Manifesto

OVERVIEW

I stand for:

a fairer electoral system;

democratisation;

and decentralisation of powers

• with proportional representation for one House (i.e. the Lords) and constituency-based election in the other (i.e. the Commons)

I will lobby for:

an improvement of local services

• to restore the Marlow branch-line to High Wycombe;
• to restore Minor Injuries services at St Mark's Hospital;
• to simplify train ticketing between Elizabeth line/GWR services
• to create a new central bus station offering fast services to satellites and neighbouring towns

protection of the green belt

• making keeping green areas of land between Maidenhead and outlying towns/villages a planning priority
• favouring small developments over large ones
• saying “no” to the new Cookham crematorium being built on land next to the Switchback Road
• with the creation of a Maidenhead Great Park

I also wish to:

improve social/welfare access

• by setting up an office to help people access social security net services (i.e. paperwork for those needing welfare help; signposting for other services)

GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE

- A new bicameral system

The House of Lords needs to be replaced with or reformed into an elected chamber. I suggest this chamber be organised on a party-list proportional representation basis.

The Commons, meanwhile, should be voted in using two-round constituency voting - allowing for the so-called tactical vote to become clearer and preventing the presence of unrepresentative MPs.

I would also welcome any attempts to improve the recall petition facility currently given by a 2015 Act of Parliament.

- Regionalisation

I think the U.K. could benefit from a simplified, stratified system of local and regional government. U.K. regions should initially be drawn on historical lines. They would be subdivided into counties and then local authorities. A simpler system such as this could reduce bureaucracy and lead to more efficient public spending.

Maidenhead and Berkshire would become part of the Wessex region as defined by the Wessex Regionalist Party, subject to approval via a referendum in which I would campaign for a devolved Wessex assembly.

The U.K. is increasingly devolving with new metro areas made and recently new powers given to Cornwall Council. Devolution should be offered equally to all the country and regions drawn on historical - not administrative or party political lines.

- A family of nations

The U.K. as sovereign state is not a nation but a family of nations and we should respect history and cultural differences. I support referenda being given to each nation, including Cornwall, and suggest a levelling of powers between the devolved nations - no special cases for any particular nation, leading towards a semi-federalised state.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

- Self-determination

I support the right of all peoples to self-determination and believe the best way to avoid armed conflict is to allow people to determine their nationhood according to referenda. Where armed conflict does arise the U.K.'s guiding principle should be to allow expression of the rights of self-determination, as opposed to irredentism or non-consenting expansionism.

- Arms sales

I shall advocate that the U.K. should not provide weaponry or arms to any countries under suspicion of war crimes from the United Nations and/or any of its mandated bodies. This must apply equally to all nations.

- Brexit

I shall withstand any attempt to force a referendum on re-joining the E.U. for the duration of my mandate.