09/05/2026
It was an honour to stand for election with these 2 guys. This is just a small insight into the work they have done as councillors. I truly hope your newly elected councillors can live up to the standard set by both Harry and Matthew
We didn’t win in Colne Valley West. I lost by 28 votes. It was close between us and Reform.
It is a huge honour to represent the Colne Valley for the last four years and a deeply rewarding experience. Thank you to everyone who voted for myself, Jayne and Matthew this week, and to Cllr Matthew McLoughlin, Cllr Beverley Addy and Lesley Warner for being fantastic ward colleagues (and for putting up with me).
Thank you to Jayne Fisher for Colne Valley for walking up every hill, knocking on every door, posting through every letter box, and making me laugh throughout the campaign. Thank you to our amazing team of Colne Valley West Labour volunteers - there is no better team and I am immensely grateful for everything you have done. And finally thank you to the council staff, partners and community groups who have worked with us - we would have achieved nothing without you.
I am immensely proud of our record, and if I am honest disappointed that we don’t have the opportunity to finish the things we set out to do. From securing extra playing and training hours at Colne Valley High School for Linthwaite Football Club, to working with local businesses and groups to draw up the Marsden Blueprint, upgrades to playgrounds at Dirker Rec and Causeway Crescent park, opposing cuts to Marsden and Slaithwaite libraries, setting up a hardship fund for Colne Valley families, setting up extra road safety patrols with the local police and Pride in Linthwaite, the canal towpath resurfacing, working with the community to make our leisure centre more sustainable, detached youth provision in Linthwaite, and more, we achieved a lot but that was only ever alongside our community.
I hope our new councillors remember that they are elected to represent every member of our community, whether you voted for them, voted for someone else, or didn’t vote at all, and whatever your race, religion or background.
Thank you for the nice messages. I won't be able to get round to responding all of them but they are lovely.