This May Jesmond residents will have their say in the running of NE2. In the run up to the election, we will meet all the candidates running for council seats in Jesmond. Today, the Conservative candidates for North and South Jesmond: Matthew Sinclair and Sam Lee.

North Jesmond – Matthew Sinclair

Matthew Sinclair joined the Conservative party in 2009, whilst at university.  He became more actively involved during the 2010 general election campaign and stood in the Lancaster City Council election of 2011.

Studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics, he was particularly keen to see how the country’s economy would recover after 2008 and felt that the Conservative party offered a credible  economic solution to the country’s problems, whilst continuing to support key areas such as education and the NHS.

Sinclair works in wealth management for a national law firm.  As a Jesmond resident he says he is keen to get involved in local politics and to represent the interests of the local residents and businesses. He feels that the integration of students and local residents is one of the most important issues in Jesmond, saying it is frustrating to hear stories of students stealing hubcaps from cars and causing trouble locally, as he feels that long term residents and short term residents such as students get on well in the majority of cases. He would like to see the student unions having an active dialogue with local resident associations to encourage positive integration and to clamp down on any unruly behaviour.

Sinclair says he would like to assist local businesses in Jesmond to advertise the wealth of services offered and act to improve the overall experience of living in Jesmond.  He considers the Acorn Road issue to be very important, saying local businesses need support in order to continue to thrive.  “Parking and congestion is always going to be a problem in Jesmond, but I feel that any changes made to the road system and parking allocation must have local businesses needs at the heart,” he says. “A one way system with additional parking may be an appropriate solution but it is important that the interests of local business are considered as key”.

South Jesmond – Sam Lee

Sam Lee joined the Conservative Party at 17. He currently studies politics at Newcastle University, having moved up north for his degree from Hull. He has been interested in politics since primary school, saying he always wanted to go with his parents when they went to vote.

If voted in, Lee would like to go to Newcastle City Council and push a pro-economic stance. “I could really vote on principle and hold the council accountable,” he says. He would like to see more business in Jesmond: “one of the things I hear from the bar owners and restaurant owners is that the council is a kind of monolith, and it shouldn’t be a big web of legislation to get through,” he notes.

Housing is also a big issue for Lee, having been told he had to sign a new contract when he and his housemates wanted to stay in the same house for a second year instead of simply extending the contract. This meant having to pay a second set of agency fees. He feels not enough is being done.

Lee would like to see a rejuvenation of business in the north east which he feels has not recovered in the way it could have since the ending of the mining industry in the area. “People don’t know about local government a lot of the time, it affects them more than national but people don’t care.”

Lee thinks that student integration is a problem but thinks the issue is on students who treat the area that they move in as a temporary residence rather than their home.

Lee lives in Sandyford and regularly uses the Dene for running and cycling.