a local candidate creating change

I was brought up in Southend in a family dedicated to public service. My mum had been a midwife in the East End before becoming a nurse, health visitor and then a Community Health Lead. My dad left school at 15 and was apprenticed as a joiner before joining the church and becoming a minister. They had grown up in hardship and felt it their duty to step up and gave back. They were pragmatic and principled, and they passed on those values to their children.

Both my sisters became nurses in south Essex. One is now a diabetes specialist, the other now co-leads a food bank. I went to university, did a PhD and became an academic. I’ve specialised in the history of marginalised women and girls and their treatment by the criminal justice and care systems. I’ve always been committed to using my research to promote social justice. 

In recent years I’ve advised the Victims Commissioner on the code of victims’ rights, worked with Colchester Borough Council on tackling the causes of anti-social behaviour, and evaluated the work of Hertfordshire Police on so-called ‘honour-based violence’ against women. I was a lay member of the Suffolk Family Justice Panel for several years and I worked with local authorities and third sector organisations to develop new services for mothers in Ipswich whose babies had been taken into care. I’m proud to say that other services inspired by that work have since been rolled out across the country.

I’ve also presented two BBC television series on labour history: one on servants and another on shopgirls. I was very pleased to be able to tell the stories of women who are so often ignored in standard accounts of the past.

Elected as a councillor in May 2021, I see my role as driving change. I helped the Labour Group and local party develop a manifesto ahead of this year’s local elections. I’ve pushed for revisions in our local economic strategy to bring growth and jobs to Colchester. In my role as Portfolio-holder for Culture and Heritage I’ve pressed for our excellent cultural institutions to work together to attract more visitors to Colchester. I want our new city status to deliver prosperity for our people.

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As a ward councillor, I've worked with Cllr Kayleigh Rippingale and Cllr Sam McLean on the 'Reclaim the Folleys' campaign, tackling the causes of anti-social behaviour in public spaces, supporting community gardens, allotments and orchards and reviving the New Town youth club.

In short, I have a proven track record in creating progressive change. I want to take that to national level and co-create change in Colchester.