Nigel’s Background

Nigel has always had an interest in politics but after graduating from Cambridge University as a geologist he pursued a career in business. His political loyalties have always resided with the Liberal Democrats and he joined the party in the mid eighties, after helping campaigns in SE London.

He started out as a geophysicist working for BP, before leaving in 1988 to help start a new independent oil company, Kirkland Resources, which was based in Harpenden. While finding success in this field, working as a technically driven entrepreneur and co-founder of Sterling Energy, also based in Harpenden, he decided in 2004 to reassess his future aims. As his wife re-established her own career he was able to devote himself almost full time to politics.

To relax, Nigel plays cricket on East Common, Harpenden, where he is team secretary of Bamville CC, and is a member of Happy Herts Orienteering club. He lives locally in Lemsford, with his wife Jane and two daughters of 14 and 11.

Political beliefs

In keeping with Liberal Democrat philosophy, Nigel believes in the general principles of humanism, tolerance and egalitarianism, and freedom of the individual within communal limits of responsibility.

Nigel believes that the Liberal Democrats offer the only coherently green and liberal set of policies of any UK party today, and a party structure which allows and encourages policy development through genuine debate and open discussion. He feels strongly that it is necessary to challenge conventional thinking and move forward in order for politics to be meaningful and relevant to the concerns of real people.

Motivation

Having travelled extensively with his work, Nigel has seen areas where government might learn from ideas being implemented abroad. Furthermore, having witnessed firsthand the growing problems which the world will face as energy and other resources become ever scarcer, he wants to support policies which will allow the UK to be to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. In particular, he sees the establishment of a low carbon (as near zero as possible) economy as essential, not just for environmental reasons, but for our future economic well-being. The Liberal Democrats have for many years led the debate on these policies and in 2007 committed to a zero carbon Britain by 2050.

Involvement in the local area

Having worked and played cricket in Harpenden since 1988 Nigel feels a special connection with the area.

During a spell as a district councillor in 2006-8, Nigel was been a leading member of the Hospital SOS task force, a cross party campaign group looking to preserve hospital services in Welwyn Hatfield. He also took a lead on environmental issues, pressing the district to sign the Nottingham Declaration and campaigning for Fair Trade.

Nigel’s primary concern is the maintenance of the high quality of life we enjoy in Hertfordshire, a properly functioning NHS, and a healthy economy. Since becoming politically active four years ago, Nigel has played a leading role in a number of campaigns, most recently helping to lead cross party Post Office campaigns both in Harpenden and in Welwyn Hatfield.

This year he has been involved in the campaign against waste incineration and is very critical of the waste strategy being developed for Hertfordshire which he sees as outdated, inflexible and potentially damaging to both our environment and to public health.