I am honoured to have been chosen to be the Reform UK Parliamentary candidate for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor.

Full statement

I grew up in the constituency and have a deep sense of the importance of community and fairness.

The majority of this area, including myself, voted overwhelmingly to leave the European Union, and then had to watch politicians and civil servants go out of their way to disrupt and frustrate the process of this country's exit from the EU.

The last couple of years have shown just how corrupt and malicious the establishment really is, following this government’s unjustified and unnecessary Covid panic.

I saw the devastating effects of the government’s mismanagement, level of coercive propaganda and misinformation on each and every one of us, especially the elderly and children. I could not sit by and watch this country of ours go to hell in a handcart.

I, along with many other voters have become disillusioned with the political system. It is now irrelevant whether we vote Tory or Labour as they have become one and the same. British politics is long overdue for a shake-up and I truly believe Reform UK is the party that will deliver much needed change for this great country.