John Castle

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Background

John is originally from Banbury in Oxfordshire. He realised at a young age that he had an aptitude for computers and went to college in Oxford to gain a BTEC, then Coventry University to complete studies for a degree.

John has held various jobs in the computing industry including publishing and finance, before moving to Chatham to work for Pitney Bowes at the Compass Centre. The product he develops is used primarily by local authorities to record, inspect and maintain assets such as roads, bridges, parks, street lights and many more.

He moved to Chatham 10 years ago and loves that Medway has urban areas, green spaces and is close to the sea.

Journey to the Liberal Democrats

John has always been attracted to liberal policies and principles. Having spent most of his life in areas where the battle is between red and blue has often felt forced to vote for candidates and parties in which he didn't believe. This attitude changed after 2010, when the party where his natural preference lies was doing the right things for the country and receiving little credit and much biased criticism, leading him to join the party in late 2011.

By the time of the 2015 election John had become an active member in the local party.

Election Campaigns

For the 2015 election campaign he stood as a candidate in Rainham North and picked up issues relating to both the station and proposed planning applications on Otterham Quay Lane.

He also canvassed and delivered leaflets in Gillingham South and Watling to help re-elect Diana Smith and Geoff Juby, sadly these efforts were in vain, the electorate were not behind our efforts either locally or nationally.

Positions held in Medway Liberal Democrats

Since becoming active in the local party John has covered membership development, ensuring recruitment, retention and development of members into activists and candidates. At the last AGM, John stood for the chair of the association and was selected without an election.

His key priorities he wants to focus on are the local plan, remaining in the EU after the referendum and being active in wards.