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NO MORE DONATIONS PLEASE!!

I've been the Derbyshire County Councillor for Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook since 2020. I have been part of this community all my adult life. My 4 children grew up here, going to our local schools, my 2 grandchildren are at a local nursery.

I’ve loved being the county councillor for my home area, supporting the wonderful people and organisations that make up our lovely community to try and achieve the best for our area. I've used my wide experience as a local accountant, a trade union  officer, and as High Peak's MP and I’m proud to have helped in many ways:

- Ensuring free school buses from Whaley Bridge and Chinley, forcing Derbyshire to spend the £2.3m Safer Roads funding on Long Hill, supporting dozens of local groups with funding grants, volunteering and publicity, recycling school uniforms every summer to help hundreds of families at 6 local schools, holding 4 surgeries each month - in Whaley Bridge, Furness Vale, Chinley and Buxworth, and helping hundreds of local people in need who come to me for advice and support.

- I led the campaigns against care home, day centre and children’s centre closures, helping to ensure Whitestones and Eccles Fold Day Centre remained open.

Following Labour's decision to prevent me standing as a Labour candidate in the elections on 1st May, I've been overwhelmed by hundreds of people across Whaley Bridge and Blackbrook asking me to stand as an Independent candidate. 

I have decided to take up the challenge, but it won't be easy. The Conservative and Labour Parties both think they can win this seat and will be doing all they can, with big money behind them. I will need thousands of leaflets to let voters know what I stand for and why. I hope some people will want posters.  

Unlike the other candidates, my campaign is community based and I need to ask supporters if they feel able to donate to my campaign funds.

The election spending limit is around £1,500 and I'm seeing if that's a possible target so I can match the larger parties. I and my agent, Martin Thomas - chair of Whaley Bridge Town Council, have set up a campaign account and all funds will go there. I will be totally transparent about my election spending. It will be fully accounted for to the Electoral Commission and a report published. 

If you can afford to donate, I'd be most grateful. £5 pays for 100 leaflets, £10 for 5 large posters.

Donations up to £50 can be anonymous if you wish, but any donations over £50 will have to be named in line with UK Electoral Commission rules.

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Promoted by Martin L Thomas on behalf of Ruth George of Foxhill, Start Lane, Whaley Bridge, High Peak, Derbyshire SK23 7BR