Unlike his opponents Nigel has not just arrived for this election. Over the last four years, 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. He has 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 

Help for small businesses and job creation 

There are more people unemployed locally now than there were before Labour came to power & one of Nigel's main priorities is to campaign for help for local businesses and job creation. Having spoken with many local firms and being a businessman himself, Nigel realises the pressure that small businesses are under during this recession. 

Nigel believes Government and local councils need to be doing much more to safeguard companies and jobs including reducing taxation, red tape and ongoing costs of employment. Recovery is not possible without a vibrant local economy in an area where people want to live and spend their hard earned money.

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Help for savers and pensioners 

Nigel thinks that the "forgotten victims" of this recession are savers and pensioners, who are suffering as the income from their savings falls. Part of his campaign included organising a street stall in Selby where he was joined by Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Grayling MP in asking residents and shoppers to send Gordon Brown a plea to take-up Conservative proposals to cut taxes on savings and other measures to help build a savings culture.

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Are windfarms the answer to our energy problems?

There are a number of large windfarm proposals being proposed in our local area and more are being scoped for suitability. Whilst agreeing that we need to have wind energy as part of a renewable energy mix, Nigel is concerned about proposals that would have an environmental and social impact on local neighbourhoods.

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Fuel poverty now affecting 1 in 5 families

According to Age Concern, one in five families is now estimated to live in fuel poverty. Nigel wants urgent new measures to help families and pensioners in the Selby & Ainsty area who are facing soaring energy bills and are struggling to make ends meet. The average gas and electricity bill across Yorkshire has now soared to £1263.00 a year.

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