Many elected representatives in the United Kingdom are not serving constituents properly. Often attending to their own agenda, or towing the party line, at the expense of their constituents’ interests. We are left feeling betrayed and disillusioned by the political process.
As an Independent Member of Parliament, my aim, first and foremost, is to serve with integrity and honesty. I will vote on issues according to what I believe is right, based on the consistent feedback of my constituents. I will not vote according to party politics or top-down, command and control strategies.
As an Independent member of parliament, my job is to represent the electorate on the big issues, such as International Relations, Economic Policy, Environment, Trade, and Industry. But alongside this, I intend do a better job of getting the basics right. I will be focussing on what I can control, such as creating stronger communities, assisting with local issues in Edinburgh South, and holding local government to account.
I believe strongly that a sense of community is increasingly lacking in the UK, a facet of society which is necessary for easing many of the burdens of modern society. Once elected, I will make the changes required to build stronger communities, by bringing people together, encouraging communication and engagement.
Due to public dissatisfaction with the major political groupings, Independents, and small parties, can have a significant influence on policy decisions. They can lead all party initiatives, and form alliances around certain issues, withholding votes if necessary.
I will have the freedom and public profile to raise the concerns of voters directly, rather than filtering my statements through a party machine. I will not be beholden to the demands of large, political donors who pay for influence and undermine democracy. I will not be vulnerable to threats against my own career if I don’t follow the party whip.
For all these reasons, electing more Independent politicians into Parliament will be vital for holding the larger parties to account, ensuring they deliver on their promises to voters.
As an independent candidate, I will use my vote to bring forward policy which not only helps my constituents but also entirety of the United Kingdom.
I will seek to bring an end to the partisan divisions which are tearing this country apart. Because I believe that in Britain, we all have much more in common than that which separates us.
The solutions to problems such as government corruption, attacks on civil liberties, failure of politicians to abide by national and international rule of law, and erosion of democracy by mega corporations cut across party lines.
The British public are crying out for representatives who simply perform their main function well, which is to serve the public. Politicians who use their positions to line their own pockets or protect their own careers within their chosen party do not, and cannot, truly serve their constituents. This is why I am standing as an Independent, so I can act on behalf of our community, with selfless commitment, and the courage to support policies based on social justice, fairness, equality and peace.
The United Kingdom is in dire straits economically. The population is facing a cost-of-living crisis. Everyone is increasingly feeling their budgets stretched to the limit. As of 2024, 29% of all children of all UK children were living in poverty and economic inequality is rising rapidly, causing a multitude of deleterious effects.
According to analysis by Oxfam, the richest 1% of people in the UK control more wealth than 70% of the population combined. The latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows that £3.6 Million in net wealth is required to be part of this 1%.
These problems have been caused by policies put in place by successive Labour and Conservative governments. They are not inevitable. It doesn’t have to be this way.
The primary reason for the cost-of-living crisis is that large companies are engaging in monopolistic business practices, lawfare and aggressive tactics to protect themselves from competition and increase their profit margins. The energy companies, transport firms, banks, big real estate, insurance firms and other private companies use their monopoly pricing power to unfairly increase prices.
Individual households owe £1.8 trillion in personal debt with well over £200 billion being paid each year in interest. Households are struggling to meet interest payments on mortgages, car loans, bank overdrafts and credit cards. Students are racking up huge student loan debts to pay for their tuition or accommodation and living costs while at university. Small businesses, vital to the local economy, are failing to invest due to massive amounts of leverage on their balance sheets. All the payments made to service the debt burden go straight into share buybacks and don’t contribute to real economic growth. Instead dragging us into a downward spiral.
I will use my knowledge of the banking and financial sector to hold these large companies to account. Making sure they bear their fair share of rising costs due to geopolitics or other external factors. Putting an end to industrial scale price gouging and financial exploitation.
Increasing economic inequality means that there are not enough good quality jobs being created for ambitious graduates. Small businesses are unable to get started with limited capital. Potential founders of small businesses do not have adequate funds available and hence fail to create more jobs.
I will advocate for economic policy that facilitates more investment in small businesses. Government programmes for seed capital and beneficial interest rates. Rerouting tax relief that goes to large corporations towards small locally owned start ups.
I will push for better education and training for people, so we can fill roles locally, and provide our own services. We should not have to rely on foreign companies contracted to do work, which is often the case.
The UK has a history of placing too much emphasis on university education. I will support a movement towards placing more emphasis on other forms of education, such as colleges and vocational training.I will give these different forms of learning the respect they deserve, ensuring our economy runs efficiently, creates good jobs, and generates the skilled workers we depend on.
Several mega corporations and finance firms are sitting on vast cash piles, failing to invest because aggregate demand is so low. In simple terms, people have very little disposable income, so these huge companies don’t have any incentive to create new products or services for people to buy. This puts a dampener on job growth.
If left unchecked, economic inequality does tend to rise over time. One factor we can control is ensuring that most of the tax burden is shouldered by individuals who control large amounts of wealth. At present, too much tax is being paid across all tax brackets by individuals who go to work every day to make a living and pay their share of income tax and National Insurance. Not enough is being paid by the super-rich. A properly enforced wealth tax is not only desirable for positive social outcomes, it is an absolute necessity.
The United Kingdom is the biggest enabler of tax evasion and tax avoidance in the world, through our network of offshore tax havens. The Tax Justice Network estimates that at least £158 billion of tax is avoided each year. These tax havens rarely benefit even high earners in the United Kingdom. Disproportionately, they are utilised by the likes of multibillion-pound, international private equity firms, hedge funds and private offices. This is deeply unjust and must be replaced by a tax system with more transparency, international co-operation, simpler tax legislation and higher levels of accountability. We simply require the political will to bring these changes about and enforce tax rules more even-handedly.
Currently, the United Kingdom offers over £380 billion in regressive tax breaks, primarily for rich mega corporations. These tax breaks are regressive, because they redistribute wealth upwards, increasing economic inequality. We also lose an estimated £340 Billion every year due to disengaged employees. A direct result of Labour and Conservative led austerity policies which favour the interests of large corporations over salaried workers and small to medium sized businesses. There is plenty of money available to solve our problems and create a better world.
I will lead and vote in favour of initiatives to crack down on financial exploitation, ensuring that wage earners and small businesses pay less tax, while mega corporations and billionaires pay more. Putting an end to the debt driven, rentier economy, ensuring that everyone in the United Kingdom is paid a living wage. I will also vote in favour of divestment from projects which do not serve our interests, favouring the re-establishment of a healthy economy by bringing back the industrial production, which has been widely neglected in the past decades.
If elected, I pledge to use my voice as your MP to advocate for changes which would help ensure our social security system protects people from needing a food bank to survive.
When founded, the NHS was intended to be a holistic National Healthcare System, a free and comprehensive healthcare service from the cradle to the grave. After years of being pulled apart by consecutive Labour and Conservative Governments, it has become an ineffective, sick care system. In Scotland, the NHS has been hobbled by an ineffective SNP which is too focussed on infighting and power games than they are on improving the health service for the people of Scotland (Who pay extra tax for it). Every part of the healthcare system is interlinked. Failure to address one area, such as social or mental health care leads to knock on effects. We need to take more of a holistic approach to healthcare, taking each part of a person’s life cycle into account. One element cannot be separated from the whole. Our society today misses the characteristics of the early NHS.
Public ownership is key for vital parts of the economy such as healthcare. There should not be a profit motive in the healthcare system because it creates too many undesirable conflicts of interest. I will campaign for a national care service and better treatment of the elderly and infirm more generally. Having worked in the healthcare and banking sectors myself for several years, and comparing the United Kingdom to other developed economies, it’s clear that there is more than enough money available to fund a proper healthcare service in this country.
Another major issue in the United Kingdom right now is excessive NHS waiting times. Taxpayers are demanding a better service based on their contributions. This is partly due to underfunding, but also due to the issues mentioned above about the lack of a coherent, holistic approach. Privatisation, bureaucracy, and division have separated different aspects of the system.
Private companies claim to be easing the burden on the NHS, but they generally only take easier cases which are profitable, with the difficult cases being forced back into the public system. The UK Parliament is wasting taxpayer money provided by the UK as a whole to fund a dysfunctional English NHS because of private and other special interest groups.
Far too much money is spent on private contractors and consultants charging excessively high margins. The largely privatised social care sector is in crisis, suffering from chronic labour shortages due to Brexit, changes in working patterns following theCovid pandemic and low pay/poor working conditions.
Private healthcare companies, including care homes, have been hollowed out by private equity owners which buy them out, strip their assets and load them with debt. Local authorities must pay higher rates to keep these businesses afloat, and less investment is made due to the debt burden. Profits are taken offshore by the owners through a labyrinthian network of tax havens with no benefit to the British economy. This is a lose-lose situation for everyone. Taxpayers pay more for these private companies to service their debts. Very little investment is made in facilities and staff are paid poorly. The government has less spending power and the quality of care is worse for British citizens.
This problem is exacerbated by the lack ofmany health care professionals in the United Kingdom. Many of whom are choosing to go abroad because they find the British economy unaffordable, they are faced with low wages, high cost of living and are unappreciated by their own government. Often being lured to Australia, New Zealand or America.
Brexit has clearly contributed to this shortage of workers, but the issue is intimately tied to the other challenges we face in this country. Once we create a fairer, more just society, more doctors will want to train, live and work here. It is impossible to separate this out from the other issues we all face currently.
As an Independent I will do everything I can to bring about the overhaul, and reversal of privatisation that the entire NHS needs to make it work more effectively. I will put patients at the forefront and campaign to bring it back to the holistic service it should be, in which excessive profits are not siphoned off by private companies and where more money is made available to pay frontline staff the fair salary which they deserve.
The Royal College of General Practitioners polling shows that 81% of the public want to see all political parties set out detailed plans to solve the problems facing general practice. If elected as MP, I will fully support RCGP's manifesto, which sets out the 7 steps required to save general practice:
- Protect patient safety: Introduce a national alert system to flag unsafe levels of workload and allow practices to access additional support
- Guarantee patients get the care they need: Increase the share of NHS funding for general practice
- Provide more support to patients in deprived communities: Review and reform the general practice funding system to channel more resources to the patients who need it most
- Ensure every patient who needs to, can see a GP: Take action to grow the GP workforce
- Provide patient's access to a modern fit for purpose practice building: Invest at least £2 billion in infrastructure
- Free up GPs to spend more time with patients: Cut unnecessary bureaucracy
- Make sure international GPs can continue to work in the NHS: Guarantee permanent residence for international medical graduates
There is unequivocal evidence that the Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate and human activity is the principle cause.
We need a fair and just green transition which benefits everyone. Not just private jet setting politicians and their billionaire backers.
True, properly executed investment benefits working families financially, providing cheaper electricity, more affordable heating and a better quality of life.
I attended the Glasgow COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference in person in 2021. I witnessed first-hand the hundreds of lobbyists sent from the petrochemical industry to water down any proposals which would impact profits. As a result, these conferences have been an unmitigated failure, and governments must be held accountable for the broken promises made.
Too many projects related to climate change and environmental protection have been turned into money making schemes which enrich investors and government bureaucrats but fail to achieve the desired outcomes.
A study in the Financial Times recently showed that companies with higher “Environmental, Social and Governance” (ESG) ratings were no more environmentally friendly than any of their peer competitors. Such reports are “greenwashed,” to fit in with the agenda of private corporations, and ESG reports are not even a requirement, so those who have large carbon footprints can do so virtually anonymously if they wish.
The major parties have been backtracking on green policies for many years. They have promised billions for renewable projects to get votes. But very rarely follow through once they hold power. This lack of action has allowed many of the “tipping points,” to be crossed already. It is imperative that we put our energy into preparing for this future, and reorganising society to minimise harm.
We don’t have to wait for the next generation to start feeling the effects of the climate crisis. The crisis is happening now. We have seen global temperatures rising, oceans getting warmer, ice sheets shrinking, glaciers retreating and Arctic sea ice is declining, leading to extreme events occurring such as a measurable rise in forest fires, crop failures, floods, droughts, and extinction of species. I strongly believe that human beings must learn to live in harmony with nature.
Mass migration, resource-based conflicts and epidemics/pandemics are impossible to untangle from these issues and are set to increase as a result.
A radical approach is now required to address the environmental crisis. Fundamental changes to the global economic system and its incentive structure are needed. We cannot expect countries in the global south to allow their populations to live in poverty to meet targets. We must also acknowledge that oil is needed for purposes other than energy production, so ensure that we set realistic expectations.
We also need better protections to make sure that funds which are allocated for environmental issues do not end up in the hands of despots, oligarchs, or corrupt politicians around the world.
If elected I will vote for green policies which bring hope of a better future and benefits to the current community.
If elected, I pledge to crack down on cruelty and be a voice for animals in Parliament. I will seek the following,
1. Animal Protection Commissioner
Appointment of a commissioner and cross-government animal protection strategy to benefit people, planet and animals.
2. Trade
Bans on trading in cruelty, including stopping imports of fur, foie gras and hunting trophies, and adopting core welfare standards in trade.
3. Intensive farming
Use of subsidies to support farmers to transition away from factory farming including cages and crates, and towards food production that is healthier, kinder, and more sustainable.
4. Wildlife
Stronger protections including a complete UK ban on snares and glue traps, updated laws to protect marine animals, tighter laws on zoos and exotic animal keeping and trade, and extending maximum sentences for wildlife offences.
5. Animal testing
A government-led roadmap with an ambitious plan to end all experiments on animals, alongside strategic funding to accelerate the uptake and development of non-animal methods in research and testing.
6. Hunting
Strengthening the Hunting Act 2004 by banning trail hunting and removing exemptions that enable hunting.
7. Badger cull
An end to the ineffective and unscientific badger cull, and investment in an effective bovine TB plan that prioritises animal welfare.
8. Aquatic Animals
Increased legal protections for fish in existing farms, and suspension of permissions for new salmon farms pending an independent welfare inquiry into the industry; addition of decapod crustaceans and cephalopods to the Animal Welfare Act and ending sales of live crustaceans to the public.
9. Shooting
A ban on the cruel and environmentally harmful industrial production and release of pheasants and partridge for shooting.
10. Dogs
Stronger laws to stop puppy smuggling and a review of the Dangerous Dogs Act to improve public safety and dog welfare through sensible dog control legislation and promotion of responsible dog ownership.
It is imperative that we take much better care of our elderly population.
Pensioners’ livelihoods have been attacked by all the major parties in various ways. The government is clearly thinking of increasing retirement age, this should not happen unless the people of the United Kingdom themselves democratically support it.
I will fight to keep in place policies that protect pensioners from inflation, such as linked increases in pension payments based on the latest consumer price index figures. Pensioners have fixed incomes, so as the cost-of-living crisis gets worse and prices rise, they suffer greatly.
Both Labour and Conservatives would not commit to compensating the “WASPI” (Women Against Pension Inequality) campaign. This is deeply unjust considering the promises that have been made in the past. Women born in the 1950s have been treated unfairly. This has been confirmed as “unacceptable,” by the independent Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).
There is always money available for bank bailouts and funding war, so there should also be money available to recompensate these women.
As mentioned in other areas of my manifesto, the cost-of-living crisis must be addressed immediately by cracking down on huge financial, energy, transport and other companies who use their monopoly pricing power to unfairly raise prices.
As an Independent politician I am not tied to financial backers, ensuring that I can vote with integrity andbring forward policies which will make real change.
I believe that education should be free for all and that an education system should build on a child’s strengths to help them achieve their potential.
Teachers and students in school are suffering due to cuts in funding, mismanagement, lack of support, increasing class sizes and discipline issues. All classrooms should have access to teaching assistants & specialist teachers if required. Teachers need to be less burdened by overwhelming amounts of non-essential paperwork which distracts them from doing their jobs.
Smart phone and social media use in schools must be curtailed and we need to ensure that we are creating a more hopeful future for children. Many young children are suffering from suicidal ideation and mental health issues due to bullying. This is exacerbated by social media as they find themselves unable to get away from their bullies.
If all other options are exhausted, schools must be able to expel disruptive pupils, for whom better alternative education must be provided.
As an MP I will vote for policy which allows teachers to get back to doing their job, which is educating our children. By building stronger communities, as I alluded to before, we can help parents who need extra support to guide children through their schooling years.
I will endeavour to maximise opportunities for parents to have input into their children's education. This applies to all subjects.
The House of Lords is a deeply undemocratic institution which needs reform. Politicians should not issue political honours and cash-for-honours must be clamped down on, and the Lords should not be regarded as a home for retired politicians who are often strongly disliked by the public. The need for hereditary peerages in 2024 is largely indefensible and the Lords should be transformed into more of a merit based, democratic model.
MPs second jobs should all be curtailed unless directly relevant to their role as MP. Working for or owning financial firms presents far too many conflicts of interest. We need to ensure that MPs focus on serving their constituents.
Scotland has led the way in adding elements of proportional representation into its electoral system. The rest of the UK must follow suit so that even small parties can achieve some representation. No vote should be a “wasted vote,” and everyone should have their voices heard.
Growth of the surveillance state in the United Kingdom should be closely monitored with democratic oversight. Making sure that new technologies such as facial “emotion recognition software,” are not used to infringe on our rights as citizens.
If elected, I will campaign and vote in favour of a complete overhaul of the electoral system. Pushing for radical alteration of the antiquated structures which damage our democracy.
Young people in the United Kingdom are faced with an increasingly uncertain future, which is causing a major mental health crisis. During their formative years, they have been hit with economic turmoil, environmental degradation, cuts to funding in education, a pandemic, and conflicts around the world. They have witnessed their hopes and dreams being dashed at every stage
Many young people feel like they are on a treadmill which keeps getting faster and faster, and they never seem to get ahead no matter how hard they try.
We need to end the generational divisions in the United Kingdom and learn to support each other as a community once more. In the end we all benefit when we come together and help each other. Political parties must not take the views of young people for granted.
The struggles with mental health and loneliness which many young people face, due to being ever more atomised by technology and economic pressures, are complex problems to solve. These issues are tied up with every other point on this manifesto. In short, we need a radical restructuring of society on every level, so that young people can once again have hope for a better future. More therapy and mental health services alone will not fix the root causes of these problems.
I will ensure that the voices of the young people in my constituency are listened to and that I can take their views forward to Westminster. I will hold forums with young people on a regular basis to ensure their worries and burdens are not ignored.
I believe everyone should have the chance to own their own home on a single income in the UK. However, for those who choose it, rent should not be excessive and allow people to have a decent quality of living.
A major problem plaguing the UK economy is the overly restrictive planning regime in which applications are often processed slowly. This is one of the key factors behind one of the UK’s largest economic issues, which is stagnant productivity growth. Many sectors of the economy are being held back, with housing being the most obvious.
House prices and rents have risen to exorbitant levels, while real inflation adjusted incomes have stagnated. This discrepancy has created a major challenge for the UK economy. On one hand, people are struggling to afford housing, but on the other, there are large numbers of people who have most of their life savings tied up in the value of their property. Some of whom may be relying on these savings to fund their retirement. In effect, their future livelihood depends on property prices rising. We need to create policies which mean neither group is adversely affected.
To solve this problem, we need solutions which address both sides of this issue. It must not be seen as a zero-sum game which pits people against each other.
Firstly, we need to look at how much money is being siphoned off unproductively by the banks, other financial institutions, and mega landlords. Rents, mortgage payments and other costs can be reduced massively by taxing away any “unearned income,” which flows into the financial sector without providing any meaningful benefit for the real economy. For example, the bumper profits banks have made during the last few years, based on charging higher interest rates, are clearly not justified.
Secondly, my belief is that there should be a reasonable limit on the number of properties owned by a single individual/company. It is not ethical for large amounts of housing to be commoditised and bought and sold in the same manner as other goods.
As an independent MP I can ensure my constituents and community are represented in any changes put forward for vote in Parliament. My integrity will not be tested due to top down pressure within a political party.
If elected as your MP, I will prioritise the following:
- Bring an end to the austerity fuelling the housing emergency by reforming the local housing allowance (LHA) and ensuring it keeps pace with inflation so that it more accurately reflects the real cost of renting, scrap the benefit cap and bedroom tax, and put an end to the two-child limit and so-called ‘rape clause’.
- Scrap the ‘hostile environment’, provide adequate funding for councils to meet the housing needs of refugees and people seeking asylum, and embed a truly anti-racist approach to migration throughout government – especially in the Home Office.
- Increase the capital grant available to the Scottish Government and make sure it keeps pace with inflation to help protect housing budgets from further cuts.
We need an immigration policy which works better for everyone, and this means having a fair and humane asylum system here in the UK.
The UK system fails to process people efficiently, leading to huge backlogs, both for accepting refugees and turning away people who don’t qualify.
We have a legal and moral duty to help and support refugees who have fled their homes escaping from war, violence, terror, oppression and persecution in search of safety. We must always remember refugees are people not numbers.
But immigration should not be used to artificially suppress wages and shore up the power of big capital, which is often the case. This doesn’t benefit anyone, including the migrants themselves, who often face financial abuse, poverty, and unsuitable working conditions.
Our primary focus must be to help countries to independently thrive, become self-sufficient and vibrant economically. We must stop creating the conditions in other countries, such as war or financial exploitation, which force people to leave their home nations.
When surveyed, most people leave their home countries out of necessity, not choice. These individuals often come from war torn areas which have been left devastated by Western backed regime change operations, conflicts over resources, such as oil and gas, or through debt based financial imperialism.
If elected I will fight against cruel and illegal immigration schemes, such as the hugely expensive Rwanda Bill.
The ongoing genocide in Gaza is an issue of global significance. Palestine, historically, is where civilisations meet, and where religions and cultures clash. Actions taken in the region have the potential to spark religious and ethnic conflict around the world. It’s vital that the issue is handled properly, and within the boundaries of international law, by world powers.
I do not support the right of the British, through the Balfour declaration, to hand over land which wasn’t theirs to give. I believe this was morally wrong from the outset, and the conflict following this decision has been made inevitable as a result.
The International Court of Justice, the highest court in the world, has now ruled unequivocally that there is a plausible case for genocide in Gaza. Arrest warrants have now been been issued for senior leaders in Israel. The ICJ very clearly stated in its ruling that all countries which are signatories to the Genocide Convention, must take steps to prevent an ongoing genocide.
This means that arms sales to Israel from the United Kingdom must be stopped entirely.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue overall. It is undeniably the case that Israel, the United States, and United Kingdom have failed to uphold their obligations under international law. The cynical cutting of funding to UNWRA, the United Nations aid agency, proved this without a shadow of a doubt.
Both major parties in the United Kingdom have not only breached international law, but they have actively aided and abetted in an ongoing genocide, by continuing with arms sales, military, and diplomatic support.
It's highly likely that major political figures in the United Kingdom will face future consequences at the International Court of Justice in the Hague.
It is imperative that we ensure the politicians who represent these parties are voted out. Otherwise, they will act against the British people for purposes of self-preservation
We must not allow for this issue to be tarnished by false accusations of antisemitism. This issue relates to an occupying power committing a genocide, having oppressed the Palestinian people for more than 75 years, standing forcibly in the way of Palestinian self-determination and openly implementing an Apartheid system.
While it does appear that Israel is using these accusations to shield itself from criticism, we must acknowledge the fact that antisemitism is very real and Jewish people have indeed faced numerous genocidal attacks throughout history.
Sadly, Israel’s recent actions do not make Jewish people around the world safer. Conflating Zionism and Judaism is dangerous for all Jewish people and must stop. However, even for people living in Israel, we must be sympathetic to the generational trauma that many Jewish people carry in their family histories. Any future resolution must take that into account.
I will work towards peace and justice in the region. Creating amity not enmity between different groups.
The world is interdependent in nature. Threats outside the UK affect us within it. We should be focussing on our domestic responsibilities and keeping our citizens safe rather than projecting power and making threats overseas.
NATO is no longer fit for purpose unless it was radically restructured/reorientated. Britain and the United States are not the“policemen of the world,” that is over.
The fear-driven forever wars and the revolving door between politics and the military industrial complex must be finally and completely closed,
Senior military leaders could be debarred from lucrative positions with defence companies to ensure complete avoidance of any conflict of interest. I support legislation carrying serious and critical consequences for any prejudice in advice or decisions that could be interpreted as influencing procurement or similar decisions.
I will work for a searching enquiry conducted transparently about any links between funding structures, and links between our own government officials and foreign governments or other influential individuals who are not aligned with our values. I will demand procedures being put in place to protect national security.
This includes exposing links between senior British government officials and Russian oligarchs and ending corruption and external interference on Government decisions and extending a transparent and open system of accountability on finance committed, troops deployed, and economic and other arrangements with the US and other governments. The rank hypocrisy of the UK Government claiming to be pro-Ukraine, while letting Russian billionaires hide money in vast real estate portfolios, must be addressed.
I am committed to upholding the UN system and peacekeeping force and ensuring that the UK Government acts responsibly, transparently, and accountably and that this is adequately and clearly reported to my constituents.
Super wealthy hedge funds have cynically used Brexit as an opportunity to avoid European tax regulations and in addition to the democratic deficit in the process occurring at all, the outcomes of Brexit have been disastrous for Scotland.
We must not allow Brexit to be used as an opportunity to further vassalize the United Kingdom to the United States of America. Already, American companies own huge swathes of British industry, making over $700 Billion a year in sales to UK consumers.
We should not be forced to accept American food standards or reduced protections to our human rights following Brexit. We should aim to build amity with Europe so we can provide mutual benefits.
I will endeavour to seek closer ties with Europe and give people opportunities to work or do business abroad, with free movement where possible.
If elected, I will sign the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Parliamentarians Pledge to work towards the abolition and elimination of all nuclear weapons, because nuclear weapons are the most inhumane and indiscriminate weapons ever created. They violate international law, cause severe environmental damage, undermine national and global security, and divert vast public resources away from meeting human needs. They must be eliminated urgently.
In 2017, the United Nations came together to write an agreement to ban them completely, through the Treaty on The Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which is now binding on the 70 member states at the UN who have joined the TPNW. Only the handful of nuclear armed states and their complicit allies are resistant to supporting the TPNW
The UK’s nuclear weapons delivery system and weapons store are all based in Scotland, with no credible alternative site. They have the capacity to wipe out the entirety of a city the size of Moscow, making the central belt a target for attack by nuclear powers who are aware of that.
But so-called nuclear deterrence doesn’t work. Since 1945, conflicts and wars have continued and the fact that nuclear weapons haven’t been used is due solely to good luck, and threats to use nuclear weapons limit any country’s capacity to find better solutions. The nuclear armed states are always poised to launch nuclear weapons which are useless for today’s threats.
The government is replacing its current nuclear weapons system, Trident, at a cost of at least £205 billion. If elected I will demand that this money is used for improving people's lives without threatening the lives of others.
As I mentioned previously, I strongly believe in community, and allowing my constituents to have the opportunity to live as part of a community, if they choose. I will be doing everything I can to help address local issues in Edinburgh which constituents have raised with myself and my team. It is key that Members of Parliament support their constituents on these issues. Reaching out to the various authorities on behalf of the public can have a significant influence on solving local problems.
As an Independent MP, I will have the unique opportunity to hold local government to account. A party affiliated politician would not have the same freedom, due to the external pressures being placed on them by the party structure. The Labour run council for example, which has been responsible for many ongoing issues, has not been properly held to account by the current MP.
The incumbent Labour MP for Edinburgh South has been in office for 14 years and has not been able to resolve many issues, causing further deterioration. It is highly unlikely that he will succeed if he is voted in for another term.
Specifically, I would aim to fund more community projects to allow people to come together. Whether that’s for their mental health, to tackle loneliness or simply to get to know their neighbours.
The following are some local issues that I will do everything in my power to address:-
NHS waiting times
This constituency is short of doctor’s surgeries, people are suffering from long waiting times or significant failings from PFIs, while others cannot register with a practice at all. A snap inspection of the Royal Infirmary revealed that it was operating at 300% of capacity. Subsequently a new A&E observation ward was built, but more needs to be done. We need to end the exploitation of loose government spending by private contractors and do everything possible attract more GPs, making sure they are paid fairly.
Another issue, which I will seek to resolve, is that far too often new homes are built in areas and homebuilders are allowed to create no infrastructure. Leaving new residents with no availability of spaces at GPs. We all pay for the NHS and should all have access to their services, including GPs and Dentists.
Cost of Living and Utility bills are too high and spiralling out of control
Labour and Conservative Governments have created this problem through poor policies. Nothing the government are currently doing appears to be fixing it. Energy costs are skyrocketing due to excessive profit taking by private companies. I would do everything in my power to help my constituents to ease this burden.
Constant road works & Potholes
Better, more efficient project management is required. We need to make sure contractors do not view government contracts as more lenient or less strict on deadlines than private work. The best solution is to bring in legislation like England, which imposes fines on roadworks contractors who go beyond their promised deadline.
There also needs to be forward planning to ensure roads are not dug up one week by a service provider. Then only a month or two later another service provider is back digging the same street up, causing more potholes and cracked pavements.
Bad quality of repairs, broken pavements. Potholes are filled one day and back a month later. Steps will be taken to ensure this is done right first time to avoid budgets having to be adjusted for new year ie April. Labour has been responsible for this and has failed to deliver.
Traffic
Poor planning and ongoing road works have led to certain roads being saturated with too much traffic.
Policing
The police are understaffed and need more support. We must stop the closure of police stations due to funding cuts and bring back local “bobbies on the beat” who know the people and specific local area. We need visible deterrent community police liaison officers patrolling and more police resources for local issues rather than national edicts from Westminster such as the Policing, Crime and Sentencing Bill 2022. In addition to this, we need a police service that responds quickly to crime, including robberies, theft, and anti-social behaviour. The current system allows petty criminals to run rampage with no deterrent.
Litter
The Council is not doing a good enough job on this. We will look at solutions like fitting clips on bin lids, for when they get blown over.
Anti-social behaviour
We must put an end to vandalism to cars, businesses, and other property, which has been on the rise.
Profit driven housing projects
Unsuitable student accommodation is being built to garner huge profits and exploit foreign students. Companies overcharge students and get around planning by not providing parking. There is a generalised failure to respect existing residents wishes. If even a small percentage of this space was used for affordable housing, then this could reduce homelessness.
Protecting Astley Ainsley Hospital from objectionable development
NHS Lothian is planning to dispose of Astley Ainslie in 2025. If this disposal is necessary, we must protect the green space and ensure that the site is used for a pro-social purpose which benefits the public, not just developers.
Childcare too expensive
Action will be taken against private nursery providers charging excessive prices or failing to invest in facilities and staff. I would also make every effort to influence policy in Westminster to ensure Government initiatives work and do not give with one hand and take from the other.
I will also work hard in the community to ensure there are more options for parents for which childcare is not an option. There should be better and more accessible playgroups and services for which parents only pay a minimal fee.
Businesses suffering from labour shortages
This problem is inexplicably linked to broader issues such as the lack of affordable housing, long term sickness and changes in working patterns. We must ensure that Edinburgh South is a fantastic place to live and work to attract skilled workers.
Improving public services in Edinburgh South
Houses have been built but there is a lack of facilities. More pharmacies and GP surgeries are needed. Better public services are required to keep pace with house building, especially in Liberton and Gilmerton.
Better parking needed for elderly and disabled
We must ensure that abuse of disabled spaces is addressed quickly and efficiently.
More support for local independent businesses/shops
We need to push for a rejuvenation of the high street. Local, diverse, small businesses are the lifeblood of any thriving community. I will endeavour to shift support away from huge companies and towards supporting small local business however possible. Online businesses should be taxed at the same level as retail, or taxes should be reduced for small retail businesses.
Business rates are far too high for many businesses. I will seek to provide better support for these businesses to ensure they can continue what they do best, which is serving the people of Edinburgh South.
Support for the self-employed
I will push for stronger Ministerial oversight of HMRC, Maternity Allowance reform, stopping unfair payment terms and scrapping the IR35 rules.
Gracemount leisure centre closure
This is the fault of Westminster; our local MP Ian Murray cannot blame it on the Scottish Government as he has tried to do.
Edinburgh council closing two of its care homes
I will push to ensure places are replaced following care home closures at Clovenstone and Ford Road.
More efficient council and local government
We must ensure that local matters are dealt with quickly and effectively. We need to make sure we have great people in local councils who make serving the public their priority.
Better recreational areas required for children
Research clearly shows that children who play outside in nature are happier, more able to focus and suffer from less mental health issues. We must prioritize the need for outdoor spaces, making sure we have child focussed built environment policies which are enacted immediately.
In recent years other councils and areas have created wonderful, exciting parks for children, this is something we should create in our constituency to give parents a safe and exciting space for their children to play in.
Better, more well thought out bicycle lanes needed
Bicycle lanes must be well maintained and properly planned to reduce accidents. The recently created bike lanes throughout the city, including in this constituency are not consistent or fit for purpose. I would campaign to have bike lanes made very clear, both to keep cyclists on the road safe from cars, as well as pedestrians on the pavement safe from cyclists.