- Being available across the constituency.
- Provide a voice in Parliament for things of importance to the constituency.
- Work with whoever is in charge to do what's best for the nation - not just a party.
- Scrutinise legislation that is being created for a positive output not just to score points.
- Work with Local councils as their voice in parliament to ensure we address local issues.
- I have lived and worked locally for 25 years.
- I am MD of a local business that provides services worldwide.
- My formal education finished as I graduated with a 2:1 honours degree in Applied Physics.
- My career has covered small startups as well as large corporates like Intel.
- The same career has seen me work around the world including USA, Middle East, Europe and ASIA.
- I have two world firsts associated with my name.
- The world's first .486 server that Paul Whatcott and myself did when I was a senior engineer at Apricot computers.
- The world's first voice assistant campaign platform that my team and I created called Brandigniter
- Check out my career history on LinkedIn
- Ensure our energy security.
- Focus our energy production on solutions that cannot be influenced by outside bodies. i.e. Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Hydro/Micro Hydro and fusion energy.
- Make sure we emphasise consumer-side energy production as well as centralised production.
- Without energy independence, we can be held hostage by third powers or other nations.
- We have more Tidal, Hydro, Wind, Solar and Geothermal energy around, through, over, on and under the UK than we could ever imagine needing.
- Once built, none of the above alt energy can be easily interfered with from outside the UK.
- Most of the energy solutions above are on par or lower cost than say Nuclear Fission reactors.
- Most of the energy solutions above are faster to build than Nuclear Fission reactors.
- Creating independent, green, cheap limitless energy means we can solve many of the issues in the UK today.
- Energy costs are one of the key issues with our cost-of-living crisis.
- Our farmers and food sector can produce more from less space.
- Our heavy industries get a major cost removed making them competitive again.
- It provides energy supplies that allow for Green Hydrogen production in large quantities. This in turn can decarbonise transport and heating of homes without trying to move everything to electric and batteries.
- Cleaner AIR and comfortable heating and cooling in homes will lead to much better health outcomes.
- I believe that we need community-led homes, for those that need them, where we need them.
- By enabling councils to build homes again.
- By tackling land value reform.
- By fixing the major issues associated with senior living developments i.e. the leasehold and maintenance traps set by developers.
Our constituency is a great place to live, but that doesn’t mean we can’t strive for it to be even better. I want to work with business and the community to build for the future. We can do this by
- Moving to community-led building
- Working in Parliament to change the narrative towards what communities need not what developers want..
- Securing our local energy where we can
- Although much of the needed effort is in parliament, we do have the opportunity locally as micro hydro, solar and ground wind solutions open new options for us.
- Supporting schools, further education and skills development
- Striving for a fair start and quality education for all.
- Supporting the rural economy
- Working with residents to determine what your village needs in order to keep schools, shops, pubs and local businesses open, making plans accordingly in collaboration with residents.
- Supporting communities in developing their own Neighbourhood Development Plans.
- Supporting local farmers to get produce into local markets.
- Lobby in parliament to ensure that our farmers are not undercut by imported food that is not produced to the same high environmental and animal welfare standards.
- Because it’s a new constituency comprising 30% of voters from 3 Reading West wards and 70% of Voters from 12 more rural West Berkshire wards.
- Because there is no clear majority for any political and a lot of dissatisfaction with existing party politics, leaving space for a "None of the above" vote.
- Because when I ran a survey people said they wanted someone like me as their first preference. i.e. an independent local person with a career first before politics.
- I recently went to the Tom Hanks Moonwalkers show at the Lightroom near St Pancras. (Wow by the way). In it was a snippet of the speech by John F. Kennedy. The one where he says “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organise and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept”. So, my answer is simple. I bother because if someone does not then nothing changes. I would like to be the candidate that makes change happen.
- My first jobs were shovelling peas off lorries, bar work and piece work. I know what it took to get out of poverty and so can empathise with people struggling for a fair deal.
- During my time as a Councillor, I've demonstrated how we can do positive things for the environment which also saves money. I use STEAM (Saving Money And The Environment) or SMATE (Saving Money And The Environment) as acronyms often because there are still many things we can do which have all the benefits without the negatives. Choosing cheaper alt energy solutions is the obvious example)
- Whilst I often agree with the Greens on what needs to be tackled, I found the solutions are often too extreme to get adopted. I am more a carrot-before-the-stick type of person.
- In the current world climate, the commitment of the Greens to just get rid of Nuclear is not something I can support. Ukraine giving up theirs (even when the West said ” Don't worry, we will take care of you”) just shows how states like Russia then feel free to threaten and invade.
- I am the only candidate currently engaging with parish and town councils to ensure the next MP delivers what local residents need in areas an MP can influence.
- By running as an independent I can fight directly for the constituency and what it needs rather than being tied to only what the party wants.
- As things stand, I believe it would be better to find ways to work much closer with the EU (something the Lib Dems are frightened of saying for some reason).
- During the Lib Dem PPC selection process, members selected me. Only when a spurious reason was created was I excluded and Helen announced instead. The English party chair failed to investigate, as did Lib Dem HQ. Therefore I stand in part to be able to represent those Lib Dems who voted for me.
- I better represent true Lib Dem values than the official candidate and happen to be local - which is why people voted for me in the first place.
- It is tough to reward and trust the current version of the Conservative party given its significant mistakes and instability.
- FUD - Using Fear Uncertainty and Doubt as the bedrock of why the Conservatives should be re-elected is just reusing old key on new locks - We all know that does not work.
- I can ensure your vote is not wasted, and should I win, you can see from my background, that I can help steer the constituency and nation to a better future. I believe I am a safe pair of hands.
Yes - Although I initially intended to run as an independent candidate when I decided to become a District Councillor in January 2019, a friend who had been a councillor before, explained how difficult it is for an unknown candidate to reach enough people and win the election. My ward has around 7,000 residents. Since I am a centrist in my beliefs and a fair few Parish councillors I knew were Lib Dems, I was encouraged to join them. I read their constitution and looked at what they wanted to do as a group. It seemed that as it was local and I was 95% aligned with their stated aims, it made sense to join the party. I did and was first elected in May 2019
The primary aims of becoming a district councillor were
- To do something about the football fiasco at Faraday Road in Newbury
- To ensure some due diligence was done on the massive development being proposed for Sandleford.
- To get involved in environmental issues across the district (I became the opposition environment spokesperson at the council). In May 2023 as the Lib Dems took control of West Berks council I became the executive portfolio holder.
- To become a member of the planning committee and ensure some proper due diligence was being carried out. I first became a member of WAP in 2019 and chairman of WAP in May 2023. I was forced out of that role by the Lib Dems once I resigned from the party in November 2023.
Having achieved my objectives at West Berkshire Council, but also because I was becoming ever more upset with what was happening in Westminster. I put my name forward to run as a Lib Dem for Parliament at the next general election. I took part in the selection process in August 2023. The Lib Dem members of Reading West and Mid Berkshire selected me as their candidate. Despite winning Lib Dem HQ found a way to have my name excluded and instead claimed Helen Belcher was the winner. I went to appeal and tried to have Lib Dem HQ look at the invalid reasons used to exclude me (the reason given was that I used endorsements, I did not, I used references like you do when applying for any job). That left me no choice but to resign as a Lib Dem given it had become clear that some senior people at HQ were not willing to follow their own rules.
I’m still deeply concerned about the current political situation in Westminster. I always believed that we need more local, non-career politicians who are committed to representing cummunity values. After discussing this with friends, family, and people in the constituency, I’ve decided to run as an independent candidate. I have the time and energy to offer my services and I’m excited to make a positive impact in our community.
At the moment no. When I look at the current political landscape, I find that most parties either have policies that are a red line for me, such as giving up our nuclear deterrent without a viable replacement, or their policies and aims are so extreme that they end up producing an unfair society. Additionally, the process by which selection is done means that very rarely do we get people to represent us who are not compromised in some way by the party they represent.
As an MP I could assist local businesses in a variety of ways. I can make private enquiries on behalf of my constituents, raise matters publicly in the House of Commons, speak at events concerning the issue, pledge my support to a campaign or write to the local media on behalf of these constituents.
MPs are not islands and tend to have a constituency office with staff. This can provide advice on business-related matters and even help point business towards government grants.
I’ve often found, in my own work life, that networking solutions together can pay dividends. Therefore, as businesses across the Constituency and nearby get to know me, I’ll be able to connect them together where it makes sense.
As an MP I cannot be financially involved directly though.
Since being established on July 5, 1948, the NHS has undergone several changes to adapt to the changing needs of the population.
It is suggested, and I agree, that having doctors and nurses in charge of designing the change process would be a good thing.
The NHS is already making use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies to help clinicians interpret scans and improve healthcare outcomes. The NHS AI Lab is working in partnership with several government and NHS partners to create an environment for collaboration and co-creation by bringing together programmes that address the barriers to developing and deploying AI systems in health care. Once done, I see this adding positively to the answers we need to the challenges faced by the NHS today.
No one should be enslaved by Poverty, Ignorance or Conformity. i.e. there should be equal opportunity for all without barriers because of wealth, race etc. But once the barriers are removed, then we need the best person to do the best job possible. I came from what many consider a poor background. The grant system allowed me to get the education I needed. I want to fight to fix those issues as a priority whilst ensuring barriers do not exist.
I would be a champion and deliver two things that would benefit our constituency.
- I would be lobbying to have a greater range of services available at the relatively new community hospital that was built on the border of Newbury and Thatcham.
- I would also be a big supporter of building a new hospital to replace the ageing Royal Berkshire one. Looking at its capture area, I would also be suggesting a move out of central Reading but close to one of the M4 junctions to improve the speed of access Junctions 11/12 and 13 being the obvious choices.
Before we look at the above, we need to keep a couple of things in mind. 1 The birth rate in the UK. 2 How the UK is setup in terms of the number of people it needs to remain in what we think of as a prosperous nation. The reality is that the UK birth rate is falling, and a work force is needed to pay for everything that makes us prosperous.
With that said, what gets little to no coverage is emigration from the UK. The latest ONS numbers, June 2023, say 93000 British citizens left the UK. An AXA PPP International report says the main drivers behind British emigration was Poor work / life balance and poor pay and benefits.
First that’s around 3 times the number of people that arrive by small boats according to a Dec 15th Article on the BBC website. In the same story 89000 sought Asylum in the UK in 2022 (Still less).
What’s not said, and what’s hard to find is the socio-economic breakdown in those numbers.
Let’s face it, if we are losing the mid to high earners and only replace with low earners then it’s not a matter of just measuring in and out, it’s a matter of value (or tax revenue if you like). For example. If I lose a Dr. whose average pay is £76K (net £54K) and replace with someone working in retail where the average salary is £23.3K (net 20K) then I’m at least 3 times worse off as the government. But it’s even worse than that, because a single parent earing £23.3K with 2 school age kids living in Berkshire would be entitled to £329.44 per week of benefits, according to money saving experts web site. That’s another £17130 per annum we need to find. FYI the Dr. gets just child benefits at 39.90 per week or 2074.80 per annum.
The extra cost of the 3.3 people on benefits compared to the 1 Dr. is £56.5K. That’s over twice the tax revenue from the Dr.
A GMC report said that 4843 Drs left the UK in the year May 2021 to 2022
Given the above. I’m going to say the emigration
part of net migration is something we need to focus on as a high priority. i.e.
retain our talent.
It is impossible to have missed the evolving situation in the USA, with a real possibility that Donald Trump might get re-elected. However, even without that, we hear about President Joe Biden’s thoughts on the UK and Ireland. He’s not that positive about us apparently. Or at least that’s what gets reported.
So, I do find myself asking “Would the USA really come to our aid? Would they stay involved long enough to make the difference? Can we take the risk?” Whereas 20 years ago I would never have doubted, today I’m less sure.
Add to this what we see reported from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran means we face the real possibility of our way of life being changed significantly by direct aggression, or by weaponizing capitalism (which the Chinese state has done very successfully). FYI. I try and stay in touch by watching a range of news channels from the BBC through ITV, GB News, Al Jazeera and Sky. Just so I can get different perspectives on things.
The conflation of all this news is that we live in ever more dangerous times. It's why one of the things I’m keen to see is the UK get to energy independence. I.e. Energy security. I have written previously about ways we can do this in an environmentally positive way, but once we have abundant cheap energy security, we can make positive moves to improve food security, we also get positive outcomes for health and industry and importantly cost of living.
But even if we manage to reverse the trends and make the UK independent in the basics of life, we still won’t be secure given the growing aggression in the world.
That's why I support a strong military, not for global dominance, but to safeguard our interests and respond effectively when necessary. Collaborating with neighbouring countries, who share cultural similarities to form a robust alliance—whether within or outside NATO— can deter potential aggressors.
It’s one of the main reasons why staying close to our European neighbours is a good thing. We need to get passed painting the EU as the devil. It’s a long way from perfect but our cultures are closer than many seem to realise.
As a potential independent MP, I would consider evidence and vote in the best interests of the nation, recognizing that decisions in this area span multiple decades and should be independent of party politics.
My position is quite straightforward really.
- My main concern is to split out genuine asylum seekers and economic migrants
- Economic migrants need to arrive by safe legal routes. They should apply before they set off on the journey to the UK. They need to be filling a role that cannot be filled by someone already living here.
- Economic migration needs to be ruled based.
- I am just as concerned about emigration.
Are we losing skilled people and replacing them with non-skilled? I did a letter to the press on this - see here
https://adrianabbs.uk/Contents/ContentItems/48gx8qefbem1ptvxz620rzaawh
For me, it starts further back and comes down to the economy we are building. Build the right type of economy and emigration of skilled labour falls
It's a tough nut to crack but the speed of processing applications is one key. Being willing to say "no thanks, we don't need your specific skill set" must be something we can do as a nation.
When I moved back from working in Germany my home was at RG30 3UN which is in the East of the constituency. Both my children went to school in Reading.
I currently live on the border of Newbury / Thatcham. The boundary for the new constituency runs all the way to Thatcham. So, I am very close.
The constituency is made up from Rural (West) and Urban (East). As I have lived at both ends, I believe I will bring an understanding to what is needed locally for the Constituency. I also run a business (In Newbury) that employs people who live in places like Aldermaston.
Before standing I contacted several of the current District councillors to see if they would be running. None were who represented a centralist and internationalist perspective. That meant no candidate close to my own principles was standing.
Now that all the main candidates have announced, it seems to remain clear that I can offer a viable alternative to party politics and am someone who has a strong connection to the constituency.
Some of the work I have done as a District Councillor is based in Mid Berkshire (Things like the Grazely solar farm and energy generation at Padworth recycling centre). I also met with people in Beenham when they had a particularly contentious planning app – In an advisor role.
David Tully from Rochdale showed that an Independent can do very well in an election for Parliament. He got 21% of the vote. He was just a local businessman who wanted to do something for his community. Same as me.
Given the Conservative vote is mainly in Mid Berkshire historically and the Labour Vote is strongest in Reading West, we already have a split. Now add in that the Conservative vote splits again because of Reform. The Labour Vote also splits because Tilehurst has historically voted Lib Dem (at least during council elections). This means we have no party with more than ¼ of the votes. Turn outs at General elections are averaging 65%. So around 16 to 17% each
An independent has a chance because. 1) the 35% of people who don’t normally vote now have a viable choice. 2) Many softer Conservative voters are so angry with their own party they are actively considering voting for change or staying at home. They don’t really want to vote Labour and the Lib Dems just don’t have enough people to do the whole area. They have only around 140 members and far less activists (maybe 5-10) across the area I believe. 3) Although the Green candidate is someone I respect, the Green vote is just not a tactical vote this time around in this location.
If we believe in democracy, then we need a solution when electing MPs that represents what voters believe in. 1st past the post has led to some very odd election results with huge majorities that do not reflect the majority. Its very hard indeed to find any example of a single party commanding more than 50% of the publics vote.
Now add in stability. Having been running my own business’s for over 20 years I can say the number 1 thing that benefits growth is stability. Be that inflation or the rules under which business must run.
So, I have come to believe we should adopt a form of PR that still
ensures I can elect a person, rather than a party, but then also reflects what
voters want. It does mean we will get representatives from the extremes, but we
should also get better cooperation and stability.
Here are some of my beliefs
- I do not believe in the extremes of politics, be that ultra-right or left. If I had to use a single word it would be to say I am a "centrist". That means I can support some of what socialism stands for as well as capitalism.
- I believe in people being given an opportunity, but that it is also incumbent on those that can, to give back.
- I do not believe in barriers for people, but also that once a barrier is removed, it should be the best person for the role.
- I bridge the political divide because I have direct experience of being poor as well as what it takes to create jobs and run a business.
- Do take a look at this youtube video which shows a vision for solving some of the bigger problems we face. https://youtu.be/bHyjvxP4KZ8
I do not hold any strong opinion on this bill other than to acknowledge the costs of supporting people's choices. If we have a known product that directly hurts people's health then encouraging them to change the habit would be my go to start position. Taxing those products to ensure the necessary health support later on has to happen otherwise a persons choice falls on other shoulders.
This goes to my belief that people should be able to choose. My only concern is ensuring it really is their choice.
I do not have access to enough information to know if this is even affordable. So sorry I am unable to answer this question at this time.
I do not believe in the breakup of the UK. So devolving power to allow each part to decide if they wanted to join the EU (or even could) is not something I see as helpful at this time.
The concept of devolved power, in theory, allows a more specific focus by those elected to these parliaments.
The problem is that it costs quite a lot. As the world shrinks, the differences economically also shrinks.
I struggle to see how splitting tax, health etc into smaller parts makes for greater efficiency.
My mind is open but as a businessman, I would want to see the business case and advantages economically of doing it.
This set of FAQs is from people who are politically aligned (i.e they have asked me a questions but are known to be a member of a political party)
My intention would be to remain as MP for a maximum of 3 terms. I have no intention of becoming a career MP |
Each
ward that makes up the new constituency has its own “biggest issue”. I would
want the campaign messages to reflect both local and national issues. I would
produce messages for each ward by working with residents and Cllrs. My literature would have a clear message saying “Visit our FAQ to see what your
Independent MP will do for your ward”
Integrity for me is saying what you mean and doing what you say. It also means being willing to change your mind should new data leads you that way. It's not about dogma but it is about truth.
A
woman’s perception of the issue is what guides my view. Given the numbers are
very small, it must be possible to offer women a space that fits their needs
during their most vulnerable time. The same is true of transgender women.
Lib
Dems are known for their support of minorities. Whilst I 100% agree with that,
they too often find themselves trapped into talking on these issues only. They let
the media control their narrative. I want to focus more on
the issues of the majority like the NHS, Education, Energy etc.
Yes,
the way it was done, and the growing effect means Brexit is a disaster. From
increased red tape, lack of job flexibility, security concerns and huge chunks
of industry starting to move into Europe are just some of the obvious effects.
I therefore support finding a path to return to better relations with the EU.
Having
people in charge that understand the whole patient journey is essential to
solving the problem. Drs and Nurses are best placed to do that. I would have
management reflect this. I would also properly fund adult social care to ensure
Councils can receive patients back into the community. Design the journey, Fix
the bottlenecks, fund it properly and solve the problem.
Riparian
wrights provide protection under the law for waterways from pollution. Sewage
treatment companies have licences that override this. I would first work in
Parliament to remove all such exceptions. There are new technology solutions
that essentially eliminate the need to dump in our rivers, So, helping Thames
water down this path would be my first move.
It really made me laugh when asked. My answer is, “As fish and chips”. It is a
traditional British dish that most people like, is good value and is present in
most communities. That sums me up well
This set of FAQs are a response to questions asked when speaking with Parish Councillors during their regular meetings or with residents who attended their meetings.
Yes - As a way of improving participation and efficiency it's the obvious thing to do. I believe allowing Hybrid meetings is the first step as there are still things that need a physical signature. It makes it much more possible for Cllrs (who are volunteers) from all walks of life to take part.
It needs a fix. The obvious answer is to require a builder to begin work once they have detailed planning permission within say 12 months, or maybe 24 months in exceptional circumstances. If they can't or won't, then the local authority could step in and take over the development. If they can't, then it goes to a rapid bid process (max 6 months) and in turn if there are no bids then the planning permission is removed.
There is much more than can be done around building which focuses on having suitable developments brought forward when a council sets land aside in their local plan. Given this process is developer-led at the moment then some form of outlined planning permission must be gained within a decade of the land being allocated.
I would not be by myself. As with other MPs there is a constituency office with staff. This would be made up of paid staff from allowances as well as interns looking to understand how legislation is created and how MPs work.
I’ve come to believe that what the country needs more than anything is long-term vision and stability. These are things that come about when the rules stay the same for a long period of time and when parliament is focused on multi-term outcomes, not just the next election. The hundreds of years by which we’ve had first passed the post seem to have proven that the one thing that’s not delivered is stability. Therefore, I have come to believe in PR as the way forward to solving the U K’s fundamental problems.
Yes, I believe there is a whole rack of laws that could do with some reform. It would be about making existing legislation fit for the current century.
Freedom of speech is an obvious example, being responsible for what you say is not enshrined when we look at social media. So I would want to help modernise and reform the existing laws of the land rather than creating even more. One-in-one-out should be the minimum to aim for.
I often use the terms steam or SMATE. Steam stands for “save the environment and money”, whilst SMATE stands for “saving money and the environment”. Either way there is the reality that money is involved.
I also believe that we must focus on influencing outside of the UK to have any real effect. It's why I introduced a label concept that would allow the UK to set a standard by which anything sold here clearly displays its environmental impact. This label was about giving people the choice and encouraging producers to change through buyer’s pressure.
I stand for practicable change "at pace" that tackles what we can do rather than what we can’t. I do believe in areas such as green energy that we can produce solutions that could then be sold worldwide. An Industrial Revolution version 2 if you will.
I see ways we can individually make a difference but through standards that we can influence others.
Many grants that a Parish council might access have two main issues. There is not enough time to create a bid by the Parish to access the grant. The grant must be spent too quickly to allow for the best value to be obtained. As MP I will be happy to try and help address this situation and so ensure the Parish can get access to the grants but also to ensure the nation gets the best value from it. This is about our civil servant's unstanding of the timeframes associated with the conditions they apply to grants applied for by District councils.
This is similar to the question posed by East Isley which was about Hybrid meetings. The removal of laws stopping hybrid meetings would directly aid and support diversity and accessibility at the parish level. I would be very keen to have this change made by parliment.
Probably the number one complaint when there is any kind of significant housing built is infrastructure. It’s never enough and it’s not quick enough. Although it is a tough area to deal with some fundamental changes could be made.
First, moving infrastructure delivery to the early part of the development rather than waiting until the end. How that is funded needs resolving but impacting existing infrastructure for years before the new is delivered is not acceptable.
Second, Ensuring that the NPPF reflects local infrastructure needs so that an existing local plan or neighbourhood plan carries equal weight and so ensures community-led development becomes practical.
Third, Where large developments are proposed (Say > 250 homes). The associated impact on GP surgeries, schools, roads, sewage, drainage etc are not allowed to be compromised. Communities need teath in the process to ensure the community remains intact.
Three things I will fight for.
- Remove the water company's exceptions to Riprion weights
- Ensure they invest and move towards new technologies that increase capacity using less energy and remove PFAS from the treated water.
- Look at a major program to match the current population to our water and sewage networks. We still rely in large areas on Victorian infrastructure designed for a population of less than half what it is today. This will be my 2nd priority after showing ways to fix our energy security with local, clean cheap energy.
This is where local community input via Parish Councils can have a real effect.
Giving sufficient weight to the local community in planning terms means blanket bans on needed infrastructure could be better weighed against local needs.
Understanding what is needed in our villages to keep them vibrant can then be more easily balanced against the preservation of our AONB.
I have already committed to holding regular surgeries around the constituency. I believe that this is what an MP must do to represent the whole constituency.
One of the advantages of not being a member of a party is all the time it saves. That will instead be spent talking to local councillors who can keep the local issues at the forefront of the MPs mind.
Based on a belief in democracy i.e. that if the majority wants something then unless there is a legal reason why it can't be done it should.
I absolutely believe that local people know what is best for their village etc. So if the majority of that location are saying we have a problem can you support us? Essentially I would. However, speed limits are a devolved power to district councils so it would be a matter of writing a letter of support to the relevant council.
I should be clear that all these types of decisions should be based on a majority wanting it and the data supporting the identified issue.
The MP can support residents when they have identified issues where in this case West Berkshire Council highways officer say there should be signage. The MP can write letters and look to ensure correct funding is in place for councils to carry out this work.
When it rains it shows us all the issues, we face with existing infrastructure that has become overloaded from when it was designed and built. It also brings into perspective how important infrastructure is when planning of any type is being considered. It is something I would be keen to lobby on in Parliament because this is where it needs to be resolved. The costly but needed investment has to come from a central resource.
We can do something about sewage as I've outlined here. However, with the predicted growth of the UK population, ensuring planning has teeth to ensure infrastructure is delivered with housing is a must.
For me, it’s not just a matter of providing what we think we need for a specific development, but rather how we deliver that plus a sizable extra margin to take account of future needs. If we did more future proofing then the roads won’t need to be dug up so often.
I’ve been a resident of this Berkshire area for more than 25 years. My journey began in Pingewood, Reading, within the RG30 postcode, after returning from my work in Germany. Over time, I’ve moved through Thatcham, and now I reside on the border between Newbury and Thatcham (RG14). As someone deeply connected to this locality, having both lived here and built my businesses, I have a keen understanding of the diverse elements that constitute the currently divided urban and rural constituency.
One of the great things about being an Independent MP is being there for constituents as a first priority. Too often MPs shy away from planning or other issues because of the party they belong to. Whether it is as obvious as donations from builders to campaigns or more subtle donations that influence the priorities of parties. It is really bad when the party is the ruling party.
I want to bring my 5 years of district planning experience to my role as MP with a focus on community-led development.
The second part of being a good constituency MP will be having surgeries in the community, not asking the community to just one location. This an a strong belief that the MP should be talking to the Parish, Town and district councillors should ensure when something local of importance comes up it gets noticed and addressed.
This one is straightforward. The beauty of being independent is that you can choose to support matters of concern to the constituency. If we have a hung parliament (a possible outcome from the next general election) then those who don't have a party motive can work with whoever is working in the best interests of his constituency or the nation.
This is an opportunity to break away from the politics we wee in Westminster and bring some business acumen to politics.
The parish council expressed there concern on this subject. I was left with the impression that MPs should ensure relevant planning can be enforced where the DEPZ is relevant. It seems far to often that planning goes ahead where it should not.
The parish council expressed their concern on this subject. It has similarities to other areas such as Membury where industrial is built in the countryside and all the associated commercial traffic that is associated with it. This comes down to having relevant local planning that fits the needs of the landscape. Community-led development with teeth supplied to local planners would go a long way to resolving or mitigating some of the extremes.
The parish council was clear about issues with the relationship with West Berkshire Council (WBC). Somthing and MP could lobby for if they were focused on local issues.
I would want to use the experience built over the past 4-5 years of being on Western Area Planning for West Berkshire Council, as well as a short period as Chairman to bring the weight of an MP to local planning issues. To often for me they shy away from commenting.
I would be different because of this and the fact that I have seen first-hand what poor planning can do to a community.
Simply yes. This is why I am putting the answers given at various meetings in writing so everything is clear and recorded.
Not every answer will be popular but it will be based on the principles of openness, fairness and transparency.
I was asked the question "If you had not been replaced as the Lib Dem candidate, would you have been standing in front of us tonight as a Lib Dem?" during the meeting.
My answer is most likely. I became a Lib Dem originally because they were the closest fit to my own beliefs as a centralist. FYI I do not like the extremes of politics and at a local level being a Lib Dem delivers councillors who work hard in and for their communities.
The reason I say "most likely" is that lately, some Lib Dem policy is becoming more extreme. That's the 5 to10% that did not align with my own beliefs.
Now, as an Independent, party politics has been brought into focus. Something that our new constituency does not need. So I am actually relieved to have returned to being an Independent . This should allow me to put the constituency above anything else. Here you can see the 7 things that being independent can do for the constituency.
Unfortunately, West Ilsley Parish Council responded to my note about this survey with the following, I have followed up with them reconfirming that this is information to be collated for whoever is the next MP me or anyone else.
"Dear Adrian,
West Ilsley Parish Council asks that you not attend the meeting on 20th February because it does not feel it is appropriate for a parish council meeting.
Kind regards,"
This was received from their clerk to the council whose details are available if needed on their website..
After sending a request to all councillors who represent the Norcot ward I received 1 reply from Cllr Jo Lovelock - See below
"Hello Adrian
I have already given my support to Liv Bailey who is both local and was an excellent candidate in 2017.
Best wishes
Jo Lovelock"
I did follow up with her explaining this was to go to whoever wins the next election, but I think this unfortunately shows party politics in action. Not good for the new constituency.
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