I’m Jason, a 54yo family law Barrister.

Full statement

Having enjoyed a successful ‘first career’ in global technology management I re-trained as a Barrister and have spent the last 15 years working in child protection; I play my part in trying to keep our most vulnerable children safe from harm; I also help separating families resolve their differences and victims of domestic abuse obtain the protection they so desperately need as well as helping those blighted by addiction and other fellow humans subjected to discrimination and prejudice. I see life, in all its fantastic glory, for better or worse, day in day out. I like to think this gives me a sense of perspective.

In my spare time, not that I have much of it, I am a volunteer kids football coach.

Like so many people, I feel completely disconnected from the decisions and actions of our politicians and see little, long-term difference, between the two major parties. Brexit has failed us and needs to be fixed, Both the Tories and Labour are too scared to do anything about it. Reversing this needs to be on the agenda.

Every serious political party promote ‘Green’ policies which is good news, but we need to be much more science and industry led in creating and driving these policies – this is so urgent it needs a joined up, cross-party approach. It can't be left to just one party to get it right or get it wrong, the stakes are too high. However, whilst Britain needs to do what it can, the step change that is really needed to address climate change will only happen when we (and we need to be a part of Europe to do this) can stand up to China and the US among others to compel them to reduce their CO2 emissions.

I am also fighting to overhaul our system of democracy. Our antiquated two-party, first past the post system is not fit for purpose (as an aside, Belarus is the only other country in Europe to have such a system). We need some form of proportional representation, and we need a different political model so we will reorganise democracy so that policy and decision making are debated and voted upon locally. We will give Local communities financial and decision-making control over the services that matter.