A local man born and bred

Nigel believes that being from a community and having knowledge of local issues and problems affecting residents is a big advantage for anyone wishing to become an area's MP.

Nigel was raised in the constituency and attended Camblesforth Primary followed by Selby High School from 1978 to 1984.

Nigel commented "Having been brought up and educated here, I know the area and it's people well. When dealing with local issues, this is a great advantage as there is no substitute for first hand local knowledge".

Nigel's upbringing cannot be described as that of a "typical old school Tory". His parents moved from South Yorkshire mining villages to the Selby area in the late 1950's. His late mother worked as a school cleaner and for 20 years as a Home Help for NYCC. His father retired as school caretaker at Read School, Drax in the 1980's.

Nigel's experience

Nigel left school aged 17 and early in his work career, was made redundant. Because of this, he was inspired to set up his first business aged 26. He started his telecommunications company from scratch with a £20 a week Enterprise Allowance Scheme Government grant and the company grew successfully year on year until it was acquired by a PLC in 1999/2000.

Nigel believes strongly that people with experience of the real world outside of politics should consider contributing to public life as he believes there are too many “career politicians” in Parliament who do not have relevant life experience to draw on when representing local residents and making major decisions.

He has worked as a volunteer for the Party at elections and in between since 1992. His experience of the “real world” and years as a volunteer helped him when he contested the Labour seat of Rossendale and Darwen in Lancashire at the 2005 General Election, reducing Labour's majority to 3,676.

Effective Campaigning

Since being selected as the Conservative candidate for the new Selby and Ainsty seat in 2006, Nigel has campaigned vigorously on several issues affecting the area including organising a campaign and a Downing Street petition against Labour's Post Office closures, highlighted concerns over cuts to local NHS services including an ongoing campaign against York & North Yorkshire's PCT's decision to stop offering pain killing injections to chronic back pain sufferers.

He has also helped spearhead the campaign against the threat of Labour’s Eco Towns. He has consistently championed local businesses and he devised the recently launched Selby Means Business cheque book in conjuction with the Chamber of Trade and Selby Times which enables local residents get access to fantastic offers from local shops and businesses. He is challenging North Yorkshire County Council to relax their unfair A-Board ban on traders. Nigel has also  organised two local economy summits attended by local businesses affected by the recession. Nigel has also organised and chaired several public debates into windfarms. He has also campaigned with Tockwith residents in their victory opposing a toxic waste incinerator.

Outside Politics

Nigel is married to Claire and they have four children between the ages of 7 and 14.
Nigel is a keen sportsman and still plays cricket locally in the York Senior League. He is a charity fundraiser and is actively involved on the Yorkshire committee of The Lord's Taverners. He is also a former member of Yorkshire County Cricket Club's members committee. Nigel is a Patron of the recently launched Selby Hands of Hope charity.

He is also a Governor at Selby High School and has been Chairman of Governors at Camblesforth Primary School.