Richard Walker

My aim in entering politics is to make other people’s lives better. To give something back. To serve.

I will strive to bring about positive change for our country in vital areas such as health and education; to create genuine equality of opportunity for all; to liberate and encourage wealth creators; and to improve the prospects for our planet as a whole through positive action on the environment.

I strongly support the NHS as one of the pillars of our national life, though I believe that there is significant scope to improve its efficiency and to tighten its focus on front line care, rather than on equality, diversity and “lived experience”.

I am also committed to excellence in State education, and to ensuring that we enable and empower every child to fulfil his or her full potential.

I will seek to focus on the everyday things that really matter: meeting cost-of-living challenges, improving accessing to healthcare, upgrading the transport infrastructure, improving local rail and bus connections, providing an electric vehicle charging network that is fit for purpose, and improving broadband and mobile coverage. I recognise that the basics – like filling potholes and picking up litter – have a material impact on everyone’s quality of life.