St Albans Constituency

Candidate - John Dowdle

Biography:

After gaining vocational qualifications in the late-1960s (Ordinary National Certificate in Business Studies; Higher National Certificate in Business Studies; and Diploma of the Institute of Purchasing & Supply), I worked in Central Africa for several years before a change in career as a professional musician. I also spent some time in living and working in Southern Africa, South America and Northern American during the later 1970s.

After I returned to the UK, I spent one year on a full-time Higher National Diploma in Computer Studies course, following which I completed a BA Honours Degree in Government & Politics and became a FE College Lecturer in Politics and Business Studies for most of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

I also completed an MA degree course in Government & Politics, as well as a Certificate in Education (Post-Compulsory Education) course. I also served as a GCE Advanced Level Examiner in Politics & Government for the University of London Board for 4 years.

I was elected as a local councillor in 1995 to 1999, during which time I was Chair of the Grants Committee, as well as Vice-Chair of a number of other council committees. I became a trustee and management board member for a number of local charities.

I decided not to seek re-election as a local councillor in 2000 in order to spend more time with my wife who unfortunately died at the comparatively young age of 49 years in 2001.

I subsequently became a manager of a local community centre in 2003 until retiring at the age of 66 years in 2011. I also served as the Chair of Governors of a local primary school during this period and subsequently became a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

While retired and living as a state pensioner, I continue to take an active interest in politics and government. I am increasingly dismayed at the UK political party’s failure to honour a decision of the British people to leave the European Union following their vote in the 2016 referendum.

As a firm believer in and supporter of democracy, I see the old LibLabCon parties letting UK people down by their continuing attempts to reverse the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum, which is why I joined the Reform UK Party and act as Constituency Spokesman for St Albans.

It is high time the old stale parties were sidelined by the British electorate and replaced by a party committed to democracy and reform of the major institutions of UK governance, such as reforming the voting system and replacing the House of Lords.

There is only one party with the ambition and determination to reform and improve the current state of politics and governance in our country. That party is the Reform UK Party.