About

I have been a Wandsworth Labour councillor since 1971 and for Latchmere ward since 1982. For 27 of those years, I was the Leader of the Labour Group of councillors and indeed for a very brief period, 3 months, I was Leader of the Council.

I have been what was then called the Chairman of the Planning Committee, now the Cabinet member for Planning, before strategic planning and planning applications were split. But for many years my priority has been overall policy decisions made by the Council.

I dislike the relatively new (2000) executive structure, which I consider an attempt to strengthen central control of local authorities by the Leader and his closest allies against the interests of backbench councillors.

I have supported Spurs ever since I lived within 400 yards of the Lane at the age of 6-8, though I admit my support is largely limited to the newspapers and TV!

I do the normal stuff of film, theatre, occasional opera and concert but actually I am never happier than lying on a Scottish cliff-top watching puffins, guillemots, razorbills and gannets.

I am Vice-Chair of Governors of Battersea Park School and a few other things besides, such as Treasurer of the Battersea Labour Party and of the Labour environmental lobby group SERA.

I used to think of myself as a pretty much middle of the road Labour member but now find, in the classic way, that whilst I have not fundamentally changed my perspectives and values the party has gone so far right that I am very much on the left! Old friends are allowed to laugh!