As a local businessman, community champion and from serving as a local Councillor within the constituency for more than fifteen years, it is clear that in order to support residents and improve your quality of life, we need a Member of Parliament who is focused on the needs of our community and understands the challenges that exist.

Full statement

I believe I can offer that focus, support and dedication and that is why I have put myself forward to be a candidate.



I've lived in South West Norfolk my whole life and my family are rooted across the constituency. I'm passionate about our shared community. It is where I call home and it is the reason I first entered politics.



I was born and brought up in Thetford and, once through the local education system, I intended to become a teacher but then became involved in my local community and was elected to Thetford Town Council in 2008 aged 22. I later joined both Breckland Council and Norfolk County Council.



I've served on all three levels of local governments for more than ten years and understand well the many complexities and frustrations that come from our different tiers of Government.



At Breckland I served as the Leader of the Opposition for 10 years, standing down in 2023 to allow time to focus on my new role as Vice Chairman of the Council and Chairman of the Council's Scrutiny Commission -- an important part of the Council's governance structure, holding the executive to account.



Politics for me is about being able to help people, solve problems and bring people together through hard work and co-operation. I would like to think I have built a reputation for getting things done as a local Councillor and I use my skills and experience to benefit the area I serve and the people within it. I have been delighted to be re-elected on multiple occasions, always improving on my previous election result.



Aside from my role as a local Councillor I run my own business -- producing a monthly magazine that is distributed to 13,000 homes locally. I work with more than eighty small businesses every month and understand the challenges they face.



Small and medium enterprises are crucial to both our local economy and our communities -- inflation and the cost of living crisis have made trading difficult for many businesses, as well as our residents.



I am involved in numerous local charitable groups including the Charles Burrell Centre in Thetford where I serve as Chair of the Board of Directors. This is a role I have undertaken since its inception back in 2012. The CBC has progressed from nothing more than a shell, into a thriving community and business centre with an annual turnover of nearly half a million pounds.



We provide crucial services that support residents every single day, tackling poverty and deprivation and improving people's life opportunities. Through this role, I have seen the impact of the Government's austerity agenda with constant cuts to services and local government.