Sandhill by-election

“I live in Grindon and am fed up with Labour-run Sunderland Council.

“They waste our money on allowances, perks and meals for councillors – at the same time as saying there’s no money for services.

“Only the Liberal Democrats on Sunderland Council are campaigning to end wasteful spending like the free meals given to councillors after meetings which cost taxpayers thousands of pounds a year.

“I am fed up with Labour councillors locally too – they never bother to keep in touch. Electing just another Labour councillor won’t change anything on the council or in our area.

“But if I’m elected I will stand up to Labour’s wasteful spending and work hard to get things done for local people.

“This area will never vote Conservative, but we need an opposition voice on the council.

“Only the local Lib Dems can be this strong voice, standing up to Labour’s mismanagement and waste in Sunderland.”

“I am Standing for Sandhill ward Because I believe that our Labour-controlled local council is a totally undemocratic institution.

“The cabinet – eight councillors all Labour – make most of the decisions.

“Others, including the decision to close the central library and move it to the Museum and Winter Gardens, decided by officers and the
portfolio holder only, this decision was never discussed in full council.

“I would fight for democracy to be brought back to our council, Green councillors would not be subject to party whips.

“We would demand that decisions made by the council which are objected too by more than 100 people will be discussed in full council and be subject to a free vote by councillors.

“Vote for a fighting councillor. Vote for democracy. Vote Green. Vote for Helmut Izaks."

“I was born and brought up in Springwell, went to schools in Thorney Close and now live in Grindon.

“I have raised my family in the community and believe it gives me a unique insight into what matters in Sandhill.

“I work in materials’ management for a local engineering company where I put to use my financial and negotiating skills.

“I am clear about what would be my role as your councillor.

“It is to represent you and work in the communities that make up the Sandhill Ward.

“I will try and make a difference. I will play my part as a city councillor in balancing the budget between what the council receives and what it can spend. This is the biggest task facing local government.

“I was stirred to stand as a candidate by the outrageous claims being made by the other political parties who oppose every measure to cut or economise in the face of decreasing government grant support.”

“I am a local lad living in Pennywell where residents suffer the same neglect as those in Sandhill.

“I have become increasingly interested in local politics as I became more frustrated with the waste and misguided spending by the Labour council.

“The Labour councillor for Sandhill was disqualified for non-attendance triggering a by-election costing £11,000, so I felt I had to stand to represent the people fed up with waste while essential services are neglected.

“Whilst out meeting Sandhill residents, they expressed their increasing anger over the lack of provision of basic essential services by this Council. I feel that different priorities are needed.

“Conservatives uncovered £375,000 spent by the Council to subsidise pop concerts at the Stadium, this could’ve been spent cleaning streets, repairing roads, tackling litter, dog waste and maintaining weekly bin collections.

“Conservatives have also exposed that the council has failed to collect £10million in Council Tax.”

Bryan is no stranger to elections in Sunderland. He was UKIP’s Parliamentary Candidate for Sunderland Central in the 2015 General Election where he came second, increasing UKIP’s share of the vote to 25.7%.

Earlier this year in May he stood in Sandhill in the City Elections where he came second to the Labour candidate.

Born, bred and educated in Sunderland, Bryan used to be a Labour voter but became disillusioned on a local and national level. He believes that Labour no longer represents the hard working, tax-paying class and is out of touch with the electorate.

He thinks it has become part of the ‘establishment’ whose only interest is to maintain privileged positions and reward bad decisions, poor judgement and mismanagement with generous pay-off and increased allowances.

He believes the people of Sandhill and Sunderland have proved their vote can change things – just as their vote to ‘leave’ the EU did in the Referendum when they saw through ‘Project Fear’ and went against the advice of all three Sunderland MPs.

Bryan sees politics from the ground up where the people are involved in decisions and have a proper say in how often their refuse is collected, where houses should be built, which roads need repairing and which libraries should stay open.

Bryan wants the people of Sandhill to help him make the changes Sunderland needs.

If elected, Bryan promises to work hard for them – and to turn up for meetings.