PPC Profile: James Alexander

Full Name: James Martin Alexander

Age: 27

From: Born in Hammersmith, West London in 1982. Lived in York since 2001.

PPC for: York Outer

Website: www.time-4-change.org.uk

Selection Result: I genuinely don’t know what the figures were. I was so surprised to win I paid little attention.

Member of the Labour Party since: 1999

CV:
I currently work at York St John University as a project and outreach officer. My duties include encouraging people from disadvantaged backgrounds to study in higher education and improve their lives.

Previously I have had a variety of jobs that have included working for members of both Houses of Parliament, the party, Government departments, local Councils, media organisations, communications companies and as Students’ Union President of the University of York. I have also worked in electrical retail for Currys and Jessops stores.

Since May 2007 I have been a City of York Councillor for Holgate Ward (my ward was a Labour gain against the national trend). I have been elected by children and young people in York to be their Council Champion and I am currently Chair of York’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

I was inspired to go into politics because:
I was born James Glasgow and was raised in a single parent family until my Mother married my adoptive Father. My Mother is a dinner lady and my Father is a security guard.

My upbringing was tough but I worked hard. I saw what a Thatcher Government did to families such as mine and I decided this wasn’t fair and was unjust. I decided never again.

I was educated in a tough inner city school until completing my GCSEs. Through hard work and attainment, I went on to one of the best sixth forms in the country for my further education. I then went on to read Politics and Economic and Social History at the University of York. After graduating with honours I served a one year sabbatical position as the elected Students’ Union President.

I do not come from a political or establishment family and I am rather pleased that I don’t. My upbringing and my late Grandmother have guided the formation and course of my political convictions. My political convictions are borne from first hand experience and are reasoned.

I may sound naive but I really do want to make a difference. I want to live in a society where a person’s talents and hard work will determine where they get to in life and not the reverse.

My main policy interests are:
International relations, education, poverty, democratic reform

Three things I think should be in the next Labour manifesto are:
Amongst other issues, I am passionate about the three things below. However they may not necessarily be sexy vote winners!

1 – Presumed Consent on Organ Donations:
Since 2003, UK organ donations have risen from 2,390 to 3,235 in 2008. But the need for donated organs still far exceeds the supply. UK Transplant estimates there are between 7,000 and 8,000 people currently waiting for a transplant. According to the BBC in 2006, for every 1m people, only 12 donate their organs and this donation rate was one of the lowest in western Europe. This low rate leads to a serious shortage of organs. In 2006-07 more than 400 people died in the UK while waiting for a transplant because of a shortage of suitable organs. According to The Press, in 2005-06, 65 of these were from Yorkshire. The average waiting time for a kidney donation is 2.3 years. In August 2008, there were 29 people in York waiting for an organ donation. According to a 2003 survey for UK Transplant, 90% of people claimed to support organ donation. However only 24% of the population is registered to do so.

2 – Give Councils and Local People More Control Over Bus Services:
Bus services outside of London do not have the regulation or improvements that Londoners enjoy. First York has increased bus fares 8 times over the past 6 years. Increases have been between 25% and 100%. In January 2009, a First Day ticket increased in cost from £3.50 to £3.70. In 2003 this was just £2.20. These rises have occurred at the same time as First York withdrawing set timetables from certain routes and reducing services on others. In response to rising bus fares, the number of paying passengers reduced by just under 14% during the period 2005/06 -2007/08. This is a decrease from approximately 11m to 9.5m passengers. In 2003/04, 29% of people were not satisfied with local bus services. This number has risen to 32% in 2007/08. Performance indicators show that under 32% of buses leaving the city in the morning leave on time. Only 25% of buses are on time at timing points along service routes. City of York Council cannot do much about this due to deregulation of bus services under Thatcher in the 80s. I got out 15,000 leaflets this month on this issue.

3 – Keep the Tuition Fees Cap:
I have never been a supporter of tuition fees but I have come to realise that such income to Universities is necessary for Universities to invest in research and compete internationally. There is a review due regarding the lifting of the tuition fees cap which is currently set at £3,300. I understand the decision has been postponed but I think students and potential students should not have a fear of additional cost hanging over them in these trying economic times. University is a mechanism for many to fulfil their educational potential and to improve employment opportunities. I am cautious that removing the cap could see Universities charging whatever they wanted for the education they offer. If such a system was around when I went to University, I probably would not have been able to afford to go the University of York let alone remain and become a Councillor and potentially the local MP. It will also potentially open up a poor versus rich apartheid between the best and poorer quality education establishments.

I think people should vote for me because:
I am extremely hardworking, determined, competent and I care. I have proved myself in the Council to listen to local people and stand up for them. I believe a larger group of people deserve to have the same opportunity in Parliament.

I am young and I bring fresh ideas and approaches. I realise the world has moved on since 1997 and there are new challenges facing today’s society.

Despite being young, I bring a breadth of experience but I also realise I am not perfect, that I will not have all the answers and I am humble.

As an MP I will annually carry out 5 days a year non-political work in my constituency. While carrying out this non-political work I will donate my wages to charities who carry out work in my constituency.

It is my belief that only through carrying out voluntary work like working as a teaching assistant, cleaning up graffiti and sweeping the streets, can MPs maintain their feet on the ground and understand the issues affecting ordinary working men and women in their constituency. I am also not afraid of getting my hands dirty.

AOB:
I am very proud that Tony Benn has said in an endorsement of my candidacy, “James is a guy I trust. I think he is someone you can rely on. He says what he means and means what he says.”

I don’t always agree with Tony Benn’s politics but he is a legend and these words mean a lot to me.