Knowing I have applied for 6 2021 Local Election selections for The Labour Party and within all 4 meetings I’ve been invited to; that one has been defeated, means taking stock has felt more needed.

Seeing one’s dream of being in the City of Wolverhampton Council Chamber come 2021 – has 99.9% died and that in two of the selections, I was beaten by candidates who through circumstances swapped seats previously chosen for, the motivation and hope has been pummelled considerably. The opportunity to serve the city, is all that I ask and the crushing blow on my morale, of failing to achieve that in 7 months time: really demonstrates the brutality and annoyance of Labour politics.

In therefore cutting to the chase, my plan representational wise for the coming few years, will hopefully look like this:

• Seek selection, for the final ward of Tettenhall Wightwick, for the 2021 Local Elections and if selected, to run as effective and enjoyable campaign as possible – knowing Labour would need the tectonic plates and then some to shift; for us to win the ward!
• Due to the Commonwealth Games and my role on the Organising Committee, being time limited – I RULE OUT seeking nomination for the May 2022 and 2023 elections - as a result of Birmingham 2022 and the inevitable transition to new employment / postgraduate study, post the conclusion of the games
• For 2020/21, successfully serve on the West Midlands Young Combined Authority (WMYCA) – as its new Co-Portfolio Lead for Transport and if possible, for 2021/22; seek to remain on the YCA Board and enhance my position
• Continue my roles on Wolverhampton Wanderers Fans Parliament, West Midlands Trains Stakeholder Equality Group and Changing Our Lives Associate amongst many things, with a greater emphasis on personal engagement in each organisation’s projects
• Seek out other voluntary and paid opportunities, that have participation at its heart – I.E through undertaking a master’s degree at the University of Wolverhampton and naturally getting involved, with UoW Students’ Union
• And through all that, as well as seeking greater involvement within UK Young Labour, campaigning at all intervening elections across the city and beyond and the greater experience within The Labour Party and hopefully The Co-operative Party and Community Union which I have officially joined, I will then give Local Elections selections, a 2nd full tilt for either 2024 or 2026 (2025 is currently expected to a fallow year in Wolverhampton)

Of course, all of this will depend on personal circumstances, employment at the time and most of all: one’s health status. 

Knowing as I type this, that I will very soon will contact my surgery seeking advice, relating to discomfort on the right side of my head, shoulder, neck and cheek, all of the above can easily become in-significant.

Seeing that my ambitions always take time to achieve, that my speeches in selections haven’t been as focussed as they should have and that I am still only 23, wants to make me a much stronger advocate, campaigner, focussed and crucially experienced individual. 

In expressing much appreaciation, for all who have given support - whether it has been in person, via the web or through constructive comments,  the above is my hope and as the chance to do that I feel is here, I will very much look to seize it.

And come 3 years’ time perhaps, I will have a rather positive story to tell from a selection meeting – rather than not an ounce of formal feedback after a process and the standard comment of commiseration: usually something on the lines of “you’re a good candidate and you’ll win one day!”