Dave Raval

I got involved in politics for three reasons:

 Firstly, I passionately believe that the world is full of problems, and that things are getting worse. We are facing major problems like a broken economy, climate change, growing unemployment, massive inequality between countries and within the UK too, lack of affordable housing, discrimination against minority groups — the list goes on. Then there are other issues like the funding of political parties, an increasing 'nanny' and 'surveillance' state, and the strangling of community groups and local high streets. But politicians and the media don’t seem to notice what is going on, or act on it properly. And all my life we’ve had years and years of Conservative and Labour governments who have got us into this mess – it really has to be time for a change.

Secondly, I want to stand up for people who haven’t got a voice under our system. I know that may sound corny, but there are lots of people who feel powerless in our country. You only have to look around Hackney, where so much is decided by unaccountable local and national public bodies, and where we have elected politicians who don’t bother to even properly answer letters from the people who elected them. I get messages every week from people in Hackney who have tried all the official ‘avenues’ and just hit a brick wall each time. So, as best I can, I want to do my bit to properly represent these people.

Finally, frankly, when I look at many of the MPs we have, I think I could do a better job than them. Far from being a 'career politician', I have worked outside of politics for all my life. You can see my full CV here , but in summary I have been:

• an engineer and production manager, leading teams of 50 people,

• chair of trustees for a charity providing assistance to people suffering discrimination in employment,

• head of technology strategy for 5 London Underground lines,

• trustee of a local Arts Council, and

• was until recently one of the top 40 football referees in London, officiating in semi-professional leagues.

I am born and bred in London, and have lived and worked all over the UK as well as in Germany and the USA. But now I am back, I live in Hackney, and I am your Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson. Get in touch if you want to find out more!

** Click on the links in the black bar above to find out more about me and my life. Or to see some photos, click on the pictures on the top right of this page. **