This is Devon -- A Cornish politician will be actively trying to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire when he takes on the big three parties at the next general election. Fish and chip shop owner Stephen Richardson wants to swap the heat of a deep fat fryer for the heat of Westminster debate by becoming Mebyon Kernow's first MP. Mr Richardson, from Illogan, near Redruth, has been selected to contest the Truro and Falmouth constituency for the Party for Cornwall in 2015. The father of three, who has a degree in law and has worked as a legal consultant and licensed conveyancer, said he was delighted to have been chosen and looked forward to challenging the policies of the Tories, Lib-Dems, Labour and UKIP. Pledging to "listen to the electorate, not lecture them", he said: "We are setting out to show that Cornwall is more than capable of making the difference to the lives and livelihoods of one and all by standing on our own two feet. I am looking forward to meeting as many people as I can over the next 18 months. "Our campaign will involve a lot of listening, rather than the usual lecturing that we get from the Westminster parties." Mr Richardson, who had a 20-year career with a restaurant chain before starting his own business, joined MK in 2010 and was soon elected to Illogan Parish Council, polling more than 70% of the vote. He was re-elected in 2013. He serves on MK's National Executive and is currently working with the team preparing a consultation document on the party's proposal for a law-making assembly for Cornwall. Helping to launch the initiative on the streets of Truro on Saturday, he said: "Our campaign has already hit the ground running. The team have been out meeting the public on Lemon Quay and listening to the concerns of people from across Cornwall. We have also been answering questions about our vision for a law-making Cornish Assembly." Mr Richardson, whose fish and chip shop is in Illogan, has enjoyed a colourful life, playing bass with a new romantic rock band and touring the US in a drum corps. A keen political blogger, he said: "I am looking forward to meeting the challenges of a long campaign with the support of our local councillors and the large number of community-minded people in Mebyon Kernow."
Reported by This is 2 days ago.
This is Devon -- A Cornish politician will be actively trying to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire when he takes on the big three parties at the next general election. Fish and chip shop owner Stephen Richardson wants to swap the heat of a deep fat fryer for the heat of Westminster debate by becoming Mebyon Kernow's first MP. Mr Richardson, from Illogan, near Redruth, has been selected to contest the Truro and Falmouth constituency for the Party for Cornwall in 2015. The father of three, who has a degree in law and has worked as a legal consultant and licensed conveyancer, said he was delighted to have been chosen and looked forward to challenging the policies of the Tories, Lib-Dems, Labour and UKIP. Pledging to "listen to the electorate, not lecture them", he said: "We are setting out to show that Cornwall is more than capable of making the difference to the lives and livelihoods of one and all by standing on our own two feet. I am looking forward to meeting as many people as I can over the next 18 months. "Our campaign will involve a lot of listening, rather than the usual lecturing that we get from the Westminster parties." Mr Richardson, who had a 20-year career with a restaurant chain before starting his own business, joined MK in 2010 and was soon elected to Illogan Parish Council, polling more than 70% of the vote. He was re-elected in 2013. He serves on MK's National Executive and is currently working with the team preparing a consultation document on the party's proposal for a law-making assembly for Cornwall. Helping to launch the initiative on the streets of Truro on Saturday, he said: "Our campaign has already hit the ground running. The team have been out meeting the public on Lemon Quay and listening to the concerns of people from across Cornwall. We have also been answering questions about our vision for a law-making Cornish Assembly." Mr Richardson, whose fish and chip shop is in Illogan, has enjoyed a colourful life, playing bass with a new romantic rock band and touring the US in a drum corps. A keen political blogger, he said: "I am looking forward to meeting the challenges of a long campaign with the support of our local councillors and the large number of community-minded people in Mebyon Kernow."
Reported by This is 2 days ago.