I have just turned 33 years old.
I was born in Oldham and have spent my life in Lees, Watersheddings, Derker, Waterhead, Exeter, Holts and Littlemoor.
I am currently in a one bedroom council Flat on Littlemoor.
I attended Watersheddings primary School before moving onto Counthill School and continuing my education at Oldham College.
I then spent 3 years reading Physics as an undergraduate at Exeter University, where I was also elected chairman of the debating society.
I have worked various agency jobs and worked for a software company in Manchester called GSI inc.
Whilst living on Holts I served on the Estate Management Board.
I am not married and have no children. This gives me the time to spend actively working for the improvement of the ward.
In the last year I was elected onto East Oldham Area Committee. At this committee I developed a reputation for plain speaking and making my opposition known to stupid money wasting decisions. For example, a grant application came for an organisation which would only allow female muslims access. This was totally wrong and divisive, sexist, racist and discriminatory. Can you imagine if a white mens drinking club applied? I expressed my views and the committee came around to this point of view and the application was rejected. Another application came in whereby a private business applied for several thousands of pounds to install a barrier to their private car park! Due to the fact that only elected councillors were able to vote on it, I was not able to influence the vote against it but my views were taken on board. There are many other examples of bad decisions which I was able to counteract.
Also through my membership of East Oldham Area Committee I was invited to a number of other organisations and one in particular, Oldham good relations by Mediation Northern Ireland, was another good example of what I have done. The meetings consisted of four, NINE hours sessions which I attended volutarily. The majority of the attendees were "the usual suspects", Race advisers, community "leaders", "faith" leaders e.t.c and there were a small group of what I call "normal oldhamers". Through our attendance, we were able to express the real views of the unspoken Oldhamers. We were able to tell those attendees the things they don't normally hear. This is the kind of action I will carry forward when elected.
Unlike nearly half the candidates who are standing for election, I actually live in the heart of the ward. How can someone from Delph or Greenfield possibly know the day to day problems of the people of Waterhead ward?
On May 1st, Give Waterhead a special voice. Vote INDEPENDENT, Vote ALLSOPP.