I grew up in a large noisy family with four sisters and a brother, money was scarce, with winters spent squashed into one room and a reliance on free school dinners and jumble sales to get by. I know the difficulties of when there are only pennies available to pay for food or heating.
My childhood was dominated by my mum studying for exams, ultimately graduating from the Open University and becoming a midwife.
Access to education not only changed my mother’s life but it fundamentally altered our life paths as well, opening us all up to new opportunities, experiences, ideas and aspirations we would never have otherwise dreamed of, and this is what I want for Bassetlaw people.
As Deputy Leader of the Council, I led on the visioning and work to get the funding for the newly opened Bridge Skills Hub in Worksop, providing access to skills and training up to degree level.
People say I get things done, I’m an instinctive campaigner, a grafter and I always work to win.
A shortage of consultants for the children’s ward saw it close at night time. Ensured that families directly affected by the closure led the campaign and organised the demonstrations and good publicity. Now we need the finances for a reconfiguration of A&E to get it re-opened.
Both Worksop and Retford Ambulance stations were set to close increasing travel distances for patients. Closely worked with unions, staff and public organising demonstrations and coordinated press and media and a petition of over 19,000 signatures to keep them open.
A proposal to change the fire service to a retained force (call out) at night time was strongly opposed by the FBU and the public. Coordinated and ran the petition, street stalls and the publicity to campaign to keep it open.
A proposal by Government to break the link between GP surgeries and community pharmacies would have seen rural provision directly impacted. Organised and won the campaign to stop this with 70% of the consultation submissions coming from the Bassetlaw area.
Ask me a question, offer your support, and keep up to date with my campaign to be your Labour Parliamentary candidate.