Hi, I'm Robin. I'm 47 and I was born in Kent.
I'm not a professional politician - I'm a software developer and tech team lead. I've been interested in politics ever since I was a teenager and Tony Blair was poised to take power. Over the years, I've learned a lot about tech, a lot about how to lead (and how not to), and a lot about UK politics through my interest in politics, debate and current events.
I think it's very important for a politician to be a good listener:
listening to their constituents, their problems, and their suggestions
listening to experts. Michael Gove once said "I think we've had enough of experts" - well, when it comes to issues like climate change and AI, I don't agree with that sentiment. Though I've learned it's important also to develop discernment about which experts to pay attention to, and read them with a critical eye. Sometimes experts can introduce political bias - and it's not always obvious.
listening to the news - and not only news from a particular political point of view. It's important to follow a diverse range of perspectives in terms of news coverage - if nothing else, to hear what others are saying.
listening to their political opponents. Sometimes a politician's opponents make a good point.
Although I've never been an elected official before, I feel like I measure up pretty well on all these points - but Clacton voters can be the judge.
I think the world of politics and Whitehall can be quite insular and slow to pay attention and react to important new developments - and also slow to change its mind when it has been proven wrong. With the rapid developments in AI taking place and in the last few years, that's a problem. That's one of the key reasons I decided to stand in this by-election. The other was, the failure of the other main parties to stand created an annoyance - but also, I realised, an opportunity.
I'm standing as an independent, so I'm not under any obligations to agree or disagree with Labour or the Conservatives or Reform UK on any particular issues. If I agree with them on an issue, I'll say so. If I don't, I'll say so. What you see is what you get.
Check out my policies.
I don't currently live in the constituency, but I pledge to move to Clacton if I am elected as your MP, and I also plan to be in the constituency for the majority of the 4-week campaigning period before the election. Obviously not living there right now may be seen as a negative for some people, but I think I would still be a better constituency MP and better on local issues than Nigel Farage.
If you want to contact me or help out with the campaign, please email me.