Ian is 39 years old and lives in the constituency.  He was born in Liverpool and raised in Huyton.  He is a big supporter of the NHS – ever since Alder Hey saved his life as a child.  His parents moved to Meols in 1980 and he attended Great Meols Primary School and then Hilbre High School.  On failing his ‘O’ levels, miserably, he attended Wirral Met College to resit the ‘O’s and take ‘A’s.

After a short time at various banks, building societies and mortgage brokers, he qualified with the Chartered Institute of Marketing and went on to work in marketing, PR and media for various private and public sector organisations. 

He moved to Wallasey in 1994 and first stood for election in Leasowe & Moreton in 1996.  Three years later, he was elected in neighbouring Wallasey Ward, defeating a Labour councillor.  This was the first of 11 seats Labour has since lost in Wallasey.

In 2000, received the Andy Day Award, sometimes referred to as ‘Councillor of the Year’ for his work on issues in the area. 

Ian stood for Leasowe & Moreton East in 2007 and came within 18 votes of winning.  A year later, he succeeded in becoming the first-ever Conservative Councillor for the ward, winning 51.3% of the vote.

Ian is a governor of Christchurch CE Primary School on Upton. Since being elected, Ian has been appointed to the following:

• Licensing, Health & Safety and General Purposes Committee
• Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority (‘Merseytravel’)
• Leasowe Community Homes
• Mersey Tunnels Board
• Arch Initiatives (Wirral Management Committee)

Ian is also a member of and/or donor to:

• The Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse
• The Friends of North Wirral Coastal Park
• No2ID
• Leasowe Library
• Wallasey Central Conservative Club
• Wallasey Conservative Association
• Conservative Councillors’ Association
• Wallasey Conservatives 300 Club
• The Friends of Leasowe Recreation Centre
• George House Trust
• Friends of the Earth
• Centre for Policy Studies

Financial interests and payments

As a councillor, I am required by law to register any financial or other interests I have.  This is to prevent me taking part in a decision of which I may benefit personally.  I am publishing the declaration here and, as far as I am aware, I am the only councillor in this ward to do so.  The declaration is updated every time there is a change of circumstances – ie if I change jobs or if I am appointed to another body by the council.

I have, as promised, notified the Council that I do NOT wish to receive the increase in allowances paid to councillors.  In addition, I have also pledged not to claim any travel allowances for my role as councillor and I will not be accepting the offer of any trips abroad nor free meals as the Town Hall.

Finally, all candidates are limited by law as to how much they can spend on their election campaigns.   The costs of my campaign were met by the Wallasey Conservative Association. 

Unlike the Labour Party in this area, we do not receive donations from trade unions.  Our campaigns are funded by our members and local supporters, through membership subscriptions, donations, draws and events. 

Under the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000, all income we receive is registered in accordance with the Act. Our Party’s accounts are submitted to the Electoral Commission each year, after they have been audited and signed off locally.