Press Release 21st April 2014

jamie wake - Independent candidate for Whitley in Reading local elections 2014Whitley resident, Jamie Wake, is announcing his intention to stand in the 2014 local elections as an Independent Candidate for Whitley.

With the main parties in Reading announcing their candidates, Jamie wants to remind voters that there are alternatives to the main parties standing in May’s Local Elections. There are a number of residents standing as independent candidates to represent the wards in which they live in. Jamie intends to stand in Whitley Ward.

Jamie says “Standing as an Independent candidate means that I’m not subject to party politics and can genuinely meet the needs of local residents rather than the needs of a political party.”

Independents are able to respond to the local community in a way that serves the community interest and not a party political interest. This doesn’t mean that an Independent does not have any political views but that national concerns often do not translate well to the local scene. Independents act on the true concerns of their local electorate who are now beginning to see the benefits of having a representative who is not bound by party rules and regulations.
Jamie ventured into Community Politics in 2009 after Chairing the Kennet Island Residents Association and joined the Lib Dems for their record on LGBT Equality. He stood as the Lib Dem Candidate in Whitley in 2011 but decided that he would stand in 2012 as an Independent Candidate.

Jamie says “I became disillusioned witnessing the political point scoring and scaremongering between all local parties in Reading and decided that this wasn’t what I signed up for to make a difference in the community. All of the local parties have their good and bad points but it becomes tiresome watching their spats being played out on the pages of our local papers. To me that’s time wasted that could be spent dealing with local issues.”

Jamie is known for the LGBT Campaigning he does in Reading and has recently retired as a trustee of the Reading Pride Charity. He was a vocal supporter of the Equal Marriage Campaign and organises Reading’s Annual Hate Crime Vigil. His involvement helped him decide not be aligned with any political party.

“My membership of to a political party could be seen as a conflict of interest when it comes to the LGBT Campaigning that I do as well as the work that I do in my community. Standing in this year’s Local Elections as an Independent Candidate means that I can continue to demonstrate my commitment to the needs of my local community rather than the needs of a political party. This gives the community a genuine alternative that represents them and doesn’t waste time on political playground antics which could be better spent on making a difference.”

Whilst local political parties will be starting to announce their manifestos, Jamie offers instead a set of 7 promises. They are to:

  • Continue to listen to residents and be accessible at all times
  • Represent the rights and needs of Whitley on the council and make sure that my vote on the council is used for the benefit of Whitley Residents
  • Protect valuable services used by people in our area and ensure that vulnerable adults and children get the care and/or support that they need
  • Work with residents, local police teams, Neighbourhood Action Groups and other Councillors to cut crime in Whitley
  • Fight for investment in Whitley to help build cleaner, stronger, safer communities
  • Continue to fight against discrimination in Whitley as well as Reading
  • Be here all year – not just in the lead up to an election

Jamie’s website can be found at www.jamiewake.org.uk

NOTE TO EDITORS

Picture image available on request.