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About Me

Making the decision to enter the political fray is not an easy one knowing the dedication and commitment that is required, but two years ago I decided that was exactly what I had to do. Having worked with the voluntary and charitable sector in a variety of guises since being at school and supporting disabled people to achieve their goals in my professional role, I became all too aware that much needed change doesn’t happen on its own and it won’t unless people with the right experience get involved. Change happens because people make it happen. It happens because people work hard to improve the lives of their families and others in their community, in spite of the bureaucracy, red tape and nonsensical decisions made by those who know nothing about the reality of working or living in those areas. We need to make it easier for everyone to feel they can make their contribution—not to wait for the State to fix problems. We need to make sure that people in Wales feel their voice is heard—and listened to.

Out campaigning for change

So, the first thing to say about me is that I am not a career politician. I am not someone who has lived and breathed political life to the exclusion of all else. I’m a hard working, committed, passionate, patriotic and pretty ordinary person who decided one day that I can’t leave it to other people to make decisions about my life and that of those around me. I believe I can make a difference for my community and for my country. It is that belief and my experience of working with community groups, whether on behalf of disabled people, or those who are homeless, or those who feel let down and ignored, that brings me to make the leap into politics. My maxim is, I want to be ‘on the pitch making the tackle, not on the sidelines watching’ and that is what I have done personally and professionally.

I come from a family which taught me that we need to take personal responsibility for our lives and for our communities. We are all intensely patriotic and I come with a long military heritage and served in the University Officer Training Corps and Territorial Army myself. This service ethos underpins my work and my beliefs and as JFK is quoted as saying, ‘don’t ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country’.

I made Wales my home over eleven years ago (following reading for a History degree in Liverpool) when I took up a role as a Welfare Adviser at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC). Within a short space of time I became very aware that disabled students were lacking specialist support and now ten years on as the Head of Disability, the Disability Department I set up is responsible for approximately 1000 students each year and UWIC now has a national reputation for its provision, research and contribution to the sector nationally. If you believe as I do, that education is the key to the door to people’s lives, you’ll understand why I chose to prioritise this work and passionately defend people’s rights—to study, to socialise, to make a contribution to society, to be independent. Wales is estimated to have more disabled people than in other parts of the UK and I believe everyone has a right to play a full part in society and sometimes we need to shout that message loudly!

Receiving Welsh
Woman of the Year

In November 2005 I received the Western Mail Welsh Woman of the Year Award for my work (often shouting!) on behalf of disabled people and community groups. This was a huge honour, but more importantly gave me a fantastic opportunity to have a powerful media profile to highlight issues I care passionately about. So many important issues are unfashionable or don’t receive the media attention they should. Receiving this award gave me a platform to shine a light on key issues and people who do amazing work, frequently invisible, but so vital to their communities. I continue to work with community groups across Cardiff and throughout Wales and see my entry into politics as being an extension of my work in the community - representing people’s views and ensuring everyone has a voice.

In May 2006 I was selected as the Conservative Assembly candidate representing Cardiff South and Penarth and between then and May 2007 my campaign team and I took the battle to Labour and you can read more about that campaign by following the archive link above. I have also contributed to the Conservative Party Review of Disability Policy and was invited to sit on Assembly Policy panels under Nick Bourne AM.

In January 2008 the selection process for the European Elections was held and myself and three other candidates made it onto the Conservative list. One of us will be the next Conservative MEP for Wales. I am standing because I want to give something back to the place I’ve made my home, believing I have the right mix of experience, skills and commitment to deliver for Wales. I’ve lived in both the country (Brecon and Chepstow) and in the city (Cardiff) so have a strong understanding of the challenges faced by both communities and want all of Wales to make the most of the opportunities provided by being part of Europe. Wales needs a strong voice – I believe I can be YOUR voice in Brussels.

I want a fair deal for Wales. I believe politicians should not take no for an answer. I want to be that stubborn voice for Wales. The voice that doesn’t give up and delivers for Wales.