I was born in Northallerton in 1988 and have lived in the local area for most of my life. As a child I witnessed the country change dramatically for the better between 1997 and 2010, and since 2010, I have watched us slip ever further backwards from our position, both locally and nationally.

My aim for the area under the new authority is to stop the short termism rampant in our politics, and try to work constructively with others to develop infrastructure and technology suitable for 2030 and beyond. To ensure North Yorkshire is an attractive place for people to live and work, businesses to invest and children to grow up safely and happily, in a cleaner and greener future.

My experience as a commercial pilot has seen me spend time living in different countries, and I have experienced different cultures and different ways of living. Both positive and negative, this experience will be invaluable to helping solve our problems with transport, traffic, housing and infrastructure, making the right decisions at the right time to really help you, our valued constituents.