Category: Interview

Rachel Hayton, SDP candidate for Carlisle

Rachel Hayton is the SDP prospective candidate for Carlisle.  We spoke with Rachel about her decision to stand.

“I have been involved in civil society locally, serving as a magistrate for 19 years and leading a small community choir in Talkin”

Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Rachel Hayton, I am the wife of Paul, mother of Tim and Charlie and step mum to Jennie and Will. I live in Faugh and have been in and around the Brampton area since 2001. I came to Carlisle as a single woman in 1995 to join the Careers Service. I am originally from Staffordshire and it is possible to catch the occasional Midlands twang in my accent. I retrained in the early 2000s through the Open University and Newcastle University and have worked full time as an Educational Psychologist since 2009.

I have been involved in civil society locally, serving as a magistrate for 19 years and leading a small community choir in Talkin.    

What made you decide to stand for the SDP?

I found myself politically homeless after the referendum in 2016.  I like the SDP policies. I support the focus on security, food security, energy security, national security and secure borders. I like the hopefulness that the SDP has for ordinary people; that if given a level playing field with nationally owned infrastructure, we can build opportunities in our communities that will benefit everyone.

I hate the cronyism and corruption that seems to be endemic in our politics at the moment, I don’t trust those governing for the vocal minorities and vested interests, lobby groups and global corporations.

“I am proud to be British, I love our history, our belief in freedom of expression, fairness and tolerance”

I believe that a whole swathe, possibly a majority, of British people has no one prepared to speak up for Britian’s accomplishments in the world. I am proud to be British, I love our history, our belief in freedom of expression, fairness and tolerance and our quirkiness.

I agree with the SDPs policies and feel that they offer hope for the future for our young people, for families and for people who still believe that they will be treated fairly by their elected representatives. The SDP prioritises the views of the electorate and not lobby groups, trades unions or unelected supranational bodies. I believe that this is democracy.  

“I met my husband in Carlisle queuing for lunch at Cecil’s Treat in Cecil Street, my children went to schools in the constituency; Castle Carrock and William Howard”

You’re the Spokesman for Carlisle what’s made you decide to represent this area?

I have lived in this area longer than I have lived anywhere else, (almost 30 years), and I love it here. I met my husband in Carlisle queuing for lunch at Cecil’s Treat in Cecil Street, my children went to schools in the constituency; Castle Carrock and William Howard; one completed an apprenticeship through Carlisle College and the other is still at university. I have a grandchild in Longtown. I may be an ‘off-comer’ but I am embedded within the constituency. Social Democrats are committed to supporting the family, community and nation, I want to offer the people of Carlisle the opportunity to choose to vote for someone who is not part of the LibLabConGreen uniparty, who will listen to them and represent their views openly and honestly.

“We need young people to stay and grow our community with entrepreneurial ideas and contributing to society”

What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?

I see the decline of the city centre in Carlisle- shops have closed down and businesses moved out leaving empty unsightly buildings. At the moment there is a lot of cosmetic redevelopment going on around the station and the city centre but what is being done to attract people into the city? I would want to support and challenge the city council and county council to bring the city back to life. We also need to work to provide homes, jobs and training opportunities for young people and families who want to make Carlisle their home. Often these are people who grew up here but cannot find appropriate work or housing and have to look further afield. We need young people to stay and grow our community with entrepreneurial ideas and contributing to society. 

Although the constituency is ‘Carlisle’ there are also other towns; Brampton and Longtown with their own identities and their own concerns. I would like to hear from residents about the issues they face. Similarly for our villages and rural areas, Carlisle is a mixed constituency and the MP needs to work for everybody.

For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?

The SDP does not have big corporate donors, we rely on people joining our party and, if you can, making small donations. If you would like to find out more about us visit www.sdp.org.uk to see our policies and read our New Declaration. Please do get in touch with me [email protected] if there’s anything you think I should be focusing on or if you would like to offer help in the forthcoming general election campaign.

Alex Zychowski, Libertarian Party candidate for North-East Hampshire

Alex Zychowski is the Libertarian Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for North-East Hampshire.  We spoke with Alex about his decision to stand.

“the State’s hideous response to the Covid-19 pandemic finally removed any doubt about the dangers we face and the immediate need for action”

Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

I am a teacher living in Hampshire. Besides politics, my interests include country walks, football and reading. I was born in London and am of Polish descent.

What made you decide to stand for the Libertarian Party?

In recent years individual liberty has become increasingly under threat, not just from our politicians but from advances in surveillance technology and censorship of speech online. For me, the State’s hideous response to the Covid-19 pandemic finally removed any doubt about the dangers we face and the immediate need for action. This is why I have decided to stand as a candidate for the Libertarian Party.

“it is of vital importance to preserve the rural character of the constituency”

You’re the Spokesman for North-East Hampshire what’s made you decide to represent this area?

I have made my home in North-East Hampshire and have fallen completely in love with the peace and nature that can be found here. As such I oppose housing developments that have been forced upon local residents by central government’s poor planning.

“the Hampshire Constabulary’s recent trialling of retrospective facial recognition technology such Orwellian tools can be afforded no place here”

What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?

As mentioned above it is of vital importance to preserve the rural character of the constituency. This involves not only opposing the mass construction of low-quality new build housing estates, but maintaining the vitality of our waterways.

I note that the incumbent in North-East Hampshire has twice voted in favour of lockdown restrictions. Such treason against the individual cannot go unpunished at the ballot box. Perhaps of even greater concern is the Hampshire Constabulary’s recent trialling of retrospective facial recognition technology such Orwellian tools can be afforded no place here.

For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?

You can find out more about the Libertarian Party at https://libertarianpartyuk.com/ and find my announcement article at https://libertarianpartyuk.com/ne-hampshire-ppc-announced/.

You can also follow me on Twitter @alexzychowski or email me at [email protected].

Jonathan Thackray, Reform UK candidate for Dewsbury and Batley

Jonathan Thackray is the Reform UK Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Dewsbury and Batley.  We spoke with Jonathan about his decision to stand.

“there is a real need for a new party to the right of British politics as the Conservatives shift to the left”

Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

I am a local lad, who has had enough of the status quo: high debt, high migration both legal and illegal, useless public services from our broke NHS to our woke Police who’d rather police words than police crime.

What made you decide to stand for Reform UK?

I joined Reform just over a year ago as it was the only political party that was willing to take on the establishment. I made the decision to put my head above the parapet not long after, as I was taught from a young age to fight for what I believe in and what I believe in is the Reform UK message. Additionally, the political climate we find ourselves in has meant that there is a real need for a new party to the right of British politics as the Conservatives shift to the left while pretending to be Conservative with their ‘catchy’ slogans. I believe we at Reform UK will fill the void and I think it’s clear to see by looking at our rampant rise in the polls.

“At Reform UK we have a clear message that we need to make work pay, as for too many people it does not pay to work as they could be financially better off on out of work benefits”

You’re the spokesperson for Dewsbury and Batley what’s made you decide to represent this area?

As I have already touched upon, I am local to the area and have spent a lot of time in both Dewsbury and Batley. But the main reason I decided to represent Dewsbury and Batley is because in my view it is one of the most mistreated constituencies in the country, mistreated by both Westminster and the local Kirklees Council. Furthermore, Mark Eastwood (Current Conservative MP for Dewsbury) and Kim Leadbetter (Current Labour MP for Batley & Spen) due to the remapping of the constituency have decided to run elsewhere so I feel there is a good chance to get in and try and make real meaningful change for the people of Dewsbury and Batley.

“Labour led Kirklees Council, over the past few months they have been planning closures across the board from leisure centres to care homes”

What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?

One of my biggest concerns is that in Dewsbury and Batley just under half of our constituents are economically inactive, this is a huge problem. But unfortunately, this has been completely ignored by the government and it certainly looks like to me that they simply aren’t bothered about getting people off benefits and into work. At Reform UK we have a clear message that we need to make work pay, as for too many people it does not pay to work as they could be financially better off on out of work benefits. One policy which I will certainly be championing is lifting the minimum income tax threshold from £12,571 per annum to £20,000 this will free up 6 million people from paying income tax which amounts to approximately 1 in 5 taxpayers.

Another one of my biggest concerns is the Labour led Kirklees Council, over the past few months they have been planning closures across the board from leisure centres to care homes, they have backtracked on most of their planned closures due to the public outrage. However, there is no doubt in my mind that cuts will soon be forthcoming as they have manged to rack up a £47 million deficit due to their wasteful spending and the Conservatives poor economic management which has left everyone worse off.  

For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?

Anyone can volunteer on our website, using this link https://www.reformparty.uk/volunteer-and-help their local candidate will then be in touch with details about how they can help when needed. Alternatively, volunteers can contact their local candidate via email.

I’d be very grateful for any support to help me in my campaign, anyone who wishes to contact me can send me an email at [email protected] I appreciate all whom email me and I do my best to respond in a reasonable time. You can also follow me on X at https://twitter.com/JRThackray. Alternatively, you can donate to my GoFundMe https://gofund.me/ee656d3c. 

I would like to thank all those who have read this article. 

Marian Newton, Reform UK GLA candidate for Croydon and Sutton

Marian Newton is the Reform UK Prospective GLA Candidate for Croydon and Sutton in the upcoming London elections.  We spoke with Marian about her decision to stand.

“I’d like to give the people of Croydon and Sutton the chance to vote for a new common-sense party”

Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

Born and grew up in North Derbyshire. I went to art school, and a college of technology. I then decided to move to London, and then abroad, to work on the airlines. I had always voted Conservative. It was like a religion in my family. In 2013/14 I became disillusioned with them and joined UKIP, then I joined the ‘Brexit Party’ which became ‘Reform UK’.

What made you decide to stand for Reform UK?

I was asked to, and I’d like to give the people of Croydon and Sutton the chance to vote for a new common-sense party. I believe this country needs drastically reforming, and I just want to help with this as much as I can.

“blighted by knife crime, Reform will hold the Met Police to account on targeting this terrible crime blighting so many young lives”

You’re the GLA Candidate for Croydon and Sutton what’s made you decide to represent this area, and what do you see as the big concerns for the constituency?

Being outer London boroughs ULEZ, and the general war on motoring is a major issue.  Much of Croydon and Sutton is best accessed by car, and local amenities might be across the border in Surrey.  Croydon and more recently Sutton has been blighted by knife crime, Reform will hold the Met Police to account on targeting this terrible crime blighting so many young lives.  Sutton suffers from poor public transport, and better services to London is a key concern.  In Croydon we have seen the demise of the town centre, and I would want to work with MPs, and Councillors across parties to do all we can to revive this major shopping destination. 

“get rid of the ULEZ, completely, to start with. It is totally unacceptable”

More widely what would you like to see change in London from the Mayor and GLA?

To get rid of the ULEZ, completely, to start with. It is totally unacceptable to treat the ordinary, hardworking, members of society, with these astronomical charges!

For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?

You can start to get involved by contacting Reform UK at https://www.reformparty.uk/, and you can find out more about Howard Cox’s campaign to be Mayor at https://www.cox4london.uk/.

Dickie Fletcher, SDP candidate for Macclesfield

Dickie Fletcher is the SDP prospective candidate for Macclesfield.  We spoke with Dickie about his decision to stand.

“The experience of trying to build and sustain businesses over the last 30 years, through the 2008 financial crisis, the covid lockdowns and myriad ups and downs in between, has sharpened my thoughts on how badly we have been led by politicians”

Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

I am the owner of a small business which is based in Manchester and serves the music industry with equipment hire and technical services. I have run my own businesses since graduating from Manchester University with a Psychology degree in 1994. I now live with my wife, cat & dog, in Bollington, having recently moved out of the city.

What made you decide to stand for the SDP?

I have been politically engaged all my life, from a childhood growing up in Sheffield during the hothouse of the Miners’ strike and the upheaval that Thatcherite policies brought to the North. I was also very influenced by my Great Uncle, Eric Fletcher, who was a Labour MP for 25 years following the war. With parents who were a teacher and an academic, there was always stimulating debate in the house growing up.

Following the sheltered atmosphere of university, it was somewhat a baptism of fire to go straight into setting up a business in Ancoats, Manchester, which in the 1990s was still a tough place to be. The experience of trying to build and sustain businesses over the last 30 years, through the 2008 financial crisis, the covid lockdowns and myriad ups and downs in between, has sharpened my thoughts on how badly we have been led by politicians for so many years.

“I then felt I should do whatever I could to aid the effort to change things. We will not get change from the “uniparty” of Lab/Con/Lib”

I picked up the SDP’s New Declaration last year and immediately found a political home where I could see there were like-minded people. Having seen William Clouston, the party leader, speak at the party conference last October, I was very impressed with his depth of thought and commitment to building a real party of change for the UK. I then felt I should do whatever I could to aid the effort to change things. We will not get change from the “uniparty” of Lab/Con/Lib.

You’re the Spokesman for Macclesfield. What’s made you decide to represent this area?

I am a keen cyclist, and the Cheshire edge of the Peak District has always been a favourite place for rides out from the urban jungle. As I have cycled through it, it became a place I have wanted to live. I am fortunate that it is now my home, hopefully for many years.  I am representing the SDP in this, my home constituency.

“we need to preserve our national democratic accountability to our citizens and reject the failed neo-liberal globalist project”

What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?

I have only been here a short while, so I am very much looking forward to learning about the concerns of Macclesfield’s residents and the people living in the surrounding towns and villages. I suspect that the cost of living pressures, housing for young people and the over stretched health & social care services will be at the forefront of people’s minds.

I think the concerns nationally will be reflected locally also and I am keen to focus on the failures of the economic model over the past 30 plus years, that all the main parties have followed. This is the root cause of all the problems from immigration, to lack of affordable housing and the decline of our industries.

Importantly, we need to preserve our national democratic accountability to our citizens and reject the failed neo-liberal globalist project that has based growth on debt and cheap immigration, at the expense of our manufacturing and industrial base.

For those eager to help, how can the get involved in the campaign?

You can find out more about the SDP at https://sdp.org.uk/

People can find me at:

[email protected]

Or on X – @sdpdickie

Paul Murphy, SDP candidate for Runcorn & Helsby

Paul Murphy is the SDP prospective candidate for Runcorn & Helsby.  We spoke with Paul about his decision to stand.

“I knew very little of the SDP when I first started researching, but quickly became enamoured with their common-sense policies”

Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

I’m a 40-year-old IT consultant, originally from Yorkshire I now live in Cheshire with my wife, 5 year old daughter and 2 dogs. I’ve always had a keen interest in politics and will often bore anyone who will listen as I debate some particular policy.

I’ve previously been a paid up member of both the Labour and Conservative party – but found that neither of these truly represented my own beliefs.

“I put my name forward as I believe people should have the choice to vote SDP”

What made you decide to stand for the SDP?

Following my split with the Conservative party I was looking for a new political home. Like I guess many of your readers I knew very little of the SDP when I first started researching, but quickly became enamoured with their common-sense policies. Shortly after joining a call was put out for people to stand and I put my name forward as I believe people should have the choice to vote SDP.

“A political elite who looks down at them and refuse the introduce the policies that they want, an obsession on woke and thought policing while actual crimes go unpunished”

You’re the Spokesman for Runcorn & Helsby what’s made you decide to represent this area?

I live in the constituency and see day to day how the policies of the government have a negative effect on the constituents.

What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?

I’d say they have the same problems as the rest of the country. A political elite who looks down at them and refuse the introduce the policies that they want, an obsession on woke and thought policing while actual crimes go unpunished and a breakdown of social cohesion that uncontrolled immigration has brought about.

For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign? You can find out more about the SDP at https://sdp.org.uk/. You can contact me by email at [email protected].

Hamish Haddow, Reform UK candidate for Chipping Barnet

Hamish Haddow is the Reform UK Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Chipping Barnet.  We spoke with Hamish about his decision to stand.

“My personal vision is, when I leave this mortal coil, to have left this country in a better state than when my grandparents left it”

Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

I am Hamish Haddow, Reform Party Spokesman for the Chipping Barnet Constituency.  Having been brought up in Kent, I have also had the privilege in living in both South Africa & Zimbabwe. After doing a Business Degree, I have been in IT Management for thirty years with industry qualifications.  I live in Hertfordshire, near to Chipping Barnet, with my wife. I have three children.  I am very active in the local community and a member of the local Rugby club, PCC, and other charity work.

My personal vision is, when I leave this mortal coil, to have left this country in a better state than when my grandparents left it. 

“Migration is out of control, RNLI working as a taxi service for illegal immigrants. Reckless spending and not on the British residents. Retired Servicemen sleeping on the streets”

What made you decide to stand for Reform UK?

My father was a Conservative Councillor for Holborn and my family have always supported the Tories, as I have done in the past.  However, I feel betrayed.  They do not represent my Patriotic and Conservative values anymore, having made our Great Britain worse than when they got into power, 13 years ago.  Migration is out of control, RNLI working as a taxi service for illegal immigrants. Reckless spending and not on the British residents. Retired Servicemen sleeping on the streets, whilst illegal asylum seekers are placed in 4-star hotels.  British History is still not being taught in schools, but rather LGBT rhetoric and other nonsense.  My father is turning in his grave.

You’re the Spokesman for Chipping Barnet what’s made you decide to represent this area?

I used to work for the Barnet Council and know Barnet very well, living close by.  My grandparents used to live in Barnet, before moving to Kent.  I love the high street and iconic St John’s and Hadley common with St Mary’s.  People have a lot to be proud of.

“Working for the council I saw the waste that councils spend money on and whilst Barnet is not as bad as others, there is no accountability when they ask for a bail out”

What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?

Barnet has the worse potholes on record in the country.  The Mayors thieving fingers are taking out of the pockets of every Londoner, most especially now with ULEZ.  Working for the council I saw the waste that councils spend money on and whilst Barnet is not as bad as others, there is no accountability when they ask for a bail out.  Antisemitism is out of control in London and this needs to end.  Enough is Enough of woke police and teachers. Enough is Enough of migration destroying our beautiful country and taking away housing and opportunities from Londoners.

For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?

We are slowly building up a fantastic team of Volunteers in Chipping Barnet and we need more help to get out there and speak to all our residents. Anyone interested in getting involved can contact me on [email protected]. 

We are very active on Twitter @rukchipbarnet.  We have setup a Just Giving page to help with producing flyers and banners etc. https://t.co/MBq6d3BPYq

You can also find out more about Reform at https://www.reformparty.uk/.

Thomas Mallon, Reform UK candidate for Chatham and Aylesford

Thomas Mallon is the Reform UK Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Chatham and Aylesford.  We spoke with Thomas about his decision to stand.

“I believe in fairness in society and in the power of people governance and free speech”

Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

I have lived and worked in and around the Kent area for over 28 years, firstly in Building Construction and housing, before moving into Warehouse and Logistic Management. During that time, I met and married my Wife, who is from a loving and caring Chatham family.

I have an NVQ in Political Modern Studies and have been interested in Politics and how it can, and should work for the people, for most of my life. As I believe in fairness in society and in the power of people governance and free speech.

Therefore, I would be honoured to represent the people of Chatham and Aylesford constituency. To help make the constituency a safer place to live, and bring about the changes and reforms the area needs to make the area, Medway, Kent, and Great Britain great again.

What made you decide to stand for Reform UK?

I have put myself forward to stand for the Reform Party as we are the only party willing to listen to the people, and to put forward common sense policies on making Britain great again, by putting money back into people’s pockets by cutting taxes on incomes and at the same time have a plan for growth, growing the police force with more bobbies on the beat, reforming the NHS for the better and making fuel bills cheaper.

“I have seen the outcome of over 20 years of the failure by Labour and the Conservatives to protect people, property and small businesses in the area”

You’re the Spokesman for Chatham and Aylesford what’s made you decide to represent this area?

My Wife and all her family are from Chatham, and after living and working in the Kent area for 28 years I have seen the outcome of over 20 years of the failure by Labour and the Conservatives to protect people, property and small businesses in the area. We can reform Chatham and the surrounding areas to be safer places to live and work.

“A lot of the problems facing the area are safety, high bills, high rents, NHS waiting lists”

What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?

A lot of the problems facing the area are safety, high bills, high rents, NHS waiting lists, finding a Dentist, homelessness, adequate housing for families and road infrastructures. All this needs to be addressed, I will look into all of them.

For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?

Anyone can get involved with helping out in any matter of ways, by either becoming a full member at www.reformparty.uk or help out by assisting with posting leaflets, street stalls and word of mouth, you can also find out about events and meetings by following us on these platforms. 

Email: [email protected]
Twitter (X): @ReformChatham
Facebook: Reform UK – Chatham and Aylesford
Instagram: reformukchatham
Go Fund Me: https://gofund.me/b31491a5

Tim O’Rourke, SDP candidate for Hazel Grove

Tim O’Rourke is the SDP prospective candidate for Hazel Grove, Greater Manchester.  We spoke with Tim about his decision to stand.

“I had always voted Labour, but I increasingly felt they were losing sight of what was really important to people and were becoming increasingly ideologically captured”

Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

I am a former Electrical Engineer and Project Manager and spent half of my career in the private sector (Power and Rail projects) and the other half in (effectively) the public sector (Nuclear).  I have studied Martial Arts for over 50 years and hold the rank of 5th Dan.  I am also a keen musician and have played guitar in a band for over 30 years.   I retired about 5 years ago and started becoming interested in politics and the way it seemed to be becoming more distant from the views and needs of ordinary members of our society.  I had always voted Labour, but I increasingly felt they were losing sight of what was really important to people and were becoming increasingly ideologically captured. 

“I had also directly seen the effects of deindustrialisation which is what happens when you don’t care where you source goods from”

What made you decide to stand for the SDP?

Back in 1981 my dad had also become disillusioned with the Labour Party and joined the original SDP and became involved in Shirley Williams’s Crosby campaign.

Like most people I did not know that the SDP had survived the 80s until I saw something from Ben Cobley referring to them.  I followed it up and was immediately hooked by the SDP’s New Declaration.  It was for me the ideal mix of left wing economics combined with a great respect for pride in our country and the need for a strong sovereign state and control of our borders and where the laws that govern us are made by people we can ultimately remove at the ballot box should we need to.  I had also directly seen the effects of deindustrialisation which is what happens when you don’t care where you source goods from as long as you get the cheapest price. 

I took over as Chair of the North West Branch of the SDP at the beginning of 2023

You’re the Spokesman for Hazel Grove what’s made you decide to represent this area?

Hazel Grove is close to where I live, and I have many friends there and have spent a lot of time in the constituency.

As Chair of the North West Region we are trying to cover as many constituencies as we can as our main problem is exposure.  We find that once people know about us and our policies, they are usually enthusiastic   The North West region runs from Carlisle down to Chester and from the Wirral to Glossop so it’s a big area.  Although I live in the Macclesfield constituency we had another excellent candidate in that area and, knowing Hazel Grove well I elected to stand there.

“We see increasingly that police resources are diverted into into activities which don’t reduce crime and with more sympathy being given for those that carry out crime than are victims of it”

What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?

I think the main issues for the constituency are similar to those nationally.  We see increasingly that police resources are diverted into into activities which don’t reduce crime and with more sympathy being given for those that carry out crime than are victims of it.  We seem to be becoming more tolerant of Anti social behaviour and the real reasons for the breakdown of social cohesion appear not to fit with the current “liberal” mindset and are therefore ignored.

I believe when Hazel Grove constituents look at the SDPs policies they will resonate with them and realise that something must be done to break the endless cycle of Labour/Conservative neither of which achieve any real change for them.

For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?
You can find out more about the SDP at https://sdp.org.uk/. You can contact me by email at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @Iskimore199546.

You can also read about Tim in the Stockport Nub News at https://stockport.nub.news/news/local-news/social-democratic-party-announces-parliamentary-candidate-for-hazel-grove-220863

William Fotheringham-Bray, Reform UK candidate for Sittingbourne and Sheppey

William Fotheringham-Bray is the Reform UK Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Sittingbourne and Sheppey.  We spoke with William about his decision to stand.

“I am a strong advocate for the concept of individual liberties such as the freedom of speech, the rights to own property, and the right to a fair trial”

Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

I am a 23-year-old, fresh out of university, man working within my local communities here in Sittingbourne and Sheppey. I studied film at University and am now focusing on my independent film projects, my day-to day work, and providing a voluntary service for the local libraries whenever I can. I was too young to vote for Brexit but I would have most certainly have done so and I would do again! Unlike what keyboard warriors would have you believe, I am a strong advocate for the concept of individual liberties such as the freedom of speech, the rights to own property, and the right to a fair trial. My personal key political aspirations is the lowering of income tax, bringing down immigration figures, and the abolition of the undemocratic First-Past-the-Post voting system. That doesn’t sound far-right to me!

“I took the pledge to stand for Reform UK because I was betrayed! Boris Johnson failed to make the most of the Brexit opportunities we were given. On top of this, we shattered our economy by locking the nation down”

What made you decide to stand for Reform UK?

I took the pledge to stand for Reform UK because I was betrayed! Boris Johnson failed to make the most of the Brexit opportunities we were given. On top of this, we shattered our economy by locking the nation down which only saw mega-corporations make a decent profit whilst small to medium businesses were decimated. Then there’s the spending, end money pits of spending that haven’t improved the British standard of living in the slightest! The wasteful HS2 project, funding the endless suffering and conflict in Ukraine, and simply throwing BILLIONS away to nations that do not need our aid (India). I became politically homeless, until I discovered Reform UK in my last year of uni. I did my research, make some calls, and then decided that I wanted to be a part of of a REAL conservative party, something new, something filled with ordinary working to middle class people. I’ve stood for Reform in the 2023 local elections as well as a by-election, and I have every intention to fight against the Tories in my home constituency.

You’re the Spokesman for Sittingbourne and Sheppey what’s made you decide to represent this area?

Apart from my time away at university, I have known no other home then Sittingbourne and Sheppey. I live on both the Isle of Sheppey and Sittingbourne and have come to love the familiar highstreets, as well as seeing my home constituency develop and grow its amenities and local businesses. During COVID, the high street took a beating, but thankfully it still has that familiar feeling for me. In addition to this, the farming sector here is strong, and with food security becoming an every more prevalent problem, I would look to bolster the farming industry here as much as I can.     

“I would tackle head on the net zero lunacy that threatens our farmers from axing carbon taxes to making it easier to obtain licenses to remove badgers from infecting livestock with TB”

What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?

Being a Kent constituency, the issue of illegal immigration is a constant reminder. I’ve had calls from concerned citizens from neighbouring Faversham about illegal migrants being dropped into local communities without informing or having the consent of the locals. Under Reform UK, I would do my all to ensure that NO illegal migrants are settled in Sittingbourne or Sheppey. Another key focus, as mentioned prior, is the farming sector. Both me and Reform UK know that without Farmers, there is no food, and the growing globalist agenda is that of war against farmers. We’ve seen it in the Netherlands, France, Germany, and practically the entire EU. Under Reform UK administration, I would see to it at our British farmers are not driven out of their own markets by cheap imported food, and I would tackle head on the net zero lunacy that threatens our farmers from axing carbon taxes to making it easier to obtain licenses to remove badgers from infecting livestock with TB.

For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?

You can find out more about Reform at https://www.reformparty.uk/.  My Twitter account is @WillReformUK. For anyone eager to help in my campaign, please email [email protected]