the Clockhouse area in Coulsdon, the countryside Little Woodcote and Carshalton Beeches.

I live in the ward, and I know many people feel ignored by Sutton Council, which is increasingly complacent after many years of LibDem councils.  We feel the council didn’t fully back us when we raised concerns over ULEZ, and we don’t feel the council is backing residents over concerns on crime and anti-social behaviour.

I will speak up for residents’ day to day concerns and be your voice for Reform on the Council.

“Businesses are both crucial to our local economy and the employment of our local work force. It is essential that they get the support and help they need to thrive and bolster our community”

What do you see as the major issues more widely in Sutton and if elected what do you hope to champion?

There are 3 main areas I will focus on.

Community Support Networks

I want to establish communication links with residents to tackle issues that affect us all, from housing to potholes.

Protection and support for our local businesses and public houses

Businesses are both crucial to our local economy and the employment of our local work force. It is essential that they get the support and help they need to thrive and bolster our community. The effect of ULEZ expansion and ongoing uncoordinated roadworks, is having a dire effect on footfall.

Tackling crime with the Safer Neighbourhood teams

As a priority, I will work closely with residents and the police to ensure our safety as the incidents of all kinds of criminal activities and anti-social behaviour are increasing.

How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?

You can find out more about Reform UK at https://www.reformparty.uk/, follow us locally on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ReformUKCroydonSutton and get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]

What are Croydon Council hiding?

“You might also use it to question why Sutton Council has 5 members of staff earning more than the Prime Minister, also why 4 staff members details are undisclosed”

Early April saw the publication of the TaxPayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List.  This is the annual list detailing the pay of local authority employees receiving total remuneration over £100,000.  This list allows you to question why Surrey County Council have an undisclosed member of staff on £222,500, and what necessary function the ‘Executive director – customer, digital and transformation’, performs for £110,137.  You might also use it to question why Sutton Council has 5 members of staff earning more than the Prime Minister, also why 4 staff members details are undisclosed, 2 of whom earn more than their Chief Executive.  These may indeed be important roles, performed by conscientious staff, but with average council tax rises this year of 5%, it’s reasonable to question where the money goes.

Having written about previous entries from Croydon Council on the Town Hall Rich List, we were keen to see how things had changed after 3 years under the Executive Mayor.

“Now one might think this was an oversight, but this is the third year running Croydon Council has failed to publish details of the remuneration of their top earning staff”

Unfortunately, Croydon Council alongside 14 others, failed to produce details of staff earning over £100,000.  Now one might think this was an oversight, but this is the third year running Croydon Council has failed to publish details of the remuneration of their top earning staff.  It is reasonable to wonder if a de facto bankrupt council, which has issued three Section 114 notices, and which pushed up council tax by 15% in 2023 might feel it should be open to extra rather than less scrutiny on its spending.  Instead, Croydon has this year decided to be part of the 3.9% of the 382 local authorities, and the only one in London, who fail to publish the data.

“Croydon was the 2023 London Borough of Culture.  Yet in March 2025 residents still see funds flowing from the council for this dubious honour”

Worse still is this is becoming something of a trend.  Croydon was the 2023 London Borough of Culture.  Yet in March 2025 residents still see funds flowing from the council for this dubious honour.  In amounts over £500, £331K was paid out by the council in 2022 from the ‘Borough of Culture’ cost centre, £1.69million was paid out in 2023, £832K in 2024, and up to the end of March £3K has been paid out in 2025, for a program that happened in 2023.  You might wonder where the money went, the table below details the top 10 recipients.

Vendor NameAmount
Redacted£505,234.10
Stanley Arts£271,995.00
Talawa Theatre Company£201,000.00
London Mozart Players£145,762.50
Turf Projects_£145,000.00
White Label Publishing Ltd£137,518.60
Think Events (London) Ltd£121,551.67
BH Live Ltd£107,500.00
The Brit School£75,000.00
Savvy Theatre£73,500.00

‘Redacted’, i.e. we aren’t told who received the funding tops the list.  This redaction is a worryingly growing trend in Croydon’s spending.  Just 0.4% of payments for the ‘Borough of Culture’ payments over £500 in 2022 were redacted, this rose to 19.1% in 2023, 21.5% in 2024, and so far in 2025 stands at 39.7% of payments.  What are Croydon Council hiding?  As a reminder all of these payments came after the council had first issued a Section 114 notice and declared de facto bankruptcy, most came after they had driven up council tax by 15% in one year.

Similar results can be seen with spending from the ‘Culture Growth Fund’ cost centre.  Detailed below we can see the sharpe increase in spending from the fund after the fall following the first Section 114 notice.  Alongside this, we see how Croydon Council now see fit to redact details for over 25% of over £500 payments made so far in 2025.

YearYear spendPercentage of spend Redacted
2018£493,855.652.2%
2019£754,669.463.1%
2020£305,640.333.0%
2021£59,544.950.0%
2022£25,450.000.0%
2023£13,151.400.0%
2024£367,171.7816.5%
2025 (Jan-Mar)£104,910.3226.0%

“Croydon Council…. paid out just under £1.2million on Borough of Culture and Cultural Growth (whatever that means) in 2024, but won’t tell you who £239K (20%) was paid to”

Croydon Council despite a £1.4billion general fund debt, and a request for a total of £136million exceptional financial support from the Government for 2025/26, paid out just under £1.2million on Borough of Culture and Cultural Growth (whatever that means) in 2024, but won’t tell you who £239K (20%) was paid to.

It would be great for Croydon Council to stop needing to redact where it pays these funds, by simply stop wasting taxpayer money on unnecessary services.  But if they insist on spending these funds, along with details of top end staff remuneration, it’s time for Croydon Council to stop hiding the data and come clean.

“It is reasonable to wonder if a de facto bankrupt council, which has issued three Section 114 notices, and which pushed up council tax by 15% in 2023 might feel it should be open to extra rather than less scrutiny”

Interview with the Libertarian Party of India

A pro-market, pro-merit, pro-freedom and pro-Indic civilization party, the Libertarian Party of India is promoting a vision of freedom to the worlds largest democracy.  We spoke with one of their representatives.

“We are acutely aware of all the untapped potential lying wasted in the country with its demographics, geographic location and natural resources”

Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us a bit about your party?

I am Tushar. I along with my mates were frustrated by the level of discourse going in India. We are acutely aware of all the untapped potential lying wasted in the country with its demographics, geographic location and natural resources. Libertarian ideas found resonance and offered a solution to our situation. Hence, we being of the entrepreneurial mindset decided to start the party. It started a year ago March 28th it started with just a website, few friends and an X handle. Within a year we are at 3 million impression of X and 3 million on Instagram. Each day new people who share our story follow us, contact us. They are from diverse fields and know things can be better with a libertarian system put in place replacing current socialist system.

“Ours is a federal system in constitution but unitary in practice. Hence our towns and municipalities do not have the sufficient resources or say in day to day functioning of civic life”

What do you see as the major challenges facing India and what policies is the party championing?

The biggest challenge we are facing right now is the over centralisation of power. Ours is a federal system in constitution but unitary in practice. Hence our towns and municipalities do not have the sufficient resources or say in day to day functioning of civic life. All these accusations flung at India being misgoverned is an bug of unitary system (similar to Ireland) than something intrinsic to the country. We have always been a strong country but a weak state. This over centralisation of power is an historical aberration and needs to be corrected.

“Free speech is essential for a free civilized society, power imbalances are managed by constant questioning and expressing diverse viewpoints”

If you could introduce policies to change just 3 things in India, what would they be?

Our top 3 Policies are:

Decentralisation – greater authority and budget allocation to municipalities to solve problems and experiment with solutions with people’s feedback.

Deregulation – reducing the scope of bureaucratic corruption and government (politician) intervention in the economy to let free markets operate and offer solutions to people’s problems. This will also lead to reducing tax burden which will eventually be replaced with voluntary contributions and fundraising.

Free Speech and Right to Self Defence. Free speech is essential for a free civilized society, power imbalances are managed by constant questioning and expressing diverse viewpoints. The related aspect of free speech is right to self-defence via arms because it’s human to take offense to different opinions but there needs to be some deterrence to ensure that the discourse continues to remain civil additionally voter lottery elects tyrants time to time it’s important to ensure that people can push back.

How can people find out more about what the party is up to?

We have website at http://libertarianparty.in, we can also be found on X at @libertypartyind and on Instagram at @libertypartyind.  We have done a podcast series to get into more details about our ideas available at https://x.com/libertypartyind/status/1891576101484322879?t=YlyUt2L2Nnzjt071ibdo8g&s=19.

The party have also set out a vision of India’s future in an article at https://libertarianparty.in/vision-of-india-2040-a-libertarian-utopia.

The Snug Little Island

As we approach St George’s Day a splendid piece of patriotic verse suggested by Zack Stiling to enjoy by English dramatist and songwriter Thomas Dibdin, called The Snug Little Island.

Daddy Neptune, one day, to Freedom did say,
   “If ever I lived upon dry land,
The spot I should hit on would be little Britain!”
   Says Freedom, “Why that’s my own little Island!”
     O, it’s a snug little Island!
       A right little, tight little Island!
     Search the globe round, none can be found!
       So happy as this little Island.

Julius Caesar the Roman, who yielded to no man,
   Came by water—he couldn’t come by land;
And Dane, Pict and Saxon, their homes turned their backs on
   And all for the sake of our Island.
     O, what a snug little Island!
       They’d all have a touch at the Island!
     Some were shot dead, some of them fled,
       And some stayed to live on the Island.

Then a very great war-man, called Billy the Norman,
   Cried, “Damn it, I never liked my land.
It would be much more handy to leave this Normandy,
   And live on your beautiful Island.”
     Says he, “‘Tis a snug little Island;
       Shan’t we go visit the Island?”
     Hop, skip and jump, there he was plump,
       And he kick’d up a dust in the Island.

But party deceit helped the Normans to beat;
   Of traitors they managed to buy land;
By Dane, Saxon or Pict, Britons ne’er had been lick’d,
   Had they stuck to the King of their Island.
     Poor Harold the King of the Island!
       He lost both his life and the Island.
     That’s all very true: what more could he do?
       Like a Briton he died for his Island.

The Spanish Armada set out to invade-a,
   ‘Twill sure if they ever come nigh land.
They couldn’t do less than tuck up Queen Bess,
   And take their full swing on the Island.
     O, the poor Queen of the Island!
       The Dons came to plunder the Island.
     But snug in her hive, the Queen was alive,
       And “buzz” was the word in the Island.

Those proud puff’d-up cakes thought to make ducks and drakes
   Of our wealth; but they hardly could spy land
When our Drake had the luck to make their pride duck
   And stoop to the lads of the Island!
     Huzza for the lads of the Island!
       The good wooden walls of the Island;
     Devil or Don, let them come on,
       But see how they’d come at the Island.

Since Freedom and Neptune have hitherto kept tune,
   In each saying, “This shall be my land”;
Should the “Army of England,” or all it could bring, land,
   We’d show ’em some play for the Island.
     We’d fight for our right to the Island.
       We’d give them enough of the Island;
     Invaders should just—bite at the dust,
       But not a bit more of the Island.

A bonus verse called Reasons for Drinking by Henry Aldrich.  If you enjoy, or just want to know more,  come along and join us for our Third Wednesday drinks.

If all be true that I do think,
There are five reasons why we should drink;
Good wine—a friend—or being dry—
Or lest we should be by and by—
Or any other reason why.

Mary Lawes, Reform UK Candidate for Folkestone East

Mary Lawes is the Reform UK candidate for Folkestone East in the upcoming Kent County Council elections.  We spoke with Mary about her decision to stand.

“they chose to target the most vulnerable in society to balance their books, stripping pensioners of their Winter Fuel Allowance just as winter began”

Kent County Council

I am Mary Lawes, and I am standing as a candidate for Reform UK because I am deeply concerned about the direction in which Labour is taking our country. Labour is misleading the British public, convincing them that only they can serve their best interests, while in reality, their policies are causing serious harm.

Labour’s Broken Promises

Labour’s General Election manifesto promised to fix the NHS. Instead of delivering real reform, they handed the unions a pay deal to halt strikes and increased public sector wages—yet the NHS remains in crisis.

They also repeatedly claimed that there was a £22 billion “black hole” in public finances. Were there? Regardless, they chose to target the most vulnerable in society to balance their books, stripping pensioners of their Winter Fuel Allowance just as winter began. They are also forcing farmers to give up their land and cutting support for the sick and disabled.

“we should be utilising our own energy resources while gradually transitioning to advanced nuclear technology, which is cleaner, more reliable, and does not depend on the weather”

The Cost of Net Zero

One of the most damaging policies Labour is pursuing is Net Zero. They have shut down domestic energy production, forcing the UK to import expensive foreign fuel—raising costs for consumers. Meanwhile, they are covering our countryside with solar farms and wind turbines while adding green levies to household energy bills.

The UK contributes just 1% of the world’s CO₂ emissions, yet billions are being spent on ineffective green policies. Solar panels, imported from China, are produced using materials mined by child labour under dangerous conditions. Instead of this, we should be utilising our own energy resources while gradually transitioning to advanced nuclear technology, which is cleaner, more reliable, and does not depend on the weather.

Neglect of Folkestone East

I am standing in Folkestone East, a deprived area that has been neglected for over 20 years.

  • There are no proper community spaces.
  • The Folkestone Harbour area, home to over 5,000 children, has just one small play area.
  • There are no sports facilities, football pitches, or youth clubs.
  • There are no organisations like Guides, Brownies, or Scouts.

Meanwhile, our roads are in disrepair. While new housing estates receive investment in infrastructure, our area suffers from dangerous roads, few pedestrian crossings, and an inadequate public transport system.

Protecting Food Security and Small Businesses

Our country’s food security is at risk. Without farms and farmers, we will be forced to import food, leaving us vulnerable to external control. Labour’s policies are deliberately worsening this situation as part of their globalist agenda.

Meanwhile, small businesses are struggling. Labour’s increase in National Insurance is making it more expensive to hire staff, while their so-called minimum wage increase does little to offset soaring costs in:

  • Energy bills
  • Water rates
  • Rent & mortgages
  • Council tax (which has seen record-high increases in our district over the last five years)

People are struggling, and in deprived areas, life is becoming unbearable for the most vulnerable in our society.

“With approximately 15,000 trucks entering the UK daily, this policy could generate significant funds to maintain and improve our roads”

A Fair Solution for Road Maintenance

Reform UK Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh has a practical policy to fund road repairs in Kent. British truckers must pay substantial fees to drive through Europe—so why shouldn’t foreign truckers contribute to our infrastructure?

We propose a £35 daily charge for trucks coming from the continent, using the existing infrastructure at Dover and the Channel Tunnel.

With approximately 15,000 trucks entering the UK daily, this policy could generate significant funds to maintain and improve our roads. We would want this ring fenced for Kent roads.

I am also committed to:

  • Improving road safety (with more crossings in high-risk areas)
  • Addressing the poor local bus service—especially the vital 74 bus route

“second rail service could bring much-needed competition to Eurostar, potentially reopening Ebbsfleet and Ashford International stations, which have been closed since Covid”

Reviving Local Transport and Businesses

The approval of Richard Branson’s second rail service could bring much-needed competition to Eurostar, potentially reopening Ebbsfleet and Ashford International stations, which have been closed since Covid.

Currently, Kent residents must travel to London just to board a train that passes through these closed stations. Increased competition would mean:

  • Better services
  • Lower fares

We must also do more to support local businesses. Reform UK will push to:

  • Reverse the National Insurance hike
  • Lower energy bills to help struggling businesses

Our high streets are dying, and people are losing jobs. We must take action now.

Get in Touch

I am committed to fighting for the people of Folkestone East and ensuring that our voices are heard.

Website: [email protected]

Facebook: Mary Lawes Reform

X (Twitter): @Mary_Lawes

Vote for change. Vote for Reform UK. Vote for Mary Lawes Folkestone East.

David Sabine, Libertarian Party of Canada candidate for Airdrie—Cochrane

With a general election in Canada being held on April 28.  David Sabine is the Libertarian Party candidate for the riding of Airdrie—Cochrane. We spoke with David about his decision to stand.

“I am putting my name on the ballot to amplify voices who believe our federal government is too big, too costly, and too corrupt”

Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run?

I’m David Sabine, running for the Libertarian Party in Canada in the riding of Airdrie-Cochrane, a region near Calgary, Alberta. This western province is known for its rugged landscapes and its energy, agriculture, and forestry sectors. I’ve worked as a management consultant across Canada and beyond, earning degrees from the University of Regina and Arizona State University. I am putting my name on the ballot to amplify voices who believe our federal government is too big, too costly, and too corrupt.

“Albertans, known for their industrious and family-oriented spirit, value their freedom to run businesses and live independently. They’re troubled by Canada’s shift toward authoritarianism”

You’re the candidate for Airdrie—Cochrane. What are the main concerns in the area?

Airdrie-Cochrane faces intense strain from mass immigration driven by Justin Trudeau’s lax border policies — labelled “out of control” even by his own ministers. Albertans, known for their industrious and family-oriented spirit, value their freedom to run businesses and live independently. They’re troubled by Canada’s shift toward authoritarianism, with steep taxes, market interference, and declining rights like free speech and property ownership.

Federal mismanagement, mounting debt, and trade restrictions strike this region hard, where energy and enterprise fuel the economy. Alberta is a resource-rich province and clashes with Ottawa, the federal capital, sending massive “equalization” payments to other regions while facing Ottawa’s aggressive climate policies that throttle local industry.

Separatist tensions, simmering for over a century, are boiling over, with growing daily demands for Alberta’s Premier to hold a referendum on breaking away from Canada.

“cut the power of the administrative state, reduce bureaucratic bloat, end government debt, and enable citizens to shape their own prosperous future”

What do you see as the major issues more widely in Canada and if elected what do you hope to champion?

Libertarian-leaning voters in Airdrie-Cochrane are alarmed by Canada’s authoritarian drift characterized by excessive taxation, market intervention, the erosion of property and civil rights, and an ever-expanding censorship regime. Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, criticized Justin Trudeau and his Liberal party’s “creeping totalitarianism” — the root cause of Canada’s economic fragility and societal division.

Canada’s federal government is too big, too expensive, and meddles too much in provincial jurisdiction. Past Liberal and Conservative regimes have overreached as morality police, selectively enforcing laws to push specific ideologies. A Libertarian in Parliament would influence policy to cut the power of the administrative state, reduce bureaucratic bloat, end government debt, and enable citizens to shape their own prosperous futures.

Canada’s self-inflicted barriers, like interprovincial trade restrictions, pipeline bans, and supply management, inflate costs for essentials and trap consumers. Libertarians propose dismantling these barriers in pursuit of principled free trade with all countries. The Libertarian approach rejects central economic planning favouring individual liberty and economic freedom.

Canada’s economic hardship stems from Liberal mismanagement and their socialist base — trillion+ in debt, overregulation, and policies that stifling growth. The growing calls for separation in Alberta and Quebec underscore this fracture. Given our natural resources and adjacency to the largest economies on Earth, Canadians should be prosperous, resilient, creative, thriving!

How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?

Visit https://www.libertarian.ca/david_sabine to learn more about me and our Libertarian platform.

Alex Joehl, Libertarian Party of Canada candidate for Langley Township-Fraser Heights

With a general election in Canada being held on April 28.  Alex Joehl is the Libertarian Party candidate for the riding of Langley Township-Fraser Heights. We spoke with Alex about his decision to stand.

“I feel strongly that there should be a principled, liberty candidate on every ballot in the country… I can at least give the voters of Langley Township-Fraser Heights that option”

Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run?

I’m a husband and a father, but when you do a Google search of my name they call me a Politician.

I studied Journalism after high school, and though I no longer work in the media industry, my time at college helped shape who I became as a young man. After learning about this history of western economics and philosophy I began to realize that I was a Classic Liberal and immediately began to seek out a political party that shared my views.

I found the Libertarian Party of Canada and in 2008 I ran for office for the first time, under the LPoC banner in Surrey-North. I finished sixth out of nine candidates, garnering 347 votes (1%), and I was hooked on the democratic process. Only by putting myself on the ballot could I guarantee that there would be an option I could vote for in good conscience.

Since then, I’ve run federally three times, provincially three times, and ran locally for Mayor, for Councillor, and for School Board Trustee. I’ve never been elected but that has not deterred me. In 2023 I was selected to be the Leader of the British Columbia Libertarian Party (provincial). Even though we did not elect any candidates, we had the fourth-highest vote total of all parties.

I decided to run this time around because, well, somebody has to. I feel strongly that there should be a principled, liberty candidate on every ballot in the country, and while I can’t do that on my own, I can at least give the voters of Langley Township-Fraser Heights that option.

“Langley is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the country, so naturally a lot of the concerns revolve around infrastructure”

You’re the candidate for Langley Township-Fraser Heights. What are the main concerns in the area?

This is a brand new Electoral District this year. It encompasses a large portion of the Township of Langley and party of Surrey north of the Trans Canada Highway.

Langley is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the country, so naturally a lot of the concerns revolve around infrastructure. As the region grows in population the access to healthcare has not increased, and our public monopoly on healthcare has garnered horrific results, with thousands of Canadians dying each year while waiting for diagnostic tests, for treatments, or even just to see a specialist.

“the governments’ incessant deficit spending puts the nation further into debt, while also inflating the money supply”

Finances are a hot topic obviously — it is very difficult (if not impossible) to purchase a home without some sort of “Bank of Mom & Dad” contribution. Many people are struggling to keep up with their bills — Two-thirds are $200 away from not being able to meet their monthly commitments, and Canada has the highest personal debt in the Western world. Meanwhile, the banks keep benefiting from fractional reserve lending, watering down people’s purchasing power, and the governments’ incessant deficit spending puts the nation further into debt, while also inflating the money supply.

Yet, all we hear about in the news is Tariffs, Tariffs, and more Tariffs, as the U.S. president is challenging our economy with his protectionist policies. Yes, these are important to discuss, but Canadians are being harmed much worse in more ways that we can actually control and undue.

What do you see as the major issues more widely in Canada and if elected what do you hope to champion?

Canadians need to wake up to the source of all of our struggles – the Bank of Canada tinkers with our economy with artificial interest rates and enabling government overspending by monetizing their deficits. And the private banks thrive within the environment that allows them to add to their balance sheets without deposits to back up the credit they lend out.

“our healthcare system is broken, and we need to immediately make it legal for Canadians to obtain the best care they can acquire”

Meanwhile, our healthcare system is broken, and we need to immediately make it legal for Canadians to obtain the best care they can acquire. Canadians should not have to leave the province, or the country, to get timely, appropriate care for their maladies. Currently only a select few — which includes the federal police force and prisoners — are allowed to access healthcare outside the public system. I want to extend that to all Canadians by scrapping the Canada Health Act and extending what the province of Quebec won in the Chaoulli v. Quebec court ruling to the rest of the provinces.

I’d love to see tax reform because, after all, Taxation is Theft, our Foreign Policy needs to be drastically scaled back, and Firearms Rights need to be addressed.

But we can’t fix those other problems when our ability to save and pay for things are being challenged by government policy and people are dying waiting for a doctor visit.

“I am always looking for volunteers to help evangelize the message of liberty with me, so if anyone has some time to share, get in touch”

How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?

This 2025 federal campaign will be finished as fast as it started. The new Prime Minister called an election and allowed for the smallest window for the campaign. There will only be three weeks between when I am confirmed as a candidate and the final election date.

Visit my website www.AlexJoehl.com for some unique content, and there you’ll find other ways to contact me, including email and my social media accounts.

I am always looking for volunteers to help evangelize the message of liberty with me, so if anyone has some time to share, get in touch with me and we can figure out how you can assist! Donations will not be accepted this time around, but hopefully a future campaign will be set up early enough to fundraise and mobilize some freedom fighters.

Justin Leroux, Libertarian Party of Canada candidate for Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt

With a general election in Canada being held on April 28.  Justin Leroux is the Libertarian Party candidate for the riding of Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt. We spoke with Justin about his decision to stand.

“I refuse to stand by while families suffer and the promise of our nation crumbles. For me, running is not just a choice—it’s a civic duty”

Can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us what made you decide to run?

My name is Justin Leroux. I was born in Sudbury and raised in North Bay from the age of seven. I completed high school there and studied World Religions and Philosophy at university, initially preparing to become either a priest or a pathologist.

During high school, I completed a priestly assessment at the request of our Bishop. Although I passed, he encouraged me to gain more life experience and truly learn what I wanted to understand. That led me to study the essence of what it means to be human—through both spiritual and secular perspectives. Toward the end of my first year at university, I felt called to serve in the funeral profession, so I moved to Toronto to study at Humber College and began working at one of the city’s historic funeral homes, serving families of all cultures and beliefs.

I’ve since worked across Ontario, including as an assistant manager in Midland and later managing three funeral homes near New Liskeard. My time in funeral service was always centred on advocacy—supporting grieving families through hospitals, with municipalities, and sometimes even in discussions with medical professionals.

Following a back injury, I transitioned into IT services. Today, I run my own consulting business, helping funeral homes modernise and adapt to an ever-changing world. But throughout my life—whether in the funeral profession or IT—I’ve always noticed inefficiency, injustice, and above all else… waste. The sheer amount of it in our government is staggering. Our country throws money at problems it often creates, while families here at home go hungry, neglected.

I realised that so many of the issues we face are the result of artificial dependencies created by government overreach. I’ve lived by libertarian principles long before I even knew there was a name for them. I’m running because I cannot watch Canada continue down this road. I refuse to stand by while families suffer and the promise of our nation crumbles. For me, running is not just a choice—it’s a civic duty. When good people stay silent, the status quo persists. I want to be part of the solution.

“the cost of living has skyrocketed. In just a few years, prices have risen so dramatically that to call it “inflation” feels like a disservice to the lived reality of our people”

You’re the candidate for Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt. What are the main concerns in the area?
This riding covers a vast geographic area and many diverse communities—farming villages, mining towns, and places that once thrived on forestry but are still reeling from the closure of their mills.

Despite the diversity, the concerns I hear across the riding are remarkably consistent.

Affordability is top of mind. Whether it’s groceries, petrol, baby formula, or heating fuel, the cost of living has skyrocketed. In just a few years, prices have risen so dramatically that to call it “inflation” feels like a disservice to the lived reality of our people. Residents are working harder than ever but falling further behind.

Housing is another major issue—both in availability and cost. In smaller communities, housing stock is limited, and in larger centres, it’s simply unaffordable. Young families are priced out of homeownership, and even renting can feel like a monthly gamble. Government intervention has made things worse, not better—artificially driving demand while restricting supply through red tape and regulation.

Mining and natural resources are the backbone of our region’s economy, yet federal policy often works against us. Punitive tariffs and excessive regulation discourage local investment, restrict our competitiveness, and allow foreign interests to benefit from resources we should be refining and utilising here in Northern Ontario. We need to stop handicapping our own industries in the name of political optics.

Lastly, there’s a deep frustration with bureaucracy and disconnection. Many residents feel abandoned by Ottawa—governed by decision-makers who have never set foot in our communities. It’s time for a local voice that understands not just our challenges, but our potential. 

What do you see as the major issues more widely in Canada, and if elected, what do you hope to champion?
Across Canada, we’re facing a crisis of identity. We’ve lost sight of individual responsibility and community-based solutions in favour of sprawling bureaucracy and centralised control. We’ve traded freedom for promises of security—and now find ourselves with neither.

“If elected, I will champion policies that decentralise power, cut waste, and restore individual freedom and accountability

Healthcare is failing—not because of a lack of money, but because of how it’s managed. The system rewards waiting and inefficiency. Housing is unaffordable—not because of capitalism, but because of regulation, land mismanagement, and inflationary monetary policy. And most tragically, our children are inheriting debt and restrictions instead of opportunity.

If elected, I will champion policies that decentralise power, cut waste, and restore individual freedom and accountability. That includes:

  • Ending corporate welfare and foreign aid while our own people struggle 
  • Repealing unnecessary regulations that make housing and small business unaffordable  
  • Defending medical freedom and bodily autonomy  
  • Introducing real monetary responsibility—balanced budgets and sound fiscal planning that will lead to eliminating the income tax  
  • Empowering communities, not Ottawa, to solve local issues  
  • Fighting for our First Nation Communities – They deserve to be free from an Ottawa that is oppressive and prevents their autonomy and freedoms in Canada. Some communities are still being stone-walled for valid land claims from the 1990s. That is unacceptable. 

“I welcome all feedback, even from those who may not agree with everything I stand for. That’s the beauty of liberty”

How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?
You can visit nickelbeltlibertarians.ca to learn more about my campaign, platform updates, and upcoming events.

If you’d like to volunteer, share your concerns, or simply have a conversation, there are contact forms available on the site—and I welcome all feedback, even from those who may not agree with everything I stand for. That’s the beauty of liberty.

At the moment, I am few signatures short for my nomination in our riding, I have a way for people to send their signature or collect signatures from others at – Nomination – Nickel Belt Libertarians.

Together, we can restore freedom, responsibility, and dignity in our communities.

David Bettney, SDP candidate for Mayor of Doncaster

David Bettney is the SDP candidate for Mayor of Doncaster. We spoke with David about his decision to stand.

“I am a former Regimental Sergeant Major who served 22 years in the British Army, and for the last 15 years I have been building and running successful companies”

Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what made you decide to run?

My name is David Bettney, and I am a former Regimental Sergeant Major who served 22 years in the British Army, and for the last 15 years I have been building and running successful companies (Construction, Logistics & Security) in the Middle East, employing over 350 people.

I decided to run for Doncaster Mayor, as I ran as South Yorkshire Mayor last year, and I came 3rd in the Doncaster area, beating the Lib Dems and Green’s vote combined.

“my top priority is to generate well paying jobs, to give Doncaster a much needed cash injection”

You’re the candidate for Mayor of Doncaster. What are the main concerns in the area?

There are many concerns, with freezing pensioners and antisocial behaviour, being very high up on the list (and I have a school’s program, to go into the schools and talk to the kids, about how I, and others from disadvantaged backgrounds, achieved a lot in the forces with the right mentors, and how can play a huge part in making our city a great place to live). But my top priority is to generate well paying jobs, to give Doncaster a much needed cash injection.

“We have become a giant NGO, without asking the people first, if they actually want to sponsor the world’s inhabitants to come here”

What do you see as the major issues more widely that if election you would use the profile of the role to champion?

The wider issues would be to use the platform to stop the invasion on the South coast, and remove anybody here illegally, just the same as British citizens face when abroad if they have incorrect or no paperwork. We have become a giant NGO, without asking the people first, if they actually want to sponsor the world’s inhabitants to come here and live on our small island!

It’s simple, we either choose to use the law or we become lawless 🙁 

How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?

Go to the SDP website to get involved in your area, or contact me in South Yorkshire on [email protected]

You can also read more from David in our interview with him last year https://croydonconstitutionalists.uk/david-bettney-sdp/.