Locally, I want to see a strong democratic accountability. All too often we see the power and authority some locally elected politicians hold seemingly going unchecked. Hubris is ugly, and it seldom plays out well. I want to see fairness and the quiet strength of public duty, openly and transparently.

People should be free to live without fear or discrimination – it’s a fundamental British principle. They are entitled to fair and equal treatment under the law. I want us to be proud to affirm that every resident of Leicestershire deserves dignity and respect under the law. That’s not political correctness – it’s good governance. Fundamentally, all these things are what make a civilised society.

Call it basic expectations, but good schools, strong social services, high standards of care for adults and children, quality public health services, good public roads, safe pavements, local and reliable bus services, incentives to promote economic development. These are the things I value and what I want to see across Leicestershire.

The budget deficit we have incurred to satisfy demand for our services, due to a significant shortfall in funding per head of population from central government, considering our statutory obligations to deliver services across a vast rural county, means we have some urgent matters to attend to. This is where our priority needs to focus not on slogans or gimmicks.

I am not so arrogant as to believe that there aren’t other perspectives or ways of looking at things, but this is where I come from, politically, and I am proud to say, that Margaret Thatcher had a profound and enduring influence on me and my political development.

So, here is my personal, broader manifesto, these are my beliefs in no particular order:

• As a staunch monarchist, I hold a profound sense of pride in Britain’s rich history and firmly believe in maintaining a robust defence budget. I advocate for allocating 5% of our GDP to this purpose, ensuring a robust defence capability.
• Regarding energy security, I support the extraction of oil reserves to guarantee a stable energy supply within our borders. However, I also believe in the radical overhaul of our energy market and the expansion of alternative energy sources. Mini-nuclear power generation should be made our primary source of stable energy long term, whilst harnessing the benefits of solar energy on new homes, and wind power offshore.
• In the context of net-zero ambition, I believe it should not be imposed upon the British people. Instead, it should be significantly scaled back. Britain has made substantial progress in reducing its carbon emissions, surpassing that of any other industrial nation. However, our pursuit of net-zero purity has put us at a competitive disadvantage.
• Regarding health and welfare, I am committed to the principle of free care at the point of delivery. However, I advocate for a comprehensive overhaul of the welfare state, including the provision of benefits, the National Health Service (NHS), and social services. What we have is a system that was created in 1947, and has become the sacred cow of our nation and the plaything of dishonest politicians, whilst no-longer delivering the needs of the 21st Century. While I support an honest debate on these issues, I believe that we cannot continue to allocate 40% plus of all budget expenditure to these areas without receiving tangible improvements in return.
• In order to truly reform our country, we need to overhaul the public sector, the employment relationships and numbers of people employed by the state. It has become bloated and inefficient and the terms of employment and gold-plated, non-contributory pension pots that only the tax-payer can envy, must be scaled back dramatically and in line with the commensurate earnings and benefits of the private sector.
• I favour a low taxation economy where income is not the primary focus of taxation, but rather expenditure is. I would radically overhaul our tax system to ensure that hard work is rewarded, and thresholds before paying tax encourage work, not welfare.
• I believe that we cannot continue to live in a welfarist culture where wealth is despised and success is repudiated. We must end the nonsense of inheritance taxes, particularly for our farmers, and remove capital gains taxation and the iniquitous stamp duty on the purchase of homes under £1m.
• As a Conservative, I hold strong beliefs in upholding truth, tradition, and fairness. This encompasses acknowledging the biological reality of the existence of two distinct sexes: male and female. However, it also entails respecting the inherent dignity of each individual. Displaying the Pride flag in the quadrangle of County Hall, for example, does not constitute ideology nor does it undermine tradition; rather, it embodies our commitment to serving all Leicestershire residents equitably, ensuring that they feel valued and respected. This is not a political act; it is a leadership principle. Inclusion and common sense can and should coexist harmoniously.
• In parallel, I aspire to create a society that promotes integration and values individuals based on their character, reputation, and abilities, rather than their racial or religious background. It is paramount that all individuals seeking to reside in the United Kingdom do so legally and possess proficiency in English. Effective management of illegal immigration at the border and the processing of asylum applications in a third country, away from our shores, are essential to achieve this goal. To accomplish this, it is imperative that the Refugee Convention and the European Court of Human Rights be removed from our legal framework, and a British Bill of Rights be reinstated, governed and determined by our Supreme Court.
• Furthermore, we must ensure that our police forces are adequately resourced and focused on addressing genuine crime rather than perceived thought crime. It is crucial to re-establish that in a democratic society, freedom of speech may occasionally cause discomfort, but our response should not be to prohibit or restrict speech or opinions that we find objectionable. Freedom with responsibility entails placing no individual or belief above others. Consequently, we should punish incitement to violence but not thoughts or expressions that are foreign to our own cultural context.
• I advocate for the reinstatement of the death penalty for crimes involving the murder or abuse of children, as well as the murder of those who serve the Crown to protect our nation. Advancements in modern forensic techniques enable us to have a higher degree of certainty (admittedly it’s not fool proof) in determining the guilt of individuals involved in heinous crimes. If such convictions are indeed beyond reasonable doubt, the imposition of the death penalty should be mandated, otherwise, life should mean life, for every life taken.
• Restorative justice should be the cornerstone of our justice system, ensuring that criminals are held accountable for their actions and undergo appropriate rehabilitation. Judges should have less discretion in sentencing, prioritising the public’s well-being and ensuring that justice is not only served effectively, but seen to be served effectively.
• I firmly believe in the United Kingdom, not in a fragmented collection of four distinct nations. Together, we are stronger, particularly outside the European Union. As a member of the European arm of NATO’s defence of Europe, we play a crucial role in safeguarding our continent and globally, in partnership with our Commonwealth relationships and alliances.
• Education is the foundation of any successful nation. It is imperative that we prevent any ideology from infiltrating our educational system. Instead of promoting an idealised vision of a utopian world, we must equip children with the practical realities of the contemporary world. Education should be a priority for all citizens, and we must maintain or enhance standards in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
• Our universities should rationalise courses that are essentially non-essential luxuries at the expense of taxpayers. Prioritising the provision of non-academic education and training is crucial to ensure that individuals acquire the necessary skills for our nation’s sustained development. This includes all skills required for the construction of roads, houses, factories, and technologies that will facilitate our nation’s growth and prosperity. For too long almost meaningless academic success has been prioritised over the accomplishment in trades and non-academic education. This must end.
• Trade unions have a legitimate place in society. However, they have become associated with the Labour Party, which no longer represents the aspirations of working people. I recall the three-day week and the Dickensian atmosphere of parts of my childhood, characterised by candle lights and kerosine lamps, when unions attempted to undermine democracy in Britain. I vowed to stand firm against the abuse of union power advocated by Scargill and modern day Scargillites like Mick Lynch, and to ensure that a strong democratic principle remains at the forefront of all decisions made by unions.