With a MA in history from the University of Cambridge, I spent a 40 career in the shipping industry and almost as many as a resident of the Croydon area.

Full statement

Working in the City on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, I worked extensively overseas in Tokyo for over 3 years, in Singapore as CEO for over 3 years and in Dubai as a COO for over 5 years all as bases to do business around the world. Advising large multinational companies on global shipping strategy, I have been involved in thousands of deals.

I have seen how countries in Asia have overtaken Europe and Britain by having sensible policies run by professionals and how the opposite has happened in Britain. I will bring commercial rigour into local government so taxpayer money is not wasted and more can be retained by voters/taxpayers – the way more prosperous societies are created.

I have also authored books on how shipping works and after retirement a wrote a three volume history of maritime trade, the last of which The Ascent of Maritime Trade 1700-2025 (due out in April 2026) includes a chapter analysing the decline of maritime Britain and hence Britain itself – described by a peer reviewer as ‘an essential text for today’. For more on my books and social media output please go to maritimetradehistory.com.