Sometimes people say, ‘There shouldn’t be any politics in local government’.

Full statement

You may have even heard some councillors claim not to be very political. This is a denial of reality. Councillors must make choices that are inherently political. There’s no getting around it.

I have been a socialist my entire adult life. I believe that public goods should be in public hands; that public services should be run on the basis of need and not for profit; and that a society is only as strong as its weakest member. I will bring these values to my decision-making on the council.

The issues which motivate me the most are tied to economic inequality and employment. Recognising the limits facing local government, I see the mission of a Labour group as being focused on holding down the cost of living as much as possible for residents. We must do all we can to tackle poverty and to boost employment and educational opportunities for all.

I pledge to prioritise free breakfasts for primary school children, better infrastructure to support housing growth, decent social care provision, reliable bus services, drastically improved SEND provision, and a 'community wealth building' approach to procurement.