I am standing for the UK Independence Party in the constituency of Newbury and I am asking you for your vote during this election.

I am a passionate people person and  I enjoy any challenge that I am given.

So let me tell you who I am and a little bit of information of why I have decided to take part.

At this grand old age of 72 years I have seen many ups and downs during my lifetime with various governments.

I grew up during swinging sixties with pop music songs I still remember today. Badgered my father in letting me purchase a scooter to became a mod. Mind you this period changed when the introduction of pop concerts arrived across UK and it was time to become a hippy. As a teenager I remember the Vietnam war and the protest at the US Embassy so I can understand why people feel the need to demonstrate.

I became dee jay with my mobile disco entertaining various engagements around London and working for hospital radio in Surrey.

I moved to West Berkshire in the mid eighties with my first wife Stephanie and three children. I saw an interest in the need for a Divorce, Singles and Separated club and this took place each Monday night at the Out of Town night club. With two thousands members wanting to find that special partner, and which some did it became well known as a place to find love locally.

I had a keen interest in football I saw the possibility of starting football team in Thatcham, one with a public house called the Prancing Horse f.c

It wasn’t a surprise with a dedicated team of players we won the league for the pub.

My employment of 15 years was with Vodafone during mid nineties. It was certainly an eye opener as computers were an item I was now needed to understand and use. With a long 12 hour shifts friendships were often made.

Later I had the opportunity to work for a AgeUK as their promotion manager for the county of Berkshire. It was a wonderful five years, visiting care homes, the elderly and the less fortunate. Explaining products and benefits that were available and essential. One surprising product I was asked to introduce was funeral plans. I tried to explain to AGE UK head office I was a happy sole and introducing these would be difficult item for me. Try introducing six a year they said well in my service of five years 786 were sold and today I have a trophy as the best AGE UK Funeral plan seller ever.

Where I live today my local community had a concern with a brown field site which had been chosen by the District council as new housing estate. Well the residents were upset and formed a committee with me as chairman to try stop this planning action going ahead. We campaigned hard on TV,Radio and local papers and we won.

The area of Pound Lane in Thatcham today has a flower meadow, a children’s player area, outdoor gym equipment, five aside football pitch and large are to walk your dog. This was a case where the community come and work together change happen.

Naturally the LibDem and the Conservatives were impressed how we performed and both wanted me to become a candidate for their up and coming local election, in Thatcham west. I stood as a Lib Dem and won by a large margin and I took my time on the council seriously. In 2013 I was offered the position of Deputy Mayor followed the following year I became Mayor, it was an honour I eagerly accepted. To serve as Mayor and attend 147 events, charities and institutions changed my life completely. As a thank you to those organisers that served my community Cruise, Samaritan, British Heart foundation and many others I decided to thank them by arranging a ABBA night in the church of St Mary’s. The vicar mentioned that it was the first time he had seen the church rock with 100 charity leaders.

It was as mayor I felt it was only right that the children of the town should be considered and rewarded. I came up with the idea of a Children’s mayors community medal. Two hundred children took part and each were awarded one of these Mayors medals for projects that they took part in that I suggested.

Now if you ever have the opportunity to visit the garden of remembrance at the West Berkshire hospital you will find a white marble Owl statue in flight. I purchased this for those patients whom I visited that had a short period life left. Today family members can sit with their loved ones out in the garden and reflect on family memories.

Well that’s me a people person who will always listen to concerns and act for those in need which they and I think are important.

Now I chose in 2015 to leave the Lib Dem party and join the UK Independent party because of Brexit. Like many the leader at the time Nigel Farage did impress me with his outspoken speeches in the European Parliament. I became a member of UKIP and over the following ten years I have become Chairman of my branch Thames Valley and the Southeast Region. I am also a member on the National Executive Committee for UKIP and with thirty year history UKIP will always have a place in history and a future.

We can all see that we have a broken nation. The two major political parties the Conservatives and Labour continue to score points with suggestive policies on how to spend our taxes and just look what’s been achieved.

Where are the fifty new hospitals that Boris Johnson said we would have. Why are we more reliant on food banks. Those arriving illegally from France being accommodated into hotels at our expense.The economy is in tatters and therefore unless we decide to change and introduce new parties to govern us we will continue to have the same problematic parties creating chaos .

Who will you choose when those polling doors open on the 4 th July it will be a serious decision to make. I will be standing with six other individuals in this election for Newbury. It is my hope you look at who I am rather than the party I represent and decide whether I am the right choice as your member of parliament. I will speak up for you, where at the moment others don’t appear to do so. We need fresh ideas for the future of our children, this is now desperately required and your vote matters.

Thank you 

Gary E. Johnson

Candidate for the Newbury constituency.