Ed Deedigan proudly announces his independent candidacy for the Chippenham Constituency, bringing a commitment to unbiased representation and community-focused governance.

Full statement

Known for his unwavering dedication to social justice and equality, Deedigan aims to champion the rights of underrepresented groups and foster a fairer society for all.

Ed Deedigan’s roots in Chippenham are deep, beginning with his education at Sheldon School and Chippenham Technical College in the early 1980s. He later attended Drama College in London, residing there for a decade before returning in 1997 with his wife to raise their two children in Chippenham’s supportive community. Upon his return, Deedigan founded Kandu Arts for Sustainable Development, an organisation dedicated to supporting individuals and communities from challenging and underprivileged environments in developing healthier and sustainable life opportunities. His extensive experience includes advising the government on issues related to children in care and promoting social and cultural community cohesion on a national level. Additionally, Deedigan has collaborated with town and county councils and major industries such as petrochemical, PVC, and paper to promote environmentally sustainable production methods and enhance corporate social responsibility.

As a candidate for the Chippenham Constituency, Deedigan aims to leverage his unique perspective and advocacy skills to address critical issues affecting the community. Central to his manifesto is the eradication of child poverty, driven by poor housing conditions, insecure work, low pay, and an inadequate welfare system. Deedigan’s policies focus on reducing food waste by introducing laws requiring supermarkets to donate unused food to housing shelters and community kitchens. He also advocates for supporting the UK farming industry, promoting a safe, secure, and seasonal food supply that benefits sustainability and environmental goals. This includes incentivised county farming apprenticeships for young people, fostering education on farming practices and local food production for schools, community initiatives, and care homes.

Deedigan emphasises the paramount importance of education and child welfare, advocating for a fixed percentage of the GDP budget to be allocated to education and healthcare annually, surpassing defence expenditures. He supports abolishing the charity status of private schools and opposes politicians sending their children to private schools or using private healthcare services.

On tax reform, Deedigan proposes restructuring tax brackets and conducting a thorough review of tax laws. He advocates for a reduced tax rate of 5% for essential workers, including doctors, nurses, shopkeepers, sewage workers, armed services, educators, and NHS staff. To offset this reduction, he plans to close loopholes for offshore accounts, increase taxes on the ultra-wealthy, and impose levies on alcohol, tobacco, and gambling companies.

If elected, Deedigan will prioritise the development of social housing, schools, dental clinics, medical facilities, and community initiatives. He advocates for banning second-home buyers to alleviate pressure on community infrastructure. Additionally, Deedigan supports the renationalisation of essential utility services, including gas, water, electricity, and rail, asserting that these services should not be subject to competition and profits should be reinvested into service improvement. “Access to essential services such as water should not be subject to competition; it just needs to be safe,” said Ed Deedigan. “Profits should be reinvested into the service rather than paid out to private individuals.”

Deedigan also pledges to use his MP salary to fund workshops and initiatives within the constituency, supporting meaningful cultural and educational opportunities for the Constituency of Chippenham.