Joe’s grandad was a First War veteran and was then active in the railways union.

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His grandma worked in a laundry. Her mum and dad, died in the workhouse in Bristol, but thanks to successive Labour governments, I was the lucky one, Joe says.

Joe grew up in Mid-Sussex. He joined the RAF, serving on Ascension Island during the Falklands conflict and in Iraq. His RAF career spanned 23 years including roles in logistics, air transport and environmental strategy. He lives in Glastonbury and is a Councillor on St. Cuthbert Out Parish Council.

In his ‘second career’ Joe is a shepherd and environmental trainer. His Wiltshire Horn sheep grazed Glastonbury Tor and he now breeds Portland Sheep. Since 2008 he has also been delivering a wide range of environmental training courses. Joe became politically active in 2019 after his wife told him to stop shouting at the telly and do something about it. His search for ‘a political home’ took him to the Co-operative Party, sister party to Labour. As a member of both parties, in an electoral alliance, Joe holds several roles. His favourite being Convenor of the West Country Labour and Co-operative Farming, Fisheries and Food group.

His style of campaigning is very much ‘boots on the ground’. A very co-operative campaign, built on a very co-operative vision for the countryside.

Joe stands for sovereignty over food and farming, fair trade, and a right to healthy affordable food.

He will safeguard standards in public life, restoring honesty and integrity.

And he wants to achieve a co-operative green economy, in which wealth and power are shared fairly.