The New Culture Forum believe that cultural issues are the defining ones of our time. They believe that too often our enemies and our opinion formers appear to agree that Western culture is indefensible or a source purely of shame. The New Culture Forum has been challenging the cultural orthodoxies dominant in the media, academia, education, and wider British culture.
Join us on Wednesday 20th November for our drinks and conversation with Stephen Balogh the New Culture Forum National Organiser and candidate for the SDP in Ealing Central & Acton. For drinks, a conversation and Q&A with Stephen about the New Culture Forum, cultural concerns and his experience running for parliament, come along Wednesday 20th November at 7pm.
This is part of our #ThirdWednesday drinks and events, we hold these in association with Dick Delingpole’s #ThirdWednesday Libertarian drinks club, and POLITICS in PUBS a group of people from across the political spectrum who value the freedom to question and to speak openly.
We recently held a public meeting in Purley and were joined by 2 local candidates from the recent General Election; Vinayak Malhotra, who stood for Reform UK in Croydon West and Damon Young, who stood for the SDP in Epsom & Ewell. We talked about their experiences of the campaign and their future plans.
“I sat down in February ‘24 to begin to discuss how we would go about things. The SDP in Coventry did not exist at that time”
Some reflections on the 2024 campaign. Like many of you, I’ve bemoaned the capabilities of many of our MP’s. The nadir for me came in 2019 when Jeremy Corbyn parachuted a young lady with several years’ experience working at Primark into the safe Labour seat of Coventry South
In 2023 I met William Clouston of the SDP and over the next 12 months we had dozens of conversations and I became convinced that standing on the side lines was no longer an option. My wife was concerned about potential reputational damage as UK politics appears like a piranha tank. But around January 2024, I decided that I was going to take the plunge. My oldest friend and now parliamentary agent, Paul Crilly, and I sat down in February ‘24 to begin to discuss how we would go about things. The SDP in Coventry did not exist at that time.
Our politics were moderate. We both believed that if you worked 40 hours a week 46 weeks a year you want to be able to afford a modest home of your own. We felt that the government should be competent and not expand its scope beyond what it was capable of delivering successfully.
“As we are experienced construction professionals, neither of us can wrap our heads around the ludicrous costs and time delays of major UK Infrastructure projects like HS2 and Hinckley C”
We’ve both experienced terrible healthcare with the NHS but continue to believe in the principle of a single payer, free at the point of use health service. Neither of us care if it’s a black cat or a white cat so long as it catches mice – we hold no theological views on the NHS. As we are experienced construction professionals, neither of us can wrap our heads around the ludicrous costs and time delays of major UK Infrastructure projects like HS2 and Hinckley C. We are convinced we can do better. We see massive waste on big sites which no politician discusses.
We both believe that natural monopolies belong in the state sector as regulatory capture is unavoidable given the asymmetry of resources (I.e. accountants and lawyers) between the owners and the regulator. Begging the French to build our nuclear power stations is embarrassing. We were on opposite sides of the Brexit referendum, but both agreed that the result should be respected.
My own view is that with the rapid acceleration of technologically driven change it is even more important that our government is flexible and responsive to voters. And that brings me back to our representatives who are, in aggregate, simply not up to the job. Would you hire our current MP for any serious job? I doubt it. We may not win this time, but we will put down the roots of a winning organisation having gone from 0 to 15 volunteers.
“Just by being on the campaign trail and being visible has changed the calculus for people who are trapped in the Labour party but who vehemently oppose many of its trendy shibboleths”
After the holidays, we’ll start to build for the next phase. We’ll build our social media presence across all four major platforms. We’ll create a Coventry wide SDP structure, contribute to the creation of national policy and locally we’ll recruit and start to train our members.
Just by being on the campaign trail and being visible has changed the calculus for people who are trapped in the Labour party but who vehemently oppose many of its trendy shibboleths. I would be disappointed if we are not 50 people by Christmas and that is just the beginning. The public has responded positively to our common-sense proposals. The British people are fair minded and generous, but they have limits and those are being tested. They want cheaper housing, cheaper energy, more training, better paid and higher skilled jobs.
“Many, far too many, maybe as many as 20-25% have given up on politics altogether. This is an indictment of our political class and our elites who’ve become tone deaf to the messages sent”
Having held more than 4000 one-to-one conversations my assessment is that the public want an effective state that can get things done and struck off the ‘to do’ list. They are sympathetic towards LGB rights but reject broader identity politics and don’t want to be told what to think.
Many, far too many, maybe as many as 20-25% have given up on politics altogether. This is an indictment of our political class and our elites who’ve become tone deaf to the messages sent with increasing vigour by the population, contrast this with Denmark.
Politics which offers cheap energy through a new fleet of British designed, British built nuclear power stations regulated through an ‘underwriter certification’ system rather than the unfit for purpose ALARA principle will lay the groundwork for a renaissance of UK manufacturing.
Just last week Britain’s richest man and our leading industrialist Sir Jim Radcliffe warned of the deindustrialisation of Europe due to costly energy. We can’t run an industrial society without cheap dispatchable energy and if it’s not to be fossil fuels, then it has to be nuclear. We are proposing that a new school of Nuclear Engineering, Design and Regulation is established at Warwick University in Coventry South to lead our efforts to deliver rapidly on this urgently needed capacity. We need to treat this like the Mulberry Harbour or the Manhattan Project.
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) will take 20% of US electricity by 2027 and if we want to stay competitive, we’ll need to INCREASE our grid capacity and ensure its stability. We’re currently co-leading the world in AGI but if we don’t have cheap energy, we’ll become an also ran.
In the 1950s, 60s and 70’s both parties delivered 500k homes a year for a population of 50m souls. We need to get the state back into building houses and simultaneously getting a grip on mass immigration without which no amount of building will eliminate the backlog for 75 million souls. Building creates British jobs, British apprenticeships and British high-weight, low-value products that need to be produced locally. This plus cheap energy will help spur our re-industrialisation. Young people with no stake in society won’t abide by or respect our norms or rules.
They need affordable housing and energy to start families and prevent demographic collapse which in used to justify more immigration or Human Quantitative Easing (HQE) but ignores the externalities bourn overwhelmingly by working class British communities. There’s a general acceptance of controlled immigration that makes us richer but real anger at the mess we’re currently in which has delivered the population of six Birmingham’s in ten years.
I got into this because I’m not willing to accept the country we are leaving to our children. I hope and pray we are not too late.
Maya Severyn is the SDP prospective candidate for Waveney Valley. We spoke with Maya about her decision to stand.
“In this election my key points are to Bring Trust Back into Politics, and to Bring Democracy Back to the People”
Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Maya Severyn, and I believe in service before self. In this election my key points are to Bring Trust Back into Politics, and to Bring Democracy Back to the People.
I am a Project Manager in IT, born and brought up in London, have lived and worked in Europe for 15 years and have come back to settle in Suffolk
What made you decide to stand for the SDP?
I joined the SDP as, like many others, I had considered myself ‘politically homeless’. Having previously voted Labour I began to realise that the Labour Parliamentary party was no longer representative or interested in the Labour Movement. Having been at one time a Shop Steward, but also running my own company, I believe in the benefits of a mixed economy; nationalisation of core infrastructure can and should sit alongside private enterprise.
“I live here, I work here and to be honest I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else! I am a local town councillor”
You’re the Spokesman for Waveney Valley what’s made you decide to represent this area?
I live here, I work here and to be honest I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else! I am a local town councillor, and, from experience, I am frustrated that there is only so much which can be resolved at a local level and so my hope is to be given the opportunity and mandate to address the challenges and opportunities for the people here as a member of Parliament.
“We are a rural constituency, with a widespread population, and there are many concerns about transport infrastructure and access to basic services”
What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?
Agriculture is at the heart of this constituency, and has my full support. We are a rural constituency, with a widespread population, and there are many concerns about transport infrastructure and access to basic services.
Employment and training opportunities for young people plus, of course, affordable housing to enable them to start their own family homes.
The other big issue is of course the Norwich-Essex pylon scheme, which I wholeheartedly oppose, as being disruptive to our communities, damaging to our farms and environment and unnecessary; better options exist!
For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?
What is it like running for Parliament? I’m a first time candidate standing for the SDP in the constituency of Coventry South I’ve taken six weeks off work and I’m entirely self funded. I sleep in a 12 m² student accommodation room and haven’t seen my wife for 2 weeks. My opponent Zarah Sultana ships in around 100 Labour Party volunteers from Manchester, London, Carlisle, Birmingham every weekend.
“The central plank of my campaign is to focus on bringing high skilled, high value added, high paying, jobs back to the city of Coventry”
FedEx lost 10,000 of my 62,000 leaflets and tonight we discovered the post office are delivering my leaflets all over Coventry North. BUT… We talked to 200 to 300 Coventry voters every day and today was our best day ever in terms of the positivity of the response.
The central plank of my campaign is to focus on bringing high skilled, high value added, high paying, jobs back to the city of Coventry because “a rising tide lifts all boats”. Our current MP, Ms Sultana, has used the platform afforded to her by the voters of Coventry South to focus on Gaza with 87 tweets about Gazza to 6 about Coventry in Q1 2024.
“Bit by bit, we have put together a group of volunteers who join me at weekends and evenings after work to support my campaign. I spend 10 to 12 hours a day in one-to-one conversations throughout the constituency”
Having held nearly 2,000 individual conversations, not one single person has raised this issue with me in Coventry South. The local BBC radio station is only interested in talking to me about Gaza despite me pointing out to them that BBC Question Time in Coventry on the first day of the campaign demonstrated that Gaza was not on the mind of Coventry voters.
Bit by bit, we have put together a group of volunteers who join me at weekends and evenings after work to support my campaign. I spend 10 to 12 hours a day in one-to-one conversations throughout the constituency of Coventry South and I think I have a good feel for voters want.
Some of my volunteers struggle with the level of anger and frustration expressed by voters. It can be very raw and very real and not everybody can cope with it. I am absolutely convinced that the mass of elite opinion especially in London is totally disconnected from the majority views throughout the country. Labour support is a mile wide and an inch deep.
Reform is on the lips of almost every white male over 45 years old. Nigel Farage has tapped into and reflected the anger of voters but I believe has no compelling answers. The SDP are committed to a long march across three electoral cycles to build a mass national party that can offer voters a real alternative that the positively want to vote for rather than the least hated.
“This week I’ve started to receive dozens of different manifestos from organisations and pressure groups seeking my endorsement. I have been absolutely clear that my overwhelming focus is to drive the economic well-being of Coventry”
Our 122 Candidates represent a 500% increase from 2019 and we aim to field 350 Candidates at the next election. I know that Solihull next door to Coventry will be the next centre for the SDP growth in the West Midlands as we have three volunteers coming almost daily to help us in Coventry South.
Standing for parliament is a trip! This week I’ve started to receive dozens of different manifestos from organisations and pressure groups seeking my endorsement. I have been absolutely clear that my overwhelming focus is to drive the economic well-being of Coventry. Consequently, I am being very sparing with my responses as I do not want to dilute my message. When our family returned to Coventry in 1969 wages in Coventry were significantly above the UK average and they are now significantly below. House prices were four times average earnings now they are 13 times.
Professor Danny Dorling of Oxford University maps Coventry to the north of the north-south divide but to my mind the line goes directly through the centre of the city. Parts of the south are still doing ok but the north is in a hell of a state. If we could get 50 great new entrepreneurs to set up in Coventry, it would be enough to kickstart the economy and address the physical deterioration of the city.
If I had one wish for Coventry it would be for Tesla or BYD Company to set up the at the site of Coventry Airport where a 5 million square foot planning consent for a battery electric vehicle plant has already been granted, wisely in my view, by Coventry City Council. So my request to X/Twitter world is to tweet this article to Elon Musk and Tesla or BYD Company to raise the profile of this great City and hope that we can rebuild our volume manufacturing business. For full transparency, I’ve been a Tesla shareholder since 2016.
“Big parties can afford to fund lots of the expenses and you have big teams of supporters helping. There is a tiny pool of people who can do what I am doing or attempting to do outside of the two dominant parties”
I discussed with a friend today how many people could take six weeks unpaid leave? Assuming there are 35 million voters we figured that maybe 3% maximum which gives a figure of 1,050,000. We then calculated that may be 5% of these remaining people could afford the estimated £7,500 of costs which cut down the pool to 52,500 potential candidates. We then estimated what percentage of those remaining could bear the anger, resentment and contempt of the disillusioned voters and we thought it was as little as 10% leaving approximately 5250. We then asked how many people in our Venn diagram would map and fit our three criteria and it left us with 525 people (10%). This is the problem the small parties face. Big parties can afford to fund lots of the expenses and you have big teams of supporters helping. There is a tiny pool of people who can do what I am doing or attempting to do outside of the two dominant parties. Not many people realise that the vast majority of reform candidates are paper candidates, who will never go to the constituency and are candidates in name only.
Michael McGetrick is the SDP prospective candidate for South West Hertfordshire. We spoke with Michael about his decision to stand.
“I found out through social media that the SDP was still alive. I read The New Declaration and my enthusiasm for the party was immediately re-ignited”
Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
I was born and raised twenty miles north of London, in Hertfordshire, where I received my primary and secondary education. During this time I came to love both the Hertfordshire countryside and it’s close proximity to London. I continued my studies at London University where I studied physics and obtained my doctorate. My research was carried out at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell.
I was an academic for ten years in South Africa, working with the disenfranchised communities, before moving into the corporate sector. I have worked in a range of industries in various countries (South Africa, United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden) providing solutions to various clients in the military, government and corporate world. My working career in such a variety of geographical settings has provided me with direct experience, and deep understanding of, the vast wealth inequalities that exist between various nations worldwide. As a social democrat, it is my wish to see extreme poverty tackled at both a national and international level.
“more social housing needs to be provided. The reduction of net inward migration to sustainable levels will relieve the pressure on services”
What made you decide to stand for the SDP?
I was very excited about the formation of the SDP when it was launched in 1981. Later, when I moved to South Africa, I shared an office with a fellow physics lecturer (also from the UK) at the university. He was a member of the Electoral Reform Society (which promotes proportional representation). One day in our office, in the middle of the African bush, he shared his experiences of campaigning for Roy Jenkins (one of SDP Gang of Four) in the Glasgow Hillhead by-election the year before! We had many discussions on PR and the SDP (when we were not talking physics!). We were both of the opinion that the SDP was the only way forward for Britain.
In the years that passed, hearing nothing of the party after the merger with the Liberal Party, I assumed that the SDP was officially no more.
Fast forward to 2019. I found out through social media that the SDP was still alive. I read The New Declaration and my enthusiasm for the party was immediately re-ignited. I soon became involved with former SDP MEP for East of England Patrick 0’ Flynn’s campaign in the Peterborough by-election, and finally stood as PPC for Watford in the General Election later that year.
You’re the Spokesman for South West Hertfordshire what’s made you decide to represent this area?
I stood for the constituency of Watford during the 2019 General Election. It is a town I have a familiarity with having been raised in a town not too far way in the county. Due to the recent boundary changes, some areas have been absorbed into South West Hertfordshire.
“ULEZ policies must be revised or scrapped to ensure people can go about their business”
What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?
Cost of Living, Housing, Crime and ULEZ.
Local authority budgets are becoming increasingly squeezed due to rising costs and increased demand for services. For instance, more social housing needs to be provided. The reduction of net inward migration to sustainable levels will relieve the pressure on services.
SDP policy on housing would provide for 100,000 new social homes per annum. This would increase the overall housing stock, thus reducing housing costs in both the social and private sectors.
Many in the constituency depend on their living by travelling into London. ULEZ costs can make this prohibitively expensive. ULEZ policies must be revised or scrapped to ensure people can go about their business.
SDP policy on re-industrialisation will, in the longer term, provide more well-paying jobs that will significantly alleviate cost of living problems.
The police will be encouraged to do their job professionally on issues such as knife crime and anti-social behaviour independently of politically correct pressures. Maximum assistance will be given to the police in tackling ‘county lines’ gang-related activity which is becoming more prevalent and sourced from nearby London bases.
For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?
If you wish to help, please contact me by email at [email protected]
Any help with leafleting and spreading the word would be greatly appreciated.
Mark Patten is the SDP prospective candidate for Harpenden and Berkhamsted. We spoke with Mark about his decision to stand.
“my despair at the main parties has made me step up to stand as a candidate”
Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
I am an NHS consultant anaesthetist who has worked for the NHS all my life. I have been relatively apolitical but my despair at the main parties has made me step up to stand as a candidate.
What made you decide to stand for the SDP?
Only party that is promoting a true alternative to the mainstream political parties
You’re the Spokesman for Harpenden and Berkhamsted what’s made you decide to represent this area?
I have lived in the constituency for 26 years. It is a new constituency that has no incumbent and should be open to a new alternative party.
“Affordable housing for young people. My own three children have no prospect of living independently locally”
What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?
Affordable housing for young people. My own three children have no prospect of living independently locally. Social care for the elderly the poor provision has massive impacts on the NHS.
For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?
Come along to the local Hustings and get involved that way. You can also contact me at [email protected].
Martin Evison is the SDP prospective candidate for Newcastle upon Tyne North. We spoke with Martin about his decision to stand.
“feel very at home in the SDP. I am overjoyed at the growth in the Party in such a short time – fielding 122 candidates in the 2024 General Election”
Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m a Shropshire Lad who first came to Newcastle as a student in 1979. I worked in IT in the 80s boom, and then returned to the academic world in the life, archaeological and forensic sciences, retiring in 2020.
What made you decide to stand for the SDP?
I was a wavering Brexit voter inflamed by the disgraceful attempt to overturn the result. This would not have happened if it had gone the other way and was profoundly anti-democratic.
For this reason, I supported the Brexit Party until 2019 and stood for Reform UK in my ward in Newcastle in 2021 strongly advocating for an end to the insane and injurious lockdown policies. My attempts to influence Reform to take a stronger stance at national level fell on deaf ears and, still frustrated, I took a look at the SDP. Their policies are sensible, overlapping in places with those of Reform. Most importantly, however, the SDP seemed properly democratic and consultative of its members with an approachable leadership – and definitely not a vanity project. I have since found all this to be the case and feel very at home in the SDP. I am overjoyed at the growth in the Party in such a short time – fielding 122 candidates in the 2024 General Election.
“My MP was Nick Brown who was suspended by the Labour Party in 2022 for why-we-know-not, depriving the voters of their chosen representation”
You’re the Spokesman for Newcastle upon Tyne North what’s made you decide to represent this area?
I live in Newcastle North, but only 100m from the adjoining Newcastle East and Wallsend, both constituencies having been redrawn for 2024. I know and have lived in both areas, but presently live in and am more familiar with Newcastle North. My MP was Nick Brown who was suspended by the Labour Party in 2022 for why-we-know-not, depriving the voters of their chosen representation ever since. Keir Starmer’s cynical burying of this issue is itself scandalous.
“As well as reshoring industry, we hope to provide more support for small businesses and the self-employed, recognising these form a significant and important part of the economy”
What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?
Newcastle North has large swathes of rental properties that are often poorly maintained despite spiralling rents, and I anticipate SDP housing policies will be attractive to voters. Everyone will be concerned about the cost of living, and our energy policies should ensure more affordable domestic bills and cheaper costs for industry, which should again bring prices down.
As well as reshoring industry, we hope to provide more support for small businesses and the self-employed, recognising these form a significant and important part of the economy.
There is a substantial care sector in the constituency and the SDP plans for a combined national care service will improve conditions for care staff and residents.
For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?
To learn more about the SDP please visit sdp.org.uk.
There are lots of opportunities to help with campaigning in Newcastle North and other North East constituencies. In the North East, please make contact by email with [email protected].
Ian Grattidge is the SDP prospective candidate for Tonbridge. We spoke with Ian about his decision to stand.
“The New Declaration was something of a revelation. It was the first time I read a party ‘prospectus’ with which I almost entirely agreed”
Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
I grew up in Southeast London moving to West Kent over 40 years ago. I am married with four children and three grandchildren. After a career spent mainly in the Civil Service, and latterly operating at senior management level, I ‘reinvented’ myself as a consultant and interim manager specialising in financial, reporting and governance turnrounds. I also have had a number of Governor and Trustee roles, latterly as Board Chair for a Housing Association.
What made you decide to stand for the SDP?
For many years I drifted between different parties, not much enthused by the offerings of any. The New Declaration was something of a revelation. It was the first time I read a party ‘prospectus’ with which I almost entirely agreed. At a time when so much division is evident in the UK – division that is being exacerbated by identity politics – I feel that with the SDP there is a genuine offer of something for all. The family has been neglected by successive governments and over the past few years public services have become both unreliable and seemingly unaccountable to the people they serve. The prospects, too, for young people getting on the housing ladder seem to be getting increasingly bleak. I don’t believe any of the mainstream parties have engaged with these challenges sufficiently well to give me confidence that they have good solutions.
“At a time when people might like to take the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction with the Tory Government there needs to be a credible alternative, one based on support for families”
You’re the Spokesman for Tonbridge what’s made you decide to represent this area?
I have lived in West Kent for over 40 years. Constituencies have remained steadfastly Conservative during this time. At a time when people might like to take the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction with the Tory Government there needs to be a credible alternative, one based on support for families, affordable housing and reliable public services. I believe the SDP offers voters the opportunity to support these key priorities. The voters of Tonbridge deserve to have this option made available to them.
“Maintaining good quality services – both in Tonbridge but also the many villages in the constituency – are particular issues from my perspective”
What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?
Housing is a big issue and the pressure for provision of sufficient affordable housing, particularly for young people who would like to work and live in the area, will remain a challenge. The Council plan, specialising as it does on development of brownfield sites, needs to deliver. Similarly plans to redevelop Tonbridge town centre, to revive it as a thriving High Street are key. Maintaining good quality services – both in Tonbridge but also the many villages in the constituency – are particular issues from my perspective. Community based services are a better alternative to centralised provision, especially where public transport is not extensively available.
For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?
There is a new Facebook page – SDP West Kent – aimed at bringing together SDP supporters in the area (Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks) and which will carry updates on local campaigns. We do not have a large army of volunteers so any help with getting the message out there will be really welcome. I can be contacted on [email protected] and found on Twitter @GrattidgeIan.
Robert Bayley is the SDP prospective candidate for Ely & East Cambridgeshire. We spoke with Robert about his decision to stand.
“The definition is – social conservatism with centre-left economy. In other words, a politics that prioritises the financial security and the societal health of the nation”
Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Robert Bayley. I moved into Witchford in 2011. I have worked as a reliability engineer in a start-up, as a boardmarker in the betting industry, as a screenwriter in LA, in pop promos, I have worked in IT, and more recently I have worked in the care sector. I write novels. My latest is a murder thriller set in Cornwall entitled Rache (pronounced Rakke). I love the arts and often despair of politics.
What made you decide to stand for the SDP?
The beautiful thing about the SDP is that it combines left and right in the same package. The definition is – social conservatism with centre-left economy. In other words, a politics that prioritises the financial security and the societal health of the nation. I have been in the Labour party; I have been in the Conservative party; I have drifted politically because I am not a died in the wool ideologue, I simply want politics to work for the people. Left and right curiously have suffered similar declines and falls in recent years. Blair was a revelation who destroyed his own success by going too far. Johnson contrived a brilliant opportunity only to squander it. Fourteen years of undelivered promises have steered the Tories towards a political abyss. I do not crow at that. I do not take the prospect of a Labour landslide majority with its odd fringe elements lightly. I read the SDP manifesto, it ticked the boxes, so I joined. I joined just before the announcement of the snap election and stood shortly after. My immediate priority is to get the SDP on the ballot paper and back into the public arena and get the manifesto read. It is well worth it.
“There’s a lot of history in the constituency: the guerilla warfare of Hereward the Wake and those treacherous Ely monks, the home of Cromwell, the pamphleteers, the strife of the Corn Laws”
You’re the Spokesman for Ely & East Cambridgeshire what’s made you decide to represent this area?
The simple answer is, I live here. I’m not going to say I love it, too many politicians lie. I like hills, unfortunately, this area lacks them. But if you live in a village for a while and you get to know the people, that makes up for any shortfall in topographic aesthetics. There’s a lot of history in the constituency: the guerilla warfare of Hereward the Wake and those treacherous Ely monks, the home of Cromwell, the pamphleteers, the strife of the Corn Laws, industrialisation, Thomas Paine, and the draining of the Fens. It’s an interesting place to stand.
“With respect to housing, I have been to Hamburg. I love those three or four storey high streets with shops beneath. All those studio flats and apartments ideal for professionals and students”
What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?
I think the introduction of a National Care Service would have a huge impact on care delivery across the constituency. I think private companies operating in the sector fragment the service. I believe there would be more accountability and more efficiency were the services combined into one organisation. A re-introduction of convalescent homes might be considered to help prevent (awful phrase) bed blocking.
With respect to housing, I have been to Hamburg. I love those three or four storey high streets with shops beneath. All those studio flats and apartments ideal for professionals and students and essential workers. Building modestly higher in established conurbations would be my preference going forward rather than developmental sprawl.
A re-nationalised rail service would be brilliant. Open some of those closed stations. We should have a clean, punctual, efficient service, with clear and affordable pricing and manned stations. Rather like national rail services found on the Continent.
Anglia Water is doing a good job I believe, but I cannot agree with siphoning off monies for dividends. I am pro the re-nationalisation of natural monopolies.
The perennial pothole problem needs to be addressed urgently. Covid decimated many high streets, they must be regenerated with a range of quality retailers, reducing rates if necessary. Centralise disabled parking and have more of it.
Access to medical care should be eased by training homegrown nurses and doctors rather than relying so much on imported trained staff, as welcome as they are. And there should be a loyalty clause aimed at retaining people. Dentistry needs to be overhauled on a national scale.
For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign? (if available please include Facebook, Twitter, emails etc)
I will be handing leaflets out on various days around the constituency (weather permitting)
