The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Candidate hopes there will be no ‘trumping’ him in mayoral election
“Neighbours came to me and said ‘what a great idea, I love Trump’.”
If all Cambridgeshire residents were as impressed by Stephen Goldspink’s publicity stunt as his neighbours in Turves near Whittlesey, then the English Democrat would stand a good chance of representing the county as its first ever elected mayor.
Mr Golds pink caused quite a stir on social media in early February by announcing that if he followed the US President in achieving a shock election victory, then he would formally invite The Donald to visit Cambridgeshire.
The former deputy leader of Peterborough City Council (Mr Goldspink that is, not Mr Trump, although there is still time) is quite open in admitting that his ‘ invitation’ to the White House was nothing short of a publicity stunt.
“Of course it was!” he says.
But behind the attentionseeking was a “genuine sentiment,” he claimed, adding: “I do sense there is less opposition to Donald Trump in the UK than you might think if you read your average newspaper, and more interest in what he’s doing.
“I certainly thought it was worth throwing out an invitation no matter how unlikely it is that hewill respond to come to Cambridgeshire because let’s be honest, whether you like him or you don’t like him, it would put Cambridgeshire on the map.
“He said some things I think are unwise, but on the other hand, in terms of election promises and keeping them, he’s do- ing something that’s quite a lot different to other politicians that I’ve seen.
“In that respect Nigel Farage is the same.”
Mr Goldspink describes himself as a “slow convert” to Mr Trump, and he hopes to take inspiration from his campaign as he seeks an unlikely victory in May’s vote.
He said: “I was watching a programme about Donald Trump and I saw early on he was being asked ‘are you in this just to make up the numbers or are you in it to win?’ He said, ‘I’m in it to win’. “He was always very unlikely to win at the start of it so I have to say I’m in it to win, but I have to be realistic and say if I get my deposit back I can be very pleased.”
Mr Goldspink, a project manager for a software company, was a Conservative city councillor before switching
to the English Democrats in 2009.
Aside from being deputy council leader he was cabinet member for business efficiency, community services and education and children’s services, and he was a councillor for East ward until 2012 when he vacated his seat.
And with five of the seven remaining candidates for mayor coming from out side of Peterborough, Mr Goldspink wanted to give voters in his former city another option when they cast their vote on May 4.
He said: “I know quite a lot of what is going on and I’ve always taken an interest in local affairs.
“I note that a lot of the candidates are from the south of the county so I was quite keen to represent the north of the county and the Peterborough area in particular.
“Not to give a bias, but just to give an alternative to someone who lives in the north of the county.
“I feel I can discharge the role well and I understand the issues.”
Mr Goldspink is proud of his achievements as an East ward councillor.
“He pinpoints his role in helping to create a second lane on Bishop’s Road up to the mini roundabout as proof that he can make a difference to the local community.
He now believes he can help more residents as Cambridgeshire’s first mayor, adding: “I will do what I say I’m going to do and make sure I keep in touch with the residents who elected me.”