South Cambridgeshire Labour is today (Thursday 6 March) announcing 8 more of its candidates who will be standing for election to Cambridgeshire County Council on 1 May.

The names combine experienced Parish councillors with people drawn from a range of backgrounds including teachers, an NHS worker, a rail worker, an experienced businessman who has supported the growth of the life science sector in Cambridge and union representatives.

The May elections will see Labour seeking to extend joint control of the County Council which it won four years ago, as well as seeking to re-elect a Labour Mayor, with current Deputy Mayor Cllr Anna Smith recently announced as Mayoral candidate.

Labour leader in the County Council, Cllr Elisa Meschini comments:

“Following the recent announcement by this Labour government of £1.5bn of funding to allow high streets to thrive again, it couldn’t be more obvious that after two decades of Tory austerity and decline, voting Labour on the 1st May is the best way to breathe new life into our parks, youth clubs, libraries, and cultural venues.”

Candidates for South Cambridgeshire being announced today are:

Duxford – Clare Downie

Lived in Whittlesford for 30 years, enthusiastically supporting various village clubs and events and volunteering through a council-backed charity led to supporting friends and neighbours at planning, licensing and employment meetings. Believes that those skills could be brought to our wider community if elected. Having seen the excellent support provided to her mother by a North-Eastern Labour council, Clare would like to see the same standard of care available here. Worked as an engineer in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and education industries before retraining as a physics teacher working in a local state secondary school.

Fulbourn – Tim Andrews

Lived in Fulbourn for over 20 years, a parish councillor since 2023 and stood previously for both county and district councils. Wants to be elected to ensure that developers are forced to provide the infrastructure needed including improved roads, expanded GP surgeries and play facilities as the community continues to grow. Tim will seek to ensure all our children have the best possible educational outcomes. Before retirement, he was a senior partner in a firm of patent attorneys, setting up and running the firm’s highly successful Cambridge office.

Gamlingay – John Goodall

Has stood for election in Gamlingay several times previously and is passionate to improve the lives of the community in which he lives. If elected, he would fight to improve educational outcomes for local children, demand expansion of the local surgery to allow local treatment of patients and work with the council and Combined Authority to improve public transport. Worked for ten years at a local comprehensive school, before moving oversees to teach in international schools, before returning to Gamlingay to work locally again.

Hardwick – Joe Beastall

Lived in Hardwick for the past five years. Regularly reports issues to both the County and District Councils such as littering and potholes, getting positive action for the community and is eager to use the full powers of the role of County Councillor to support the local community. Particularly concerned about improving adult social care. Professionally, he works as an area organiser for the UNISON trade union, coordinating successful campaigns such as stopping the closure of a 999 call centre.

Linton – Mike Murray

Has lived in Linton for twenty years. As a former Headteacher, Senior Leader in education and author on education issues, he is committed to making well-resourced comprehensive education work for all students across the county. Mike wants to ensure that there is enough affordable housing for the coming generation and to encourage growth of public transport, while at the same time developing a positive sustainable environment that retains or improves natural biodiversity.

Melbourn & Bassingbourn – Stacey Wilson-Davies

Worked in local government for thirteen years and wants to give back to the community that she cares about passionately. An activist for the trade union UNISON. Stacey believes that the insights gained from championing disability rights and equality for all over many years, makes her the ideal candidate to represent the whole of the community.

Shelford & Sawston – Anand Pillai

Has been a Sawston Parish Councillor since 2018, where he has seen first-hand the challenges which the community faces. Having stood before as a County Councillor, Anand wants to assist the people of Shelford and Sawston with issues that matter to them, in particular affordable housing, regular, reliable public transport and quality state education. Works for Greater Anglia Railway in customer service and passenger assistance.

Shelford & Sawston – Uroga Okello

Okello works at Addenbrooke’s Hospital as a healthcare support worker and is a UNISON representative at the hospital, supporting fellow healthcare workers. Continued improvement of health and adult social care in Cambridgeshire is an issue close to his heart, as are measures to support those in need.

These candidates complete South Cambs Labour’s county council candidates for the forthcoming elections on 1st May, after the previous announcement of our candidates for Cherry Hinton and Queen Edith’s:

Cherry Hinton – Bryony Goodliffe

Queen Edith’s – Janet O’Keefe