Ian Cooper is the Reform UK Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Tamworth. We spoke with Ian about his decision to stand.
“I joined Reform UK because like many individuals across the UK. I had grown disillusioned with the main parties, both, having a credit card thickness between them on many issues”
Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Ian Cooper, originally from Nottingham. I’ve worked in business and industry all my professional life. First on the shop floor, eventually ending up as a business director.
I’m from a working/middle class family background. I started as an apprentice lithographic printer with a local firm, moving through various aspect of the industry. I’ve worked along the length of the industry supply chain, from manufacturer, sales & marketing to end user/customer. On my business journey I did a business degree and finally a post graduate MBA. Later I spent approximately 10 years in politics. After my experience with politics, I worked with a variety of businesses both large and small, ending up as a director of an accounting company based in Birmingham.
What made you decide to stand for Reform UK?
I joined Reform UK because like many individuals across the UK. I had grown disillusioned with the main parties, both, having a credit card thickness between them on many issues, and both only offer the electorate a “Uni-Party” choice at the ballot box. Reform UK supply an opportunity for the electorate to choose a party that has the interests of the whole of the UK at heart, and not the current offering of a technocratic-managerial approach to managed decline of the UK. Reform offer something fresh and new, with a positive vision of the UK, and an alternative the vast majority support, if given the opportunity.
“I’ve lived in Tamworth nearly 30 years, I do business in Tamworth with SME’s and I’m a member of a local business networking group”
You’re the Spokesman for Tamworth what’s made you decide to represent this area?
I’ve lived in Tamworth nearly 30 years, I do business in Tamworth with SME’s and I’m a member of a local business networking group. My children also grew up here (now grown up and moved away) etc. Outside school, they were members of the swimming club, drama group and sports teams. Also, I was the “Head Steward” on the Day, for the local Canwell Agricultural Show (one of the largest one day shows in the Midlands) for 11 years. Plus, I was also a former borough and parish councillor. So, I’ve lots of local roots and connections.
“There is extreme pressure to build more homes in an already overcrowded borough, the road infrastructure is crumbling, we don’t have enough GPs or hospital capacity”
What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?
The biggest concerns for Tamworth are the cost of living, housing and local services. As one example (there are others) These problems are exacerbated by mass uncontrolled economic migration. The UK has seen an explosion in the population over the past 25 years, both legal and illegal economic migration, combined with stagnant economic growth (over a long period of time). This has resulted in the prosperity of everyone in the UK declining (GDP per capita) due to, too many individuals chasing too few resources. There is extreme pressure to build more homes in an already overcrowded borough, the road infrastructure is crumbling, we don’t have enough GPs or hospital capacity and we have competition for low wages being undercut by new arrivals, making everyone poorer. Finally, our only purpose built hotel in the town centre has been requisitioned and is full of illegal economic migrants who freely roam the town with the resultant consequences.
For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?
If you live in the Tamworth Constituency, would like to help, and/or donate then please get in touch by emailing me at: [email protected]
You can also help by liking and sharing my Reform UK Facebook page: www.facebook.com/IanCooperReformUK/
