Hi, thanks for taking the time to visit my website!

You’ve probably heard a bit about me from my leaflets. This website aims to let you know a little more about what I stand for.

I’m putting myself forward for parliamentary selection in Itchen because I’ve come to love Southampton and its people. I’m angry at the damage this government is doing to our country and believe we can build a better future together.

If you have any questions or just want to say hello, please contact me here. I’d love to hear from you!

My record

In six years of journalism, I've exposed injustices such as poverty wages and pay-day loans companies.

Ten years of community work, from fighting awful school meals to running workshops for youths.

Volunteering every Christmas for five years at the charity Crisis, including managing activities.

Helping out every week at the food bank at Bitterne Park Triangle, including organising food parcels.

Campaigning all year round, I’ve knocked on doors in every ward across Itchen with members.

My personal story
Born to a mum working as a secretary and a Dad looking for work as a lecturer, I grew up aware of the difficulties of housing and employment that families face.

Most of my politics came from my comprehensive school playground, where half the kids were on free school meals and 52 different languages were spoken! I was moved by the issues of class, bullying and family life.

The day I got into university was one of the proudest moments of my life. I wouldn’t have got there without my grandma, who left school at 14. Growing up I lived between London and her home in Hampshire. Her post-war spirit stays with me.

Working as a journalist and a councillor after I left university taught me more about the darker sides of our country. I will never forget the mum who still has to share a bed with her teenage daughter because we do not have enough housing.


My pledges
» Fight Royston Smith from day one. We need to double the membership, combine Voter ID with more community campaigns and increase fundraising.

» Bring the Living Wage to Southampton. The council has done great work to introduce this, but it must be spread to private sector employers in the city. I will also meet every business leader in Hampshire to encourage jobs and investment in the city.

» Fight for more housing and regeneration, particularly on areas like the old Ford site.

» Protect public services, particularly youth centres and childcare. I will also continue to work hard with Keep Our NHS Public to protect Southampton’s health service from privatisation.

» Work as a team and listen to others. We have great unions, councillors, teachers, business and church leaders in this city and we need to make the most of them. One MP can’t change anything alone.



Articles
I’ve spent the last six years of my life reporting on some of the worst social injustices of modern Britain. The media was a tool to help expose these problems in an effort to help change them. Have a read – I’d love to know what you think!

New Statesman: No "spirit of 45" for the workers at the liberal intelligentsia's favourite cinemas
The Sun: School kids as young as 16 are gambling illegally in high street bookies
The Guardian: 'We're all in this together'
New Statesman: Payday loans: "Don’t worry, love, they don’t need your backstory!"
The Guardian: Enlightened behaviour
New Statesman: How food banks became mainstream: the new reality of the working poor
The Guardian: Jobseekers need a touch of humanity to stay afloat

There are plenty more were those come from! You can see my full Guardian profile, or my work for the New Statesman for more.

Videos