I currently run a gardening business, which I could easily expand and create more jobs if it wasn’t for the ridiculously low VAT threshold. My wife is studying to be a solicitor, and our family contains a landlady, farmers and a number of other self-employed blue collar workers. Before this, and the lockdowns, I had a recruitment and management consultancy business for several years, helping businesses systemise and streamline processes and costs.
I have worked all over the world primarily in technology led businesses, spending several years implementing cost saving systems into major retailers such as Carrefour, Harvey Norman and Tesco both on the shop floor and at board level. In the 35 years since I left school I have worked at middle management and senior level in hospitality, retail and sales and marketing positions, with a stint developing and implementing an HR system and matching policies for a multi-billion pound retail operation. Whilst doing this I studied for 6 years part-time with the Open University gaining a 2.1 in BA History in July 2021. Aside all of that, I've played guitar and sang both solo and in pub and wedding bands for the whole time and still do the odd gig supporting my good friend in a tribute act to a well known British blues hero.
I’m on the local village hall committee for what that’s worth, and this week I’ve been to meet the Haltwhistle Chamber of Trade, set a bunch of mole traps, power washed 2 driveways and pruned over 15 fruit trees; not to mention designing and sending to print our campaign literature, new business cards, refining my website and keeping and active presence on social media – oh, and added a new section to my website just to answer this query!
I began the gardening business as I’d had enough of trying to manage staff in an increasingly woke environment where every challenging conversation was immediately followed with a complaint to HR. I am only standing for Reform as no other political party has sounded like me and the people I know, since before I can remember, and Reform is now saying what the silent majority have been afraid to say for just as long. Haltwhistle doesn’t get an equal deal in the County Council, it’s the furthest ward from the population centres in the south-east of the county and too easily forgotten. I’m not going to secure our borders from County Hall, but I am going to be free to push the Reform policies and push back against the wasteful agenda and Blyth/Cramlington/Morpeth led spending.
I hope that’s not too overqualified for talking about Gail’s dog poo.
You will soon find out Adam with respect that dog poo comes up a lot at council, or poo bins, lighting, benches, policing issues, grass cutting . Thankfully I do not own a dog but plenty allow their animals to defecate outside my home and not always clear it up. Nor do I care about how qualified or not a councillor is. I do care about what they can do within the limitation of NCC and trust me many have tried regardless of the political persuasions. I may not agree with Reform Policies but I wish you luck anyway
You will soon find out Adam with respect that dog poo comes up a lot at council, or poo bins, lighting, benches, policing issues, grass cutting . Thankfully I do not own a dog but plenty allow their animals to defecate outside my home and not always clear it up. Nor do I care about how qualified or not a councillor is. I do care about what they can do within the limitation of NCC and trust me many have tried regardless of the political persuasions. I may not agree with Reform Policies but I wish you luck anyway