I am 60 years old and have lived, worked and been educated throughout the UK and abroad before returning to West Yorkshire 25 years ago.

Full statement

After a career in the Armed Forces, I gained a degree in Law with I.T. at Leeds Met and worked in the property department of a law firm for 5 years, during which time I volunteered as a tutor/mentor at Leeds United on the ‘Playing for Success’ scheme. before gaining a PGCE in Modern Languages at Leeds Trinity working in local schools as a supply teacher after failing to secure a permanent position – a direct result of Labour’s decision to take Modern Languages off the compulsory GCSE curriculum.

As a single parent of two children, I needed regular employment and have worked as a postman in both Pudsey and Aireborough for seventeen years, fourteen years of which have been spent as a Workplace Trades Union Industrial Relations and Health and Safety Representative.

I have been involved in charity work for local schools in Belize and helped to organise Student Law Society trips to the European Parliament, European Courts of Justice and the International Court in The Hague. In 2008, I was a member of the UKIP Defence Policy Working Group.

I come across the same day-to-day issues in my life that the vast majority of people have to endure and I am convinced that my background and diverse experience will go a long way to help overcome the demands of political life and represent the people of the Shipley Constituency to their very best expectations.

You will be confident in knowing that I am seeking election for the right reasons, will always strive to give the silent majority a meaningful voice and practice grown up politics that acts in your very best interests in local, national and global issues that matter most to you.

Should I be elected, I promise to hold to account any politician who fails to deliver their pledges and promises and will always be directed by you in my role as your MP to keep you safer, better educated, better housed, healthier, wealthier and more hopeful of your future.