Born and bred into a farming family in the Midlands, I have felt, as many have felt, a growing sense of political homelessness.

Full statement

My political journey has been an interesting one. Always interested in politics, I joined the Labour Party at the age of 18, before leaving after becoming increasingly disillusioned with the left, in the mid 1990’s.

During my 20s, when the UK still had a manufacturing base, I worked as a machine operator for a major engineering company. These years, working alongside many of the finest people I’ve ever met, taught me never to confuse intelligence with education.

At the age of 29, I became a carer for my father, who suffered a devastating stroke, which saw him spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. This experience showed me how society fails the army of people, who put others ahead of themselves.

After becoming a mature student and gaining a politics degree, I have worked as a secondary school teacher for the last 16 years, including nearly a decade at a Solihull comprehensive school.

I am happily married to a beautiful South African lady and have four wonderful children, including three under the age of ten.