Nub News recently sat down with Jonathan Hulley, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Twickenham. 

We had the opportunity to speak to Jonathan and find out more about his life, why he wants to run for parliament and what he thinks about local and national issues. 

Jonathan currently lives on the other side of the Thames, in Surrey but has a flat in Twickenham, as well as family and professional links to the area. 

After moving from South Africa to the UK in 2003, he now works as a head social housing lawyer at a top fifty law firm. He also has been a Runnymede Borough Councillor for five years and has served as a Surrey County Councillor. 

Jonathan said: "I believe having experience in local government allows you to hit the ground running should you be elected to parliament. 

"I would suggest that my local government experience and my professional legal experience absolutely gives me the professional and local government experience to be an effective and problem solving member of government which is what I intend to be." 

He added: "The transition from being a local councillor a short distance away from the constituency and being a legal professional with clients in the constituency equips me well for being an effective MP for Twickenham." 

He shared that he is passionate about public service and that it runs deep in his veins as his father served as an MP in South Africa.

He said: "I believe that being a MP provides you with a platform to make a difference and I am passionate about a number of issues and I believe that parliament gives me the forum in which to fight for them and that excites me." 

He explained his love for Twickenham saying: "Twickenham is a fantastic constituency – its visually stunning, Bushy park and Moormead park, it's a fantastic place to enjoy. There's no better place that Twickenham Stadium on match days." 

Jonathan told Nub News that some of the issues he is most concerned about for constituents in Twickenham include opening the Hampton Court Palace gardens to the public for free, VAT and tackling the Teddington Direct River Abstraction Scheme. 

Jonathan told Nub News that some of the issues he is most concerned about for constituents in Twickenham include opening the Hampton Court Palace gardens to the public for free, VAT and tackling the Teddington Direct River Abstraction Scheme. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Hulley).

Hampton Court Palace Gardens: 

Jonathan told Nub News that he has recently launched a petition to ensure that the gardens at Hampton Court Palace are open to the public for free. 

in 2013, the Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) started to charge for entry into the formal gardens during the summer and then during the pandemic free garden access was withdrawn completely. 

Jonathan said: "It is time for the public to be able to enjoy the wilderness area and the gardens which was always intended to be open for the public to enjoy. 

"So I have launched a petition and publisiced the campaign and I'm going to fight tooth and nail to get these gardens accessible to the public free of charge." 

Teddington Direct River Abstraction Scheme: 

In terms of the TDRA scheme (explainer here) he said that he opposes the scheme. 

He said: "I am concerned about its implications for the constituents in Twickenham, particularly the impact of drilling the shafts on Moormead Park and I'm concerned about the environmental impacts of the proposals. 

"We do need to ensure that we become drought resilient over time but the physical impact of essentially changing the character of Moormead Park is not a price worth paying. 

"I oppose the plan but we need to find practical solutions to deal with this very real problem." 

He said that he has been working with resident groups, including the Friends of Moormead Park about future public consultations. 

He added: "I'm not someone who advocates shouting at a problem I want to solve a problem. 

"It's no good simply demanding that the problem be vetoed you have to show them via various means that there are alternatives out there. 

"My role would be to demand a seat at the table as well so I could help shape the solution." 

Heathrow: 

In terms of Heathrow, he said that he opposed night flights. 

He said: "I, like many residents would be impacted by night flights and that night time ban must remain in place. 

"Residents need to respond to the consultation and write to me about their concerns about any attempts to change this. 

"Fundamentally between 4:30am and 6am there should be no flights into Heathrow." 

Jonathan also said that he is concerned about Labours policy which proposes adding a 20% VAT to private school fees. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Hulley).

Education: 

Jonathan also said that he is concerned about Labours policy which proposes adding a 20% VAT to private school fees.

Jonathan said: "There are 4,600 who attend nine independent schools in Twickenham. 

"I'm state educated and I strongly believe in the state sector, however, independent schools have their place. 

"The Labour proposal will have an impact on those schools and will have an impact on state schools as well. 

"Some schools could be forced to shut as a result of this policy. It is a dangerous policy in my view and it was one that was a key policy under Jeremy Corbyn so I'm concerned little has changed even though labour has a new leader.  

He added: "The state school system matters and I am a product of the state school system. 

"Any government should invest in our state school sector. 

"If I was elected as the next MP for Twickenham I would fight for funding to further improve the state schools in this constituency." 

Budget: 

In terms of the recent budget that was announced by the Conservative's he said: "I think that the National Insurance cut will have an impact on the average earner over time. 

"I think that the government's intention of scrapping national insurance altogether is something I support and I think that many residents in Twickenham will recognise that direction of travel and back it. 

"It's also right that from next month the national minimum wage will increase to £11.44 and that is something I strongly support as well. 

"I was pleased to see the household support fund has been extended by a further 6 months and if we see another budget before the election we will probably see it extended further. 

"The HSF extension, the increase in min wage and the cutting of national insurance I think as an overall package of measures is positive and will have a positive impacts on residents." 

Housing: 

Having come from a background of housing law this is an issue that Jonathan seemed particularly concerned about. 

He said: "The provision of affordable housing is in my view a fundamental role of national and local government. It is a supply issue and it also a housing product issue. 

"There is not enough affordable and social housing in this country and a future conservative government must prioritise this for the next generation. 

"It is a source of shame to me that Richmond Borough Council are at the bottom of the London Borough league table when it comes to the provision of affordable housing.  

"Housing associations need to do more, it is a shame that they are at the bottom of this table." 

He also said that he believes that issues in terms of the rental market will be tackled with the Renters Reform Bill. 

He said: "In terms of rent and rent levels, that will be addressed over time by building more affordable housing which is a national and local government responsibility."