Fergie

Your independent candidate for MP

I am a genuinely Independent Councillor who has served at the highest levels of local politics, and represented 40% of the people in the new constituency.

I will always put your interests first — not those of a political party.
I believe in collaboration over conflict — I won’t engage in tribalistic party political bickering.
I will always vote with my conscience, supporting the government when they get it right, and being a thorn in their side when they don’t.
I will invite scrutiny and embrace challenge — I am happy to justify any vote that I make on your behalf.
I’ll work with people across the political spectrum to ensure our region is not trampled over in the stampede for growth in Cambridge.

Public services

Investment versus Austerity

The name changed, but the plan remained the same: 14 years of austerity have devastated the UK and claimed more lives than COVID-19. This destructive agenda must end. We can’t grow our economy without investing in people and their well-being — I will campaign for robust investment in our vital public services and infrastructure.

Housing

The Wrong Houses?

We need more houses, but the plans for 250,000 of them would destroy the rural nature of our region forever. Too often, developers fail to honour big promises. Our ‘new towns’ of Cambourne and Northstowe have much to admire, but time and again residents tell me their needs have been forgotten. Northstowe has no GP. No public transport. No leisure facilities. Not even a pub or a shop!

My vision is not just for homes, but for communities. With both affordable and social housing. Where people can thrive, with access to jobs, shops, GPs, leisure facilities, transport links and infrastructure. I want Cambourne, Northstowe and Wintringham to feel a part of this region — we must plan and build things right.

Nature

Floods: Preventing Disaster

Working on the Regional Flood Committee, I uncovered a dismal legacy of crumbling flood defences. A direct result of over a decade of chronic underfunding. I helped establish the resident-run Flood Action Groups that have been crucial in filling that void. I also proved that our drains were neglected for over five years — a shocking revelation that helped wrestle control of the County Council from the Conservatives.

Youth

Investing In our Youth

Young people — our future — were hit the hardest by austerity and lockdowns. School and college were interrupted. Work became more isolating. Youth facilities closed. More parents than ever rely on foodbanks. We must invest in our young people. Give them more opportunities, better facilities, and a greater say in decisions that affect them.

I do my bit. When Revamp the Ramp set out to raise the huge sums needed to renovate the ageing skate park, I kicked off their campaign with a sponsored hike along the Ouse Valley Way. I was proud to see them hit their target recently — but we owe all our kids a better start in life.

Transport

Trains, Planes and Automobiles

Public transport has to deliver a real alternative to driving. The Greater Cambridge Partnership’s congestion charge was never going to do that, and would have made working too costly for too many. So I didn’t back it.

I was the first politician to call for the GCP to be scrapped. It’s spent huge sums without delivering better transport. It bet the house on buses (didn’t consider very light rail or trams!), then derailed its own plans with the congestion-charge farce! It’s failed to protect our chalk streams and countryside. And it wanted to demolish Coton orchard. I support a busway but not that route, so I voted against it.

If East West Rail were designed to serve our region, there’d be a station in St Neots, the area’s largest town. Instead, it opens the back door to put vast new housing developments on our countryside. I support an Oxford to Cambridge railway in principle. But not a diesel service that doesn’t get us into Cambridge or Bedford and out of our cars — I will urge the government to re-examine the plans.

I was the loudest voice opposing the Luton Airport flight path changes that have shattered the tranquility of our rural communities.