By Isle of Wight Observer
Earlier this year I was sat putting the world to rights with Cllr Michael Lilley (who represents Ryde Appley & Elmfield). He had come to Grace’s Bakery to discuss local projects that we might be interested in being involved in. Soon the conversation veered off into discussing the problems of housing, dentistry and the cost-of-living crisis. To my surprise, Cllr Lilley asked me if I had ever thought of standing in an election. Up until that moment, I probably would have said “Definitely not”! But he got me thinking.
Why shouldn’t I give it a go?
I think we’re so used to seeing professional politicians on TV that we often feel disconnected from our democracy. Sometimes it feels like it is something that is done around us and not something we’re all doing together. I wanted to stand because I wanted to take part in the process; I felt tired of being frustrated on the sidelines. I chose to stand for the Liberal Democrats because they share my passion for empowering the individual to make their voice heard.
Our representatives are supposed to be representative of us all, but when I looked at the council I felt there was a gap. Nationally, the average age of councillors is 60 years old, with the under 45s representing only 16 per cent. On our own council, just 9 out of the 39 of us are women. Everyone has different life experiences; we don’t all see things in the same way. So, when we’re problem-solving and making plans for our Island’s future, we need a variety of perspectives in the room if we want the best outcomes.
I would love to see more younger people engaged with our local democracy. I remember being 16 years old and enthralled by the referendum to change our voting system. I spent ages researching different ways of electing representatives and wished I was just a little bit older. I remember feeling at that time that change was possible and we didn’t have to put up with the same old politics if we didn’t want to. I still believe that now. You can be the change you want to see in the world.
I’ve been in post for almost two weeks now, and much of that time I’ve spent introducing myself to people, listening and learning.
I put myself forward in the election being completely honest with people on the doorstep: I don’t have all the answers and I won’t pretend to know everything. But what I can offer is that I’m open to listening. I think it’s incredibly important to learn from the people you represent, to take their voices and amplify them.
It can seem a bit scary to put yourself out there and knock on people’s doors, but from my experience in Wootton, people are friendly and happy to chat. One wonderful woman even rushed out and handed me a cold can of Coke on a hot day! I met a lot of different people with fascinating backgrounds and life stories. I met one lovely gentleman who spent his younger years working in bakeries around London, just like my dad did, and a woman who told me stories of campaigning for the Liberal Party before they merged with the Social Democrats in the 80s.
In May 2025, all 39 council seats will be up for election. It’s your chance to be the change you want to see. If you feel you have the time, compassion and energy to serve your community, then what are you waiting for?