It is a great honour to have been selected as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for South Shropshire.

Full statement

I have spent over 40 years of my life based in the Marches, growing up in Herefordshire and now living in Shropshire with my wife and children. It is a great joy for me and my family to be living in South Shropshire, for my children to be part of the local schools and to grow up enjoying the beautiful countryside around us.

My personal journey has simple beginnings, as a farm hand in rural Herefordshire. At the age of sixteen, motivated by my own father’s career in the SAS, I made the decision to serve our country by joining the Army. At the age of 17, I suffered a high velocity gunshot wound to the foot during a live firing attack, shattering my foot. I was advised that my foot would require amputation, and that I would never walk again without a walking stick. My military career was apparently over. However after 10 months of gruelling rehabilitation, I returned to full active duty to serve on multiple operational tours.

After 8 years in the Royal Green Jackets, now the Rifles (the local Shropshire regiment), I went into the defence and security industry, obtaining a MSc in Security and Risk Management and operating extensively around the globe. I believe that my experiences from my time in defence and security provided me with a real-world grounding that I can apply practically to supporting local communities.

I have spoken openly about the impact of getting shot at a young age on my mental health. After hitting rock bottom, I was (against all odds) able to rebuild my life. Having been given what I felt was a second chance I wanted to use my life experience to make a difference.

My passion to continue to serve my country, the same passion that inspired me to become a soldier, remains. Through politics, I believe that I am able to serve in a different way and bring positive change to the everyday lives of hard-working people. This is why I entered politics (Political Milestones) and have served in Parliament since 2019.

My passion to continue to serve my country, the same passion that inspired me to become a soldier, remains

The people of South Shropshire deserve strong representation that can secure good public services, solve local issues and secure funding and support for business and the farming community. As your candidate, I am committed to working hard to deliver for the residents of South Shropshire. This means I will always listen to your concerns, support our local community and deliver the funding, support and services you deserve.

It would be a privilege to serve as MP for an area that means so much to me and my family.