About me
I am a Cumbrian, an economist and a Labour activist. I was born in Whitehaven Hospital and almost all my family continue to live in Cumbria. I am a Consultant at Europe Economics, advising public and private sector clients on a wide range of economic issues. At the 2010 General Election, I was Labour’s parliamentary candidate in Westmorland and Lonsdale.
It was a privilege to be a candidate in the county that I come from. Growing up in Cumbria left me football mad and proud of where I come from. A strong sense of community is second nature to Cumbrians. Being born and raised in Cumbria did a lot to shape my moral instincts and world view.
I am a socialist. I believe that socialism is something you do; not something that is done to you. Socialism is action inspired by belief in positive liberty, active citizenship, common humanity, equal opportunity, shared obligations, strong communities and an obstinate will to erode by inches the conditions which produce avoidable suffering. It is what the Labour Party does.
As Labour’s candidate in Westmorland and Lonsdale, John Harris, writing in the Guardian, described me as “exactly the kind of candidate to give millions of disgruntled Labour supporters a bit of hope”. I can only imagine he was being generous as his Mum also went to Millom School and Cumbrians look out for each other.
I’ve since written for the Guardian, as well as Labour Uncut, on politics and economics. I have degrees from Durham (BA Hons), London (MSc) and Cambridge (M.Phil). I’ve worked for over four years at a leading firm of economists (Europe Economics). I’ve advised the European Commission, Government Departments and leading firms on economic issues and have appeared as an expert economic witness in the European Parliament. 
My work as an economist has been recognised by a Fellowship at the RSA.
Prior to working as an economist, I ran the Westminster offices of two Labour MPs, Tony Cunningham and Siôn Simon. I’m on the General Committee (GC) of Dulwich and West Norwood CLP and am also Social Secretary of the CLP. Alastair Campbell praised as ‘better than most’ a fundraiser which I organised prior to the 2010 General Election.
I am married to Monica, a researcher at the Financial Times, who I am pictured with at my sister’s wedding reception, held at Grange-over-Sands.
