I have lived in Henley for over sixty years.

Full statement

I have been a Parish Council Chairman for about twenty-five years, and a Unitary Councillor for thirteen years in numerous roles including Leader.

I am a conservative … I believe in small government, enterprise, ambition, the individual, compassion, low taxation, competence, the rule of law, freedom, personal responsibility, free market economics, fiscal probity, sovereignty, strong defence and borders, national pride and the Union.

For thirty-five years, these policies have not been shared by the Conservative party, who are now indistinguishable from the Lib Dems, who in turn are indistinguishable from Labour.

As most of Henley’s concerns are created at Westminster, they cannot be resolved by local independents..

If elected, amongst the issues that I will focus upon:

• Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) is mainly concerned with Adult and Children’s Services, Education, Highways, public health, waste, fire and rescue and library. Most of the services are statutory but there is a vast minority which are discretionary. All of them can be better delivered for less and there is much which should not be done at all.

• SEND is a huge issue as is palliative care.

• river sewage

• The condition of roads, potholes, pedestrian crossings and the long-promised HGV limit.

• Whilst population growth mainly through immigration continues at an unsustainable level, there will be huge pressure for development; the green wedge between Henley and Shiplake is almost extinguished.

• Henley’s interests will need to be safeguarded in any devolution proposals.

The Tories have broken Britain. Lib Dems and Labour will bankrupt Britain. A vote for any of them is a vote for more incompetence, dishonesty, and defeat.
There is an alternative.
Henley has a rational, fresh and untainted choice in Reform UK.”