The candidate said: “I’m standing to represent everyone in Queen’s Park. My focus is on safety, community pride, and fairness, tackling anti-social behaviour, housing issues, and rising council taxes while listening to residents’ concerns.”
This article is part of Scene Magazine’s coverage of the Queen’s Park by-election on 18 September 2025. Each candidate has been invited to share their LGBTQ+ policy agenda, priorities for Queen’s Park, and reasons why LGBTQ+ voters might consider supporting them. You can read the other candidates’ contributions here in our dedicated election coverage section.
This is the first time I have sought elected office and I have been driven to do so by the awful mess our city is enduring under the Labour council (supported by an out-of-touch Westminster government) and the city’s previous Green administration.
I am essentially a private person, but I fully appreciate that voters in Queen’s Park want to know some of what makes me ‘tick’.
Well, I’m a journalist by profession, I love ballroom dancing (although I need a lot more practice), I enjoy walking (ideal as I continue to get out and about in what I hope will become my ‘patch’), I like chocolate (probably too much) and I also just happen to be a member of our city’s vibrant and welcoming LGBTQ+ community.
Since launching my campaign, I’ve been heartened and immensely encouraged by the personal messages of support I have received from LGBTQ+ friends and acquaintances living and working in Queen’s Park and the wider city.
They understand that I am standing as a candidate to represent EVERYONE. However, many of the issues that the LGBTQ+ community faces on a daily basis are also issues that impact the wider community, regardless of sexual orientation. These include access to healthcare, dealing with loneliness, discrimination and, sad to say, being victims of violence.
I pledge to be a listening ear to all, but if my personal background encourages residents in Queen’s Park to feel more at ease in bringing their concerns to me, whatever they may be, that is all for the better!
One of my first tasks, if elected, will be to seek a meeting with the divisional commander at the police station in John Street, to extend my full support in increasing efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour and wider criminality that is a scourge for us all.
Officers should also know I will not support attempts by the Labour council to have them diverted from protecting our city’s residents to ‘police’ contractors ordered to tear down our national flags.
Residents need to know that their local councillor is on their side in working with the police and other agencies to protect and care for our elderly, children and the vulnerable in particular.
I want to restore a sense of community pride. For me, community is what it says on the tin: a shared endeavour of everyone living or working in Queen’s Park – regardless of age, faith, ability or sexual orientation – to make our community the best it can be. We all have a common purpose to do good and respect each other.
This includes ensuring our council puts families first and supports all family units — whatever structure they might be.
That means bringing all the pressure I can bear in taking the fight to our current Labour leaders in tackling escalating housing problems. Queen’s Park residents, like many across our city, face tremendous difficulties in getting in touch with councillors and officers for help. That’s unacceptable, which is why it is time for a fresh, Reform UK voice, to speak up for residents.
I also pledge to challenge the ever-increasing higher council tax bills because of Labour’s maladministration and scrutinise every penny spent.
It upsets me to hear our Labour council leaders talking of our city as one of “sanctuary” for a specifically-defined group of individuals – largely asylum seekers – rather than working to ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of everyone.
