Mike Bland

Mike Bland has been an active and passionate Labour campaigners for decades. He spent eight years as a Kent County Councillor, including a stint as group spokesperson on the then Kent Police Authority. A fitting role given that his career was mainly in the Probation Service, where he ended up as an Assistant Chief Officer in London.  He then moved on to become a consultant in the criminal justice sector, which involved much interagency work with local and national government.

Latterly, he was Rosie Duffield’s campaign manager during her successful bid to get elected as Canterbury’s first Labour MP.

Mike spent much of his childhood living in small towns and villages or the edge of the countryside in Wales, England, and Northern Ireland. For him the direct connection with nature provides not just magical memories, but also a firm guide to our future. One which works with, enhances, and does not destroy our biodiversity. He practises what he preaches and when he’s not poring over paperwork or enjoying a good film or show you’ll often find him tending his city allotment growing tasty fresh vegetables for his family.

He is a member of the Co-operative Party and Labour’s Environment Campaign – SERA. His keen interest in community wealth building is directly applicable to the need to develop new jobs in the countryside though small businesses, provide flexible transport, and ensure truly affordable homes for local people. His interest in biodiversity sits alongside ensuring clean rivers and water supplies and a new agricultural deal that better guarantees our food security through local production.