Background: Lifelong Home: Pontefract. Born: 1958.

Family: 5 Children.

Qualification: BA (Hons) Geography and Transport Planning.

Political Description: “Free Market Socialist” – The application of free market economics throughout society would naturally lead to a balancing of wealth. The wealthy have a natural aptitude for accumulating riches, sometimes at the expense of the less well-off. We have seen a pick ‘n’ mix application of free market economics, under Margaret Thatcher and New Labour that has enabled the rich to increase control of wealth, by endorsing free market systems that favour themselves, whilst hypocritically abandoning the philosophy when it becomes a disadvantage to them. People should pay for any activity that exploits others unfairly, and whilst all systems are open to abuse, money is the best interpreter we have of value. The rich should still be allowed to be rich, but not by starving the poor and un-empowered.

Political Affiliation & Loyalties: National, religious, sporting or any other group loyalties are interesting and may be admirable, but the moment a politician becomes a spokesman for a particular interest group at the expense of others, the shadow of changing loyalty must be considered – when will that person decide to exclude you? I would not be motivated by anything other than the creation of optimal conditions for general welfare. I know that two teams tugging against each other cannot do as much useful work as teams working together. I would do everything within my power to represent my constituents fairly.

Why Politics?:

• Because I want to look my kids in the eye and say “well at least I tried”.
• I am thoroughly disenchanted with the domination of impression over content. I know that the world is in a poor state and that we all carry some responsibility. I believe that the vast majority of good people would accept some measures that for various reasons our politicians avoid, in order to invest in an acceptable future for themselves and their kids.
• I deplore the situation where we have two Members of Parliament whose residence is questionable, claim the most expenses of the 600 plus MPs in parliament, and who have never voted against their party on any single significant issue, especially considering that their party has taken us into a questionable war with huge casualties on a false premise.
• Because in a world where nine of the ten richest companies produce either cars or petrol we need as many voices of neutrality as possible.

Ambition:

1. Get back my deposit,
2. By polling a large portion of the vote sending an unequivocal message to “New Labour” that there is an intelligent and concerned electorate who are asking for societal benefit to take precedence over lies designed to maintain power.
3. By winning the election sending that message to all parties and voters that politics can work if only we try.

Policies: Of course I understand that to change the direction of the world would be impossible for one man such as I, but perhaps we can just alter the course a tiny bit, enough to encourage others and enough to leave it a better place than it would have been without us. Regarding Education, Health, Crime and those many other topics which dominate our headlines and are favoured by politicians, of course I want a better world, and on all such subjects would look to best applied practice, employ the best research, and use logic.

There are two specific topics I would attempt to deal with, one local, one national. I have chosen them specifically because the evidence for change is overwhelming and unambiguous. They are “No Brainers”!

1. The removal of the Town End Traffic lights in Pontefract and their replacement with a safer, less time consuming design more in keeping with those we see in some, more pleasant, continental towns, along with an emulation of best practice in transport design as found elsewhere in this country and abroad for the whole constituency and country.
2. Restructuring of Vehicle Excise Duty (Road Tax) by removing the annual one-off payment and placing that cost onto petrol.

Of course I would support comprehensive assessments of any major initiatives, a realistic appraisal of their social benefits, and the endorsement of such schemes only when their value is proven to be beyond doubt and that individuals affected negatively were compensated appropriately.

Promise: I will promise on everything I hold sacred that, as a politician, I will not intentionally lie or mislead to further the interests of any individual or group when the result would be an obvious net detriment to society.

Steve Kidd, Independent

Web site: http://www.stevekidd.co.uk

email: steve_jm_kidd@yahoo.co.uk

Tel: 01977 790 268