In 2016 I made the big decision to become active in the world of politics. I did this because my work as a domestic violence professional for a major charity shows me every day that the system is not only failing abused women and many other groups of vulnerable people but is actively making life harder for them. Whether this be through cuts and caps to welfare benefits, closure of services, restrictions on legal aid or the multitude of other ways that austerity has bitten. My reasoning was that the only real way to try to change the system was from within.

With this in mind, in 2016 I undertook the Jo Cox Women in Leadership programme, which prepared me to put myself forward as the prospective parliamentary candidate for Wealden, in 2017’s snap General Election. I succeeded in coming second – and doubling the vote for Labour – achievements that I am very proud of. I stood again in 2019 and I was also first elected to Uckfield Town Council.

I believe in active socialism – working to respond to real issues in our communities. As such I use my platform as Town Councillor to organise food bank collections, support community groups and help local residents with casework issues. I’m also the Chair of the local Green Partnership, as no one can afford to ignore the climate emergency.