Independent Paul Haslam: 'Tories became too right-wing... I offer a real alternative'

The Stray Ferret has spoken to all the candidates running for election in the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency and will be running features on each of them. Here, independent candidate Paul Haslam talks about what his priorities would be if elected.

Three months ago today, Paul Haslam resigned after 10 years as a Conservative councillor and announced he was standing as an independent in the race to be York and North Yorkshire’s first mayor.

He received 12,370 votes, or 6.5%, but finished last of the six candidates on May 2. Now he’s going through it all again by standing as one of two independents seeking to be Harrogate and Knaresborough’s next MP.

What made the Bilton and Nidd Gorge representative on North Yorkshire Council turn his back on the Tories after all these years — and how have local members responded to his decision to surrender the Conservative whip, which has left the Tories’ grip on power at Northallerton even less secure?

Mr Haslam says Andrew Jones, the Conservative who is aiming to win the constituency for a fifth time, has been “perfectly fine” but adds the party “moved away from him” rather than the other way round. He says:

Mr Haslam, who runs his own management consultancy and has an MBA from Manchester Business School, cites his Liberal Democrat and Labour rivals Tom Gordon and Conrad Whitcroft as examples but adds it’s a national issue rather than a local one.

But some have said Mr Haslam’s decision to stand will mostly harm Mr Jones by splitting the Tory vote. He disagrees: 

Mr Haslam says the Tory government has failed to honour commitments and there are issues over fairness and trust that he wants to address. He says:

Mr Haslam, who has lived in Harrogate since 2006, led the successful campaign to prevent a northern relief road around the town and supported residents in the campaign to prevent 53 houses being built off Knox Lane. He and fellow councillors voted to reject the application but developer Jormast has appealed and is seeking costs, which could land taxpayers with a hefty bill.

Climate, transport and health issues feature prominently in his campaign. He is the climate champion on North Yorkshire Council — which succeeded the county council last year — and he chairs Transport for the North’s scrutiny committee. For years he has argued the case to build a train station off Claro Road to encourage public transport and ease traffic on Skipton Road.

Mr Haslam talks about the need for cleaner, more efficient energy at Harrogate Convention Centre. The ageing centre’s future is up in the air — consultants are coming up with a plan on what to do with it. He says it’s so crucial to the local economy that selling it would have the same impact in Harrogate as “banning everyone going into the sea” would have at Scarborough.

As for health, he says average life expectancy locally may be 80 but the average active lifespan is just 64 and there needs to be a greater focus on encouraging healthier lifestyles, such as more nutritious school meals as well as on preventative health measures.

Away from politics Mr Haslam remains an extremely good distance runner at the age of 68. He can often be seen running around Bilton with his two dogs

But racing against established parties as an independent is hardly a fair race. His campaign team consists of wife Kath and two helpers. How well he fares against established party machines will be discovered on July 4. 

But he says he offers a "real alternative" to the established parties and, at the very least, is getting issues he cares about on the agenda.

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