I'm a long-term Great Linford resident and have lived here in some capacity for nearly 28 years.

Full statement

I moved to Milton Keynes when I was 3 years-old and have grown up with the city as it has grown and evolved too over the subsequent 34 years I have lived here.

I first got involved in local politics at young age when I was 15 and have represented Milton Keynes before as its Member of Youth Parliament in 2007, later on I was a students' union officer and in 2025 became a parish councillor on Great Linford Parish Council, representing its Great Linford ward. I have volunteered for many local charities and organisations over the years. Currently I am a trustee of a local arts charity that serves communities Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire.

Most of my professional background was working in the arts/entertainment sector until I unexpectedly had to become an unpaid carer for several years. During this time retrained as a bookkeeper and now own my own small business based here in Great Linford and hope to expand and employ local staff in the future. I recently also began some additional studies in local government finance that I hope to make use of in public service in future both on the parish council and if elected, as a ward councillor.

I'm standing as an independent because personally I feel local politics is more important than national politics and far more visible results can actually be achieved at this level and at the moment I don't really feel like I agree with what any of the major parties are offering locally. The main issues I'm standing on are:

• Restoring and upgrading our redways. Great Linford ward has some of the oldest and most poorly maintained sections of redway in Milton Keynes. I want to change this and want to see them restored and improved.

• Fixing our streetlights. The ward suffers from streetlight failures and aged/degraded cables in multiple places that is making it unsafe at night. While some work has been done I will fight to get this sped up and made a higher priority because some sections have been faulty for up to six years now.

• Dealing with anti-social driving and illegal street racing. Despite TVP operations against car cruising in CMK there has been a long-running issue with street racing and anti-social driving on the H3 from Linford Wood to Newport Pagnell that has bothered residents for years, especially on Sundays. I will fight to see measures brought in to tackle and finally end this nuisance.

• Opposing the BLMK Combined Mayoral Authority plans. If it goes ahead this will be the biggest reorganisation of local government in Milton Keynes in more than 20 years. This is very much a Labour-led project that could devolve both accountability and decision making over key services and planning project away from Milton Keynes residents. None of the opposition parties are either bringing enough attention to this or giving clear positions on opposing it.

• Backing the 2029 City of Culture bid. I strongly support the bid as it would not only boost the profile of local arts groups and charities but could bring in tens of millions to the local economy through tourism and increased footfall in existing venues. While the Labour administration has backed and led the bid, other parties have expressed scepticism and I would support any incoming administration that backs it.

• Plant trees. Milton Keynes is a city of over 22 million trees and Great Linford ward has some of the best green and blue spaces in Milton Keynes. Tree planting is one of the most effective and cost effective ways to provide a better local environment and improve air quality. But 22 million is not enough, if elected I would use my ward-based project budget to plant even more trees in this ward.

• While as an independent I will not be in any position to run the council, if elected I would back or provide supporting votes to any incoming administration that priorities local economic growth, that puts small and medium business first, that priorities building and upgrading local redway and public transport infrastructure, that supports and invests in the arts and local cultural venues and groups.