Hi, my name is Pete Durnell, and I’ve lived in what is now Langley ward, for more than 30 years.

Full statement

The first 20 or so of these, I worked in a variety of IT roles, essentially a “problem fixer”, for the last ten years I’ve been heavily involved with politics,

• decades of useless and self-serving Conservative and Labour administrations, both locally and nationally, have left our country with a huge number of very serious problems which need fixing urgently.

I have witnessed our local towns transformed, from thriving to threadbare, from prosperous to poverty stricken, from being a great place to work and spend leisure time, to “best avoided”

After 55 years of Labour rule, there are unfortunately a lot of problems to fix in Sandwell.

I helped set up Reform UK in the West Midlands five and a half years ago, because I believed then that a new party, with common sense policies and made up of committed, passionate people, who care deeply about the UK,

• was the only hope of turning the fortunes of our local area, and great country around.

I still believe it, and am proud to be still playing my part.

We need politicians driven by common sense, passion, and an unwavering desire to focus on doing what’s best for our country and everyone who lives here.

Not just themselves.

Politicians who are approachable, willing to listen, and if elected, will be fully committed to helping the people they serve.

If I am elected in Langley, where I live, I will hold monthly surgeries and always do everything I can to help those who live in the local area.

Conservatives and Labour have sadly, completely and utterly “broken Britain”, but we can, with your help

• now begin the task of making Sandwell a great place to live and work again.

The opinion polls are clear, only voting Reform will release Sandwell from Labour's disastrous grip on Thursday May 7th,

• so I would be grateful if you would lend me your vote.

Thank you!