My name is Nigel James, and I am the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for North Devon Reform UK.

Full statement

My background is one of business not politics, some 30 years with BMW dealerships, both senior management in aftersales and 10 years of which as a Dealer Principal.

For a period of eight years, I had several coastal retail businesses.

That experience, especially in Aftersales, developed my skills in ensuring excellent customer satisfaction levels, dealing with customer issues, be it product or service levels. My work background I feel sure will stand me in a good stead, as being an excellent training ground for the position as a member of parliament dealing with constituent issues.

I have been married for 51 years and have a son aged 40 and a daughter aged 39.

My Daughter married a Lithuanian and my son married a Pakistani so I would consider my family to be multicultural.

My wife Denise worked as Nurse bank manager for the NHS.

I live in South Molton where I can be seen as part of the Wombles team doing our bit for the neighbourhood litter picking most weeks.

My interests are mountain hiking as well as posting local routes on South Molton notice board for residents to enjoy. I'm also a member of South Molton Green Bowls Club.

So that a little about myself that I'm very happy to share with you.

NOW, what on earth am I doing here when I could be pruning my roses.

What made me join the Reform Party?

We need to cast our minds back to 2019 when Teresa May faced her second vote of no confidence and that parliament had thwarted her Brexit deal 3 times. It became clear to me that although 52% of the UK population had voted for Brexit just 27% of MPs wanted it, and that parliament was completely out of step with the British Public.

Nigel Farage started a march from Sunderland to London organised by Leave means Leave which arrived in Parliament Square on the 29th March 2019.

I felt so frustrated by the high chance of the betrayal by parliament I decided to join the march and I'm proud to say I was one of the now 3000 strong marchers who were met by over 100,000 supporters in Parliament Square. That was quite a day.

I feel that sense of betrayal again in that Brexit is not being done.

I believe in Free Speech, not woke ideology and cancel culture.

I believe in controlling our own borders. Zero NHS waiting lists. Cheaper Energy and lower taxes.