I have lived in and around South Tyneside all my life, working as a Mining Engineer in coal mining for 18 years and for 14 years as a Health and Safety Advisor mainly in construction.

Full statement

I have been married for 34 years, my wife is a retired teacher and I have two daughters both working for the NHS. People need alternative policies to the failed austerity programmes adversely affecting the majority. These include stopping NHS underfunding and privatisation and renationalising railways. Inequality is growing, the rich few becoming richer, while the majority poorer. The numbers of billionaires has increased while hard working people like nurses have to visit food banks. We call for a wealth tax to fund vital pubic services including free elderly social care, free nursery services for all children, council house building and better cheaper public transport. We need Community Banks, to encourage local investment. A living wage of £10 per hour is needed to help working families living in poverty. Insulating homes reduces energy costs reduces fuel poverty and provides jobs. Training levels in the UK are low and we would guarantee alternative employment or training. Climate Change is a threat but also an opportunity as we change to electrified transport renewable power generation. We already have electric cars at Nisan and trains at Hitachi. The next North Sea bonanza will be in offshore wind turbines and Tyneside is ideally placed to take advantage with the easily transferable facilities and skills from the declining oil industry We need investment in wind turbine manufacture, solar power and battery storage that are the future for a sustainable economy. All we need a bold political vision to make it happen. South Tyneside deserves better and a vote for the Green Party is a vote for a bright green future.