Dear Voter

I was born and bred in Grantham, attending Central School and Grantham College.  I graduated in Politics from Nottingham University in 1991, and went on to qualify as a teacher a year later.  After teaching in Immingham for 3 years, I returned to Grantham in 1995, and have taught at my old school since, currently being Head of Upper School.  I am married to Susan, and have two teenage stepsons.

I joined the Labour Party at 15, and have held most grassroots positions within it.  I was a councillor on Cleethorpes Borough Council between 1993-95, and stood for Parliament in 1997 as the Labour candidate for North-West Cambridgeshire. 

I have lived in the ward for over three years and believe that I have the experience and skills needed to effectively represent you on the council.  As a local person, I am committed to the needs and concern of Granthamians of all ages.

Local people certainly deserve more than they are getting from the current Conservative administration, that simply does not offer value for money to the local council tax payers.  They have had total power for 6 years.  Why haven't they negotiated an East-West bypass with the County Council?  Why is it a nightmare to park in Grantham?  Why have they closed public toilets and cut funding to the Citizens' Advice Bureau?  Why isn't effective action being taken against persistent anti-social behaviour by a small minority?

Despite these failures, every year the Conservatives complacently raise SKDC's share of Council Tax.  This is why I feel moved to stand in this election.  Poor transport, a chronic shortage of social housing, anti-social behaviour, all these blight the lives of hundreds of local people, who remain rightly proud of where they live.  It is the job of councillors to work in partnership with their local communities to provide improvements and better value for money. If elected, I will work with other Labour councillors to achieve this aim.

The late Councillor Fred Burrows who represented St. Anne’s for many years will be a hard act to follow. He was a plain speaking advocate for the Ward and despite standing as an Independent in his latter years never lost his original Labour values. He spoke honestly and from the heart and if you choose to elect me, you will get the same.

I would also like to make a cast iron promise.  The Conservatives are planning to sell off all of the council stock to a private Housing Association over the next 2 years.  Despite what they may claim, rents are certain to rise!  Council tenants would also lose security and the democratic right to complain to their councillor.  Surveys have suggested that the vast majority want to stay under council control.  My colleagues and I will totally oppose this sell off.  We must remain totally committed to housing some of the most vulnerable members of our society according to need, not the ability to pay!

I stand for Labour values of common decency.  Please give me your support.