I am a full time mum and volunteer and I currently live in Winchester.

Full statement

I moved to Hampshire 10 years ago, after studying Sociology and Education and completing a PhD at Cardiff University. I have previously worked as a research assistant on various projects for universities and third sector organisations.

During the pandemic, when I stepped back from work to help my children learn at home, I got involved in fundraising for my children's school and became a parent governor. I also help supervise children on school trips.

When I talk to other school governors from across Hampshire at training events, I hear a lot of the same desperate stories. Parents are waiting years for suitable school places, children and young people cannot access mental health support, budgets are squeezed and headteachers are struggling to recruit and retain the quality staff they need to tackle educational disadvantage across the county. Schools are literally falling apart and it is no wonder when we have had six Tory Education Secretaries in the last five years.

We need a Labour government to put an end to this chaos and remove barriers to opportunity. The last Labour government played a pivotal role in raising aspirations for people from working class families like myself. I am therefore absolutely honoured to be chosen as the Labour candidate for East Hampshire.