Bob Webb is originally from a village near Preston but moved to York to study Physics and Astrophysics at the University of York in 2005. Bob followed his passion of getting people engaged in Science, studied for a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and became a secondary Science teacher in the City.

Bob is the secretary and trustee at Tang Hall Community Centre, a staff school governor and has been supporting councillors in Heworth by speaking to residents to support them in their local communities by helping them submit queries and concerns to the local council. During his time in the public sector Bob has not only been a full-time teacher but also a school union representative, a local officer and Regional Chair of the National Union of Teachers (that has recently become part of the National Education Union). He chose this route as an activist due to the damages he saw happening to childrens’ education and learning caused by the Conservative government’s policy of narrowing students’ chances and privatising the sector. As part of this role Bob has organised several conferences here in York on the themes of keeping a broad and balanced curriculum that have drawn in support from the public, academics and across the political spectrum.

Bob joined theLabour Party in 2016 to continue this work for local people because he saw that it is a real movement for change to improve local communities.

“I am standing for the City of York Council because it is the local community that I serve as a teacher. I have seen first-hand the effects that the cuts of austerity have had on communities throughout York. From my background as a teacher I have seen how a lack of access to Youth Groups, Education Psychologists or School Nursing can have a detrimental impact on families. As a resident I have seen how national austerity and local mismanagement has led to a stagnant council that struggles to act in any real, meaningful way. I want to see local investment in York, I want to see strong, cohesive communities throughout York that have a strong voice that speak for all residents. I believe that I have the ability to help residents gain that voice.”