We all want to live in better, safer and more connected communities and that is why I’m standing as a candidate for North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. I have lived in York for 25 years, and over the past decade I have witnessed our emergency services struggle to meet our expectations due to the government’s slashing of their budgets. If elected, I’ll ensure we work better together to improve services.

My lived experience has made me who I am, a compassionate and inclusive advocate for the people of this region. My mother was a Yorkshire woman, born into poverty in Hull, who rose to become a teacher. My father came from a family of York teachers and glassblowers. They both instilled in me the values of education, hard work and community. I feel fortunate to have been able to raise and educate my own three children in York, a place where every day I see people manifesting our core values of mutual care and support.

As a lifelong Labour party member, a dedicated trade unionist, and a disability campaigner for over twenty years, I am committed to speaking up for the vulnerable, overlooked and marginalised. As the parent of a child with complex disabilities, I have spent decades successfully fighting to improve opportunities and services for people like my son. Locally, this includes leading the current campaign to improve access to York city centre for disabled citizens. Nationally, in my role as Trustee of Choice Support, I help oversee the multi-million pound budgets through which this charity supports those with autism and learning disabilities.

I am a self-employed single mother, working as a TV screenwriter and lecturer at Leeds University. I began as a journalist on local stories and progressed to working as a news editor at ITV Calendar before writing BAFTA and RTS Yorkshire award-winning dramas which highlight important social issues. Running my own television production company, I collaborate with people at all levels, empowering teams to work effectively and managing the finances to enable this.

My professional experience and capabilities, combined with my ability to listen and communicate, mean I have what it takes to hold the people who run our services to account.

If elected as North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner I will:

• – Fight for a fairer funding deal for North Yorkshire and for our frontline heroes
• – Embed the Fire and Rescue Service in the heart of our communities
• – Adopt a ‘Violence against Women and Girls’ strategy
• – Focus on eliminating county lines dealing
• – Combat fraud and cybercrime against the elderly

I am ready to be the voice of North Yorkshire residents, and a champion for our frontline heroes and those who work and volunteer alongside them.