Graham Evans

Our Prospective Parliamentary Candidate is Graham Evans, who was chosen by the voters of Weaver Vale, regardless of whether they were a member of the Conservative Party or not, on 7 July 2007 in an Open Primary at Weaverham High School in Weaver Vale.

Graham Evans said “ It is an honour and a privilege to be selected and I would like to thank all those who took part in the selection process. I will be working hard to meet people across the constituency”.

“We now have a new prime minister, but it does not really matter who is leader of the labour party, it is time for a change and only the Conservatives can beat Gordon Browns’ labour party”. added Graham.

Cllr Ralph Oultram, Chairman of Weaver Vale Conservatives said. “Weaver Vale is ready for a changeand that is why we have chosen Graham. He is a local Cheshire lad born and bred, full of energy and enthusiasm and ready to work hard on many of the issues affecting this community”.

Graham has been working with Weaver Vale Conservatives ever since, attending local events and meeting local people to find out the issues that affect them.

In July 2009, Graham said: "Ever since the details of MP’s expenses were first published, people have been furious about the excessive, unacceptable and possibly illegal claims made by some of the people we send to represent us in the House of Commons.

As the local Conservative candidate in the next General Election, I want to make it clear to you that I will not play the system. I will not bend the rules. I will not break the law. Instead, I will abide by the standards that politicians expect others to live by. I will stick to the strict rules set out below.

I want you to treat this as a contract between us. If I’m elected as your Member of Parliament in the general election. If I break any one of these rules, you should vote me out when you get the chance.

MP’s Expenses: my contract with you

Publish on my personal website details of all of my expenses incurred as your Member of Parliament;

Publish on my personal website details of all of my office expenses incurred as your Member of Parliament;

Appoint a local firm of auditors to approve my expenses accounts at the end of every financial year;

Open up my unedited expenses claims to local newspapers at the end of every financial year;

Never claim for dry cleaning, laundry and ironing.

Never Claim for “house hold sundries”.

Never claim for furniture or household goods; and Meet my own tax liabilities – such as stamp duty – without claiming them from the taxpayer''

Graham Evans July 2009

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Personal biography (June 2007)

Graham is married to Cheryl and has 2 young children, George and Tom and lives close to the Peak National Park in Rainow near Macclesfield. A committed family man he loves spending time with his young family and taking an active interest in their development, having such a young family keeps him in tune with what is happening with key issues such as education and health.

Graham attended his local ComprehensiveHigh School, where he under achieved leaving with few qualifications. Subsequently he studied in the evenings gaining a Business Degree and Diploma in Marketing Management at ManchesterUniversity BusinessSchool.

Graham is a Company Director and prior to this worked for Hewlett Packard and Bae Systems. Graham travels extensively in Europe and the USA and has a good understanding of world affairs, especially on economic, political and social issues.

Graham loves history (specialising in Military, Social, Economic and Political History) and has a good size library on the subject. He is a keen sportsman, still plays football and is a lifelong Manchester United supporter who manages to attend most home games!

Political biography (June 2007)

Graham has always served the people of his community, spending 4 years as a Special Constable in the Cheshire Constabulary in the 1980s. Graham has become involved in local politics 15 years ago and is currently a Macclesfield Borough Councillor. He is currently Chairman of the Community Development Committee working hard to improve the local environment for the people of Macclesfield. Graham was part of the team of Conservative Councillors that took Macclesfield Borough Council from a CPA rating of “Poor” in 2000 to that of “Good” in 2004.

This experience of working within the public sector together with his business skills has given Graham an extra dimension to his problem solving approach. Graham believes that there needs to be a fundamental change in the way that politicians represent their electorate both locally and nationally. Graham believes that as a Businessman with a young family, and a strong sense of community service with over 20 years experience in business and local government he brings a new and dynamic approach to Conservative politics.

Graham also believes that people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care, and Graham cares passionately about his family, Business, Community and Country. Too many politicians are seen by the electorate as self serving, however Graham is keen to bring a new set values and skills to the party.