Paul Chandler has lived in Kemptown for over ten years and, in that time, has been an active member of his community.
HE has helped shape the plans for the new hospital that Brighton so badly needs as a member of the local resident’s consultative committee. For the last three years Paul has given time to the voluntary advice sector in Brighton and Hove and also helps out at a weekly soup kitchen.
He has run several successful businesses including a pottery manufacturer, a typesetting company and, most recently, a travel company specialising in trips to Portugal.
He has over a decade’s worth of experience as a local councillor and helped deliver a much needed swimming pool to his area. He has been a school governor and away from politics, he is learning Portuguese and is a keen crossword solver and setter.
Paul’s position on the Stonewall Equality Manifesto: To download Manifesto, click here:
Statutory PSHE and Sex and Relationships Education for primary and secondary schools in England: I support making sex and relationship education compulsory in all schools and enshrining this in law. Liberal Democrats believe all state schools should teach Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) from key stage 2. This could include age appropriate information about growing up including healthy relationships, sexual health, transgender issues, sexual orientation and domestic violence. SRE needs to be available to all young people, regardless of orientation, and taught in a safe and non-judgemental environment by a confident and qualified teacher. I was proud that the Liberal Democrats introduced the Equal Marriage Act and I think it is important that SRE reflects the full range of relationships. We also need to do more to stop homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying and I am pleased that we made £2 million available this year to help stamp it out.
Combatting homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crime: I am surprised to discover that homophobic hate crime is not included as an ‘aggravated’ offence. I would support a campaign to encourage all LGBT people to report incidences of hate crime – which should always be treated seriously by the police.
International Aid: We have all been shocked and horrified by tales of attacks on LGBT people in Africa and elsewhere in the world. I would support audit of all UK aid projects to see proper attention being given to addressing the problems of LGBT population in the areas where they are undertaken. Positive efforts should be made to involve local groups or individuals where possible.
Reviewing the law affecting trans people: I support a review of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 which has had some perverse effects.”
Paul’s position on the future Commissioning of Health Services and how that affects the Sussex Beacon:
“Due to the high cluster of people living with HIV in the area, Brighton needs to be viewed as a special case for higher than average health HIV funding. Agencies such as the Sussex Beacon have a strong record of delivery but alongside this more community-based support should be developed. The exceptional local HIV voluntary sector has a major role to play in this, such as groups like Lunch Positive. These groups need secure long term funding to be able to deliver this and provide community alternatives rather than expensive NHS based care.”
For a full list of candidates standing in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, click here: