Time for a new way of working

On this website I'd like to detail a bit more about myself, and what I stand for. I'm currently a prospective independent candidate for the elections to the European parliament.

I'm paticipating in the "open primary" being run by the Jury Team - Launched in mid March 2009, the Jury Team was founded for those people who believe in democracy, but who have observed how the current party political system has turned the United Kingdom's Parliament and Government into the creatures of a small and increasingly distant group of oligarchical politicians.

The "open primary" is a world's first - anyone can stand, and those candidates with the highest number of text votes on 24th April will be supported as official independent candidates. You can vote for me by texting WILBAR01 to 86837 - texts cost 25p plus normal network charges. My Jury Team profile page can be found at http://www.juryteam.org/candidate-profile.php?id=10523

I believe that representatives should serve their voters, not their own self interest. I therefore give the following undertakings:

1. If elected, I will not join any of the various factions or groupings within the European parliament, but will instead remain truly independent and thus able to represent the best interests of the people of the South West region;

2. I will ensure that all of my financial dealings are transparent. Any staff I employ will be selected through fair and open competition, with the posts advertised across the South West region. I will not employ family members or cronies. I will not employ staff through company structures which would enable me to make personal gain. Any expenses claimed will be for activities wholly connected with representing my constituents - there will be no second homes, claims for barbeques, flat screen TVs, Sky subscriptions or pay per view porn. Where there are expenses, reciepts will be made available on my website within 30 days. Where possible, goods and services will be purchased from companies within the South West region;

3. I will not undertake any other paid employment while an elected representative. I will have one job to do, and intend to give it my full attention;

4. I will give a full account of my activities and attendance on my website every month, through a "scorecard" - this will show (among other things) my voting record;

5. The South West is a large region, but I will hold 1 public surgery per county (including Gibraltar) every 3 months. The locations of these meetings will be moved around to enable the widest access by the people of the South West, and dates will be published in advance on my website;

6. If I am fortunate enough to be elected, I would make a point of visiting Gib at the very earliest opportunity to discuss the way forward. If it is the will of the people that Gibraltar should have its own directly elected representative to the European parliament, then this is something that I will actively campaign for, and until that point, I will make every effort to represent the people of Gibraltar with the same diligence as other constituents in the South West region;

7. I am not a career politician - If I am elected, I will serve a maximum of 2 terms before standing down;

8. I am not a lawyer or a PR expert - I don't do spin, half truths, deception by omission, disinformation/misinformation or other verbal chicanery. I will answer questions about my role and activities as a representative fully, openly and without reservation or equivocation.