Eastleigh local election: Candidates profiles - part one

There are 14 wards in the borough of Eastleigh represented by 39 councillors and there will be elections in all except West End North and West End South.

There are 50 candidates standing in total for the following parties: 10 Labour, 12 Conservatives, 12 Liberal Democrats, 11 Green, two Independents, two Reform UK, and one Labour and Co-operative.

Currently, there are 35 Liberal Democrats, one Conservative and three Independent group councillors who make up the borough council.

Bishopstoke

Christian Brookes (Labour)

I’m Christian, I have lived in Eastleigh for four years and I’m passionate about our local community. We have a positive vision to revitalise Eastleigh and put the area on a footing to reverse the damage done to our community while the Lib Dems have been in power for the last 30 years. We are the only party with a local manifesto, and with myself and other Labour councillors elected, we can turn the tide of Lib Dem and Tory cuts in our area.

Ben Burcombe-Filer (Conservative)

Ben is your Conservative candidate for Bishopstoke. Ben is a keen campaigner for the Conservative Party.

Ben has lived in the area his entire life and has a strong interest in disability rights and education. As well as standing for borough council, Ben is also standing for parish council.

Ben says: “I feel strongly that the residents of Bishopstoke need a voice that will speak up for the issues of all residents and if elected, I promise to be that voice.”

Gin Tidridge (Independent)

I’ve served Bishopstoke on the council since 2018. I originally decided to stand because I felt councillors were failing to listen to local residents’ concerns and were simply following their party’s line.

As an independent, I base my decisions based on the local community’s needs. I have challenged where improvements are needed, for example, regarding the enormous and growing cost of the One Horton Heath development. I am pushing for Stoke Park Farm to be designated a local nature reserve so that it is protected for the long term.

Anne Margaret Winstanley (Lib Dem)

Anne is a former borough and parish councillor with years of experience working for her community in Bishopstoke. She has helped lead the Greening Campaign and helps to manage the BCA building. She chairs a local charity supporting people in need and volunteers with Good Neighbours.

Botley

Joy Haythorne (Conservative)

Joy has been involved in local politics for many years.

Joy says: “I am concerned about the level of debt at Eastleigh Borough Council, and the huge monthly repayments which adds up to over £3.5million a year. This is simply not sustainable. Eastleigh Borough Council cannot be allowed to continue to mark their own homework.”

David Geoffrey Ian Kinloch (Lib Dem)

Dave lives in Boorley Park with his family and works as a nurse at Southampton General Hospital. A keen runner, he regularly raises money for charitable causes while taking on Park Runs, 10kms, and half marathons. In his very limited spare time, he plays in a local orchestra.

Anna-Belle Skinner (Green)

No response received.

Bursledon and Hound North

Nick Arnold (Conservative)

No response received.

Katie Louise Court (Green)

No response received.

Steve Holes (Lib Dem)

Recently retired, Steve lives with his wife Tina in Bursledon. He has represented his area since 2004, chairing multiple committees in that time. He is a keen ballroom dancer.

Andrew Merewether-Helps (Labour)

No response received.

Chandler’s Ford

Nathaniel Joseph Joyce (Green)

No response received.

Shelagh Lee (Conservative)

Shelagh has lived in Chandler’s Ford for her entire life and is proud to be a resident of a thriving community.

Shelagh says: “Community is very important to me as I deeply believe that by supporting each other we become stronger. I have a proven record of working with local community groups and teach performing arts in a local school. If I am elected I will work for our local community to help address the issues which are important to you.

We want excellent core services from our councils and improvements where possible and affordable. What we do not want is for our money to be frittered away on risky commercial investments and projects which are of little or no benefit to our community whilst increasing the council’s long-term debt.”

David Pragnell (Lib Dem)

Dave is a long-serving Eastleigh borough and Chandler’s Ford parish councillor. He founded and currently leads the Move the Barriers campaign, which works to make the town more accessible for residents with mobility issues. He also serves as deputy mayor of Eastleigh.

Zak Southward (Labour)

I’ve lived in Chandler’s Ford for the last decade and will be a strong voice for our community on Eastleigh Borough Council. Currently the Liberal Democrats have an almost monopoly on our borough council allowing it to get away with endless wasteful spending whilst increasing your council tax and cutting public services. It’s no surprise that we’ve all recently received yet another increased council tax bill for the year! Chandler’s Ford deserves a strong voice on our council that will be advocating for our town as well as holding the economically incompetent council leadership to account.

Labour has recently launched a new local manifesto to build a better Eastleigh with a long-term vision to achieve real change in our community. If elected, I would get to work on day one to deliver change for Chandler’s Ford and accountability on our council.

Eastleigh Central

Josh Constable (Labour and Co-operative Party)

I live in central Eastleigh, and work for the NHS in the town. I am also leader of the Labour group on Eastleigh Town Council.

I have spent seven years campaigning in Eastleigh because I want to make Eastleigh the vibrant, community town it once was and can be again. I’m standing because I have a plan to make Eastleigh better and because I have the record of standing up for residents.

It feels like our town and our whole country is in decline. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can do things differently. Sadly, the Liberal Democrat and Conservatives have no interest in taking the positive action our town needs. After 27 years in power, they are out of ideas, out of touch and out of time. Labour are the only party standing this election with a detailed plan of what we would do differently

Alexander Conrad Culley (Reform UK)

I moved to Eastleigh in 2016 and have strong roots in the local area. A glutton for punishment, I can regularly be found at the Silverlake or St Mary’s! A lawyer by trade, in 2021 I founded a consultancy based near Southampton Airport. This seeks to help clients active in the financial services industry meet their legal obligations.

As I see it, as at early April 2024, Eastleigh Central faces three big challenges. 

The “one party state” in Eastleigh is putting public services, and your finances, at risk!

In December 2023 it was reported in the national press that the UK Government had ordered Eastleigh Borough Council to reduce its debt. This was after a report published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy found that the borough council owed £525m in March 2022.

Today, Eastleigh Borough Council is made up of 35 Liberal Democrats, three Independents and only one Conservative. Is it any wonder that the borough council finds itself in this shocking predicament? There is little chance of effective scrutiny in such an imbalanced borough council. If I were to win a seat on the borough council, I could put my deep knowledge and experience of financial matters at your service to hold this Liberal Democrat administration to account.

Wayne Irish (Lib Dem)

Wayne is Eastleigh Borough’s longest serving councillor, being one of the first Liberals elected in the Town in the 1970s. He also volunteers as a school governor, at a local care home, and is involved in just about every community group in Eastleigh. Everyone knows someone who has been helped by Wayne.

Yogesh Saxena (Conservative)

He lives and works in Eastleigh. His children attend local schools and he is involved in many local community groups and charities.

Yogesh is standing in Eastleigh Central as he feels that his fellow residents deserve someone who will act as an advocate for them.

Yogesh says: “There are many issues I feel strongly about; the exodus of businesses from our town centre, the parking charges, crime and anti-social behaviour. If elected I pledge to ensure the council works with the community to implement change. Please let me know of any issues that concern you so I can help.”

Stapleton Jack (Green)

No response received.

Eastleigh North

Ryan Kenneth Gordon Elger (Green)

No response received.

Carl Hunter (Conservative)

Carl Hunter grew up and was educated in Eastleigh North and so has a strong sense of pride in his local community and area.

 He gained a BSc Hons in Accounting and Finance in 2021 and is currently working as an assistant nvestment manager for an international investment company.

Carl’s knowledge of finance has been instrumental in his decision to stand for Eastleigh North in the up-coming elections.

“I am deeply concerned about EBC’s investment strategy which has in part led to the enormous debt. If elected I promise to hold EBC to account. “

Sarah Jutsum (Labour)

Hello, I’m Sarah and I’m standing to be the Labour councillor for Eastleigh North. With our positive vision for Eastleigh, we can make our community safer, tackle crime, and make our environment a better place to live. We are the only party with a manifesto in Eastleigh, so we’re transparent about what we’ll do when we’re elected to council. With Labour councillors representing you at Eastleigh Borough Council, we can turn the tide of Lib Dem and Tory destitution in our town. Labour is the only party offering a real programme of change in Eastleigh, so with a vote for me you can turn our town around.

Tanya Park (Lib Dem)

Tanya has lived in Eastleigh for the past 15 years and is an administrator for a national charity. She also has her own software business. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her wife and dogs. She is one of the few Transgender councillors elected in the UK.

Eastleigh South

Alex George Bourne (Lib Dem)

Alex lives in Eastleigh with his wife and son. He serves as chair of the Eastleigh Local Area Committee and a school governor at Nightingale School. In his spare time, he can be found supporting Eastleigh FC at Silverlake Stadium.

Clare Lorraine Fawcett (Reform UK)

I have stood four times now for Reform UK since 2021, making me an experienced local politician with a demonstrable track record of engaging with constituents.

I have lived and worked in Eastleigh since 2011 and care deeply about the town and borough I feel lucky enough to call home.

As a taxpayer, I have become increasingly disappointed and frustrated in the quality of public services provided by the council and its stakeholders. Once elected, I will work tirelessly to slash unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape to free up money to improve the services we receive from the Council which have been deteriorating year on year. I will be a challenging, robust voice on the council, something which has been sadly lacking due to the Liberal Democrat monopoly.

The Liberal Democrat-controlled Eastleigh Council is on the brink of bankruptcy due to their financial mismanagement over decades which has created thousands of pounds of debt for every single Eastleigh resident. This needs to stop and I will hold them to account at every opportunity to the benefit of Eastleigh residents.

We all deserve value for money public services that deliver positive, tangible results; be that something as basic as getting our bins emptied on time right through to revitalising the town centre which has very sadly changed beyond all recognition over the last few years; what once used to be a vibrant shopping hub is now a wasteland of empty units. Eastleigh residents deserve more than the council is currently delivering.

Steve Phillips (Labour)

Eastleigh is a fantastic borough with a diverse population. There are many issues to be tackled which are not currently being addressed.

Housing is the number one topic with disarray. We would like to see the re-instatement of council dwellings where young families, currently paying sky high rents, can benefit from truly affordable rent.

Coupled with housing is infrastructure. The road network is now at saturation point and we have a situation where the borough and county councils seem to be a world apart. We would insist infrastructure has to come before development and it is a disgrace we are in this position.

I myself live and work in the borough and I am passionate about our working rights and making sure we maintain the excellent standards most of us have. Alas, I see more people struggling in the borough and this needs to addressed as the knock-on effect for the future is worrying.

Natalie Roebuck (Green)

No response received.

Roger Allen Vivian (Conservative)

My name is Roger Vivian, my family and I have lived in Eastleigh for over 35 years.

I retired from Hampshire Police September in 2005, having been a uniformed officer for 10 years, and a Detective Constable for 20 years.

In 2007 I bought a small private hire/taxi company with three vehicles and seven drivers. I am very much a family man and treat my company as part of my family. I am very proud to have seen my local business grow to now have 30 vehicles and drivers.

Politics has always interested me and I have always been a Conservative. A vote for a Conservative local councillor will have a real impact in Eastleigh South, so please make the effort to vote for me in May 2024.