I have lived in Doveridge, Ashbourne for six years; before that, in Uttoxeter for 12 years. I’m a 47-year-old mature student at the University of Nottingham, working towards becoming a registered dietitian.

Before returning to university, I worked in social care supporting adults with autism and learning disabilities, and spent a period in elderly care. Throughout my life, I’ve held various jobs, starting at the age of eleven in my family’s business, and have continued to work or study ever since.

My work ethic is a defining feature of my character, influencing my belief that, wherever possible, the government’s role is to ‘help people to help themselves’ – emphasising personal responsibility.

Our society is facing significant challenges – increasingly, children are suffering from diseases typically associated with adulthood, like type 2 diabetes, and the percentage of people classified as disabled is rising. If we don’t reverse these trends, spending on our already overstretched health and social care system will continue to balloon, leading to higher taxes, poor service provision, cuts to services elsewhere, or full privatisation of healthcare.

Between 1999 and 2011, I served as a councillor for a total of nine years on both the unitary council of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle Borough Council, first elected at the age of 21 – twenty-six years ago. I believe our political system is failing us, having seen ‘non-profit’ service provision undermined and replaced with providers prioritising shareholders over taxpayers.

Due to local government re-organisation, elections are likely to occur again in a couple of years. I ask that you try me out, and if I disappoint – which I won’t , you won’t need to wait long to lend your vote to someone else. Thank you for reading, and all the best. Gavin.