Biography

In 2003 I retired after a very varied career starting in the Catering Industry in 1955 as a Commis Chef in Manchester and then working in Germany before undertaking National Service. I spent many years in the Transport Industry employed by GMBuses and was the Chair of GMBuses UNISON Branch, representing 1,600 members, and become the Head of Catering until being made redundant in 1993.

I then went on to set up my own catering company which provided services to many well known companies in the Manchester and Merseyside areas.

I retired in 2003 and felt I was now able to contribute something tangible to the local community and became active in local politics. I was elected as a Labour Councillor in 2007 on Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council.

In October 2008 I defected from the Labour Party after attending the Labour Party Conference in Manchester. I was told how to vote on every motion; all the debates were stage managed with a total lack of democracy.

After the Conference I realised that the only way that an elected member can honestly represent their constituents is to be free from party politics, you are then able to represent the peoples views and not those of a political party.

Main Issues

1. Establish Town and Parish Councils in Leigh for local democracy.

2. Leigh to have its own Metropolitian Borough Council - this is the wish of the vast majority of constituents.

3. To bring Leigh back into the National Railway Network as soon as possible.

4. To oppose Private Finance Initiates which we can't afford and will be a burden on generations to come.

5. To oppose the renewal of the Trident missile system - this money could be better spent elsewhere.

6. To do everything possible to promote transparency and accoutability in central government. MPs are answerable to their constituents and not their political parties.