About Geoff
Introducing
Geoff Cooper
Geoff is a Romsey native, and already works hard for the area as a councillor for North Baddesley. He’s a passionate campaigner and has a bold vision for both our constituency and the country.
Geoff isn’t a career politician. In fact, he’s running for MP because he’s tired of them. For Geoff, changing the country is about decisive action, not just words. And that starts in Romsey & Southampton North.
Q&A
Could you tell us a little about yourself?
I grew up in Romsey and went to school in Southampton. I’m father to my wonderful daughter who was born just before the first Covid lock down, and husband to my amazing wife, who is originally from Poland. I’m the oldest of five boys and I actually trained as an actor and a dancer, before going on to have a very successful career in business and commerce. I never thought I’d find myself in frontline politics!
Why run for MP now?
I’m terrified of the direction this country is going in. Of the future that my daughter might inherit. Climate change, Brexit and the rise of right-wing, nationalistic politics of fear and intolerance all threaten the values that I hold dear and the future that I want for my family.
What are your biggest frustrations with R&SN?
Where to start? There’s over-development in the towns, while our rural areas are dying because there’s no affordable housing and our farming communities struggle to survive. Green Industry opportunities are being missed and there are simply not enough GPs, NHS dentists or social services available for our communities. The roads are crumbling, public transport is being cut back and access to great schools is still a postcode lottery!
What’s the plan? How will you fix it?
It’s a massive challenge and I’m not pretending it will happen overnight, or that I have all the answers. Any politician that tells you that they can solve everything is lying! But we can start to rebuild our country and fight for the open, tolerant and liberal society we want and it all starts here and one word: FAIR!
A fair deal for everyone. Fair voting that represents all our views. Fair taxes that spreads the burden more equally. Fair opportunities in life that level the playfield for everyone. A fair day’s pay of a fair day’s work and finally, fair investment in our public services and the future of this great country.
How do the Lib Dems differ from the other parties?
At the heart of Lib Dem DNA is that idea of a Fair Deal for everyone.
The Tories believe the more successful the individual is, the more successful society will be. They prioritse and reward wealth. But this leaves everyone except those at the top behind. Equally, the Labour Party believe that if you look after everyone at the bottom, then society will be better. They put those at the lower end of the economic scale first, at the expense of the rest. Greens put the planet first, SNP put Scotland first and Reform are still putting Nigel Farage first, I think!
The Lib Dems do not put one group, person or thing ahead of anything else. We simply look to do the fairest thing for all. We think about everyone. We don’t want anyone to be left behind.
Where do you stand on Brexit?
My wife is Polish born, I currently work for a multinational company with responsibilities across 10 European markets and regularly travel to mainland Europe, so it will not surprise you to know that I think Brexit is the greatest disaster this country has inflicted on itself.
We must repair the damage done. Improve our relationship with the EU and eventually (I hope) rejoin. By doing so, we will put this country back at the heart of international politics and allow us to regain our standing and influence in the world.
What would you like to change about politics?
We need to fundamentally reshape the contract between those elected and the electorate. So much trust and faith has been lost in politics. It is crucial that we restore it. A radical shake up of our voting system will help with this. It will ensure that every vote counts and that voters see their views and beliefs represented proportionately in Parliament. Proportional Representation will also mean an end to “safe seats” and ensure that our politicians not only have to work for us but are more easily held to account.
What’s your long-term vision?
The UK leading the green energy revolution, just like we led the 19th Century Industrial Revolution. Our country reclaiming its place as a pioneering world leader in science, technology and exploration.
I believe the 21st century can be our next great golden age, where we will once again lead the world as a beacon for fairness, where the rules of law apply to all, in our open, tolerant and just society. A culturally diverse and rich nation, once again at the heart of the geopolitical map and centre of the world stage.
Core Beliefs
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Prevention is better than cure. The NHS must be supported to help prevent sickness and ill health, rather than constantly being expected to pick up the pieces of a population overworked, unpaid and undervalued. It is a National HEALTH Service. Not a National Illness Service
Social care, mental health and physical wellbeing must all be promoted equally and the connections between them recognised and prioritised to ensure we have the healthy and productive population needed to power our economy and we all have the peace of mind we were promised. Free health and social care for all, as outlined by the great Liberal William Beveridge back in 1942!
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Private enterprise is the principal engine of growth and prosperity in the UK. British employers must be able to hire the workers they need, and those who choose to come to the UK to work or study should be welcomed for the skills and contributions that they bring.
We must drive back business confidence and rebalance the tax burden more fairly. We must provide the skills training so desperately needed and we must start our journey back to closer ties with Europe, that will hopefully see us one day rejoin the EU.
We must work in partnership with business to offer stability and ensure that we maximise the opportunities for investment, growth and employment across the country. By making the UK a world leader in ethical, inclusive new technologies and leading the green industry revolution we will provide the job security and prosperity the people of this great nation deserve.
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Our most important goal of all. We must lead the way in saving our planet. Not just stopping but reversing the impact of Climate Change and ensuring our children’s and grand-children’s future. Only by investing in green energy production and the technologies of the future can reclaim our beautiful and bio-diverse planet.
The UK must be a world leader in moving the net zero and then go beyond. Setting ambitious targets to undo the damage that we started doing to this planet, before any other nation on Earth, with our Industrial Revolution.
We can reclaim our planet. We must reclaim our planet. Our children will not forgive us, if we don’t.
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A fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. Sounds like such a simple thing. But decades of under investment and greed, coupled with government policy that prioritises profit over people, has led to wage erosion and the devaluation of some of the most important jobs in our society, whilst the tax burden has soared. A fair deal for workers means putting more of their money back into their own pockets.
Fair and progressive taxation is vital to sustain the services that support our economy and society whilst ensuring that everyone keeps as much of their hard earned money as possible.
We must Invest in infrastructure, innovation and skills to create good jobs and prosperity in every region and nation of the UK, while tackling the climate emergency.
Investing in education, starting in the crucial early years and continuing throughout adulthood. Ensuring every child gets the support and attention they need at school and that every parent is able to return to the work place, if that is what they choose to do.
Geoff Cooper