WOLVERHAMPTON, West Midlands – 7pm: Friday May 7^th, 2021

I wish to congratulate the Conservative and Unionist Party’s Jonathan Crofts and Ellis Turrell, on their impressive victories in yesterday’s election - for the two City of Wolverhampton Council members for the ward of Tettenhall Wightwick.

Regardless of our party differences, I give them both my warmest and good personal wishes and hope they will enjoy and embrace their shortened Term of Office, before the All Out Election under the new boundaries, on May 5^th, 2022.

I also thank my fellow candidates from the Greens and Liberal Democrats, for their contribution to this democratic process – which again resulted in the biggest percentage turnout in the city at 46.64% and I fully extend my best wishes to Chris Brookes, Andrea Cantrill, Peter Hollis and David Marsh.

I give my biggest thanks to my fellow candidate Walker Darke (who has a massive political future here!), my agent Barbara Gwinnett, Don Gwinnett, Allan Hargraves, Chester Morrison, Helen Lewis, Michelle Binfield and the whole Tettenhall Labour team, for the terrific support shown, the advice given and the tens of hours; spent pounding the pavements and for many across the ward up to SIX bits of Election Material!

Most of all, I wish to give my biggest thanks to the 789 residents of Wightwick, who expressed their support at the ballot box, and I state to those folks directly, that your expression of trust, is an experience that I will forever be grateful for. And even if this week ended in defeat, I give a personal undertaking, that I will fight for what you believe within – today and always.

This election; in my mind, was all about expressing what a new, compassionate and decent kind of representation can look like within a ward which has a proud history and a future to embrace. That need for a cleaner and more accessible area, which has better transport, a more co-operative nature of doing things, engagement with our young people, safer housing, well paid jobs and showcasing culture among much more to boot, will form an even bigger part of activism moving forward.

On the result, it was always going be extremely interesting what a 2 Member Ward Election; with all 4 parties having 2 candidates a piece would mean. But Walker standing alongside me, has resulted an increase of our votes and vote share since May 2019 and has laid the foundations, to build upon at future elections.

As part of that consideration and as stated in October, was to originally not seek nomination for 2022 – as a result of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and my desire, not to both burnout and be strained; under one of the most unique years of my life and also enable a smooth transition into new employment post the Games in late 2022/early 2023.

However: with all 60 seats are up for grabs thanks to the long awaited Boundary Changes and this election’s gut wrenching results both nationally and at a City Level – with the loss of 5 Council seats and some incredible servants in Deputy Leader Louise Miles in Oxley and Labour Group Secretary Alan Bolshaw in Merry Hill, I intend to consult with party colleagues; across the city in the coming weeks on reversing my original thinking.

Simply put – I wish not to see the party I love, put on the rack in such a manner and ever again see visibly upset colleagues, realising that opportunities to serve has been denied. The full scale of Labour’s losses in May 2021, put the West Midlands party into unchartered territory and If I seeked to remain on the Local Campaign Forum Panel of Candidates for Wolverhampton and possibly be selected again, I would look to be as truthful as possible, to help enable better days being ahead.

Despite the negatives, I am utterly delighted to see Christopher Burden claim victory in Fallings Park and become our city’s youngest Councillor! Chris is a man with a big heart and whose experiences, will give my neighbouring ward the best possible representation.

Alongside work and Labour and Co-operative Party activism, it’s my intention to also consider what my next role in the West Midlands Young Combined Authority should be and I fully endeavour, to play as active as part in the YCA – knowing of the opportunity the YCA Board has in getting our Vision document into action.

Regardless of what the next 12 months politically holds, I am massive grateful for such an opportunity – in both seeking to serve The Labour and Co-operative Party’s and a beautiful part of Wolverhampton but learn much more – about such special communities like Wightwick and its people; one of which, will contribute to our City of Opportunity’s successes: forever and always.

ENDS