Paul Blanchard LLB (Hons) Skype: paul-blanchard-york See you on facebook: click here
	Tel: +44 870 741 8888 Fax: +44 870 442 5298	Email: blanchardp <at> parliament.uk (written like this to avoid spam!)

Hello, and welcome to my web page. Here is a little bit about me. I’m 33 years old, live in the village of Strensall (York, UK) with my wife Heather and dog Sweep.

Below are a few bullet points of information about me and my work, but if you really want to get a sense of who I am, add me as a friend on facebook.

Work:

• I started working for myself aged 17 with a small advert in the local paper offering IT advice
• I am Managing Partner of the PR and marketing company Right Angles. We work for a variety of clients, from small businesses, through campaigning organisations right up to multinational companies, with offices in London and Leeds. I divide my time between London and Leeds.
• I was described by Yorkshire Business Insider magazine as a “leading Yorkshire business figure” in May 2006. I am an active networker.
• Member of the Chartered Institute of PR Government Affairs Group, Federation of Small Businesses, York Chamber of Commerce, Leeds Chamber of Commerce, Yorkshire Association of Business Angels, Institute of Directors, Club LS1, and the Union in Soho

Politics:

• Since 2003, I have been a Labour Party councillor at the City of York Council, representing Heworth Ward. After my first four-year term I was re-elected in May 2007 for another four years, with a greatly increased vote. The local party website is here. I recently chaired the Inclusivity Scrutiny Committee, working at ways of opening-up the council to those who don’t usually get involved in politics. I’m currently: Chair, Children and Young People Working Group; and Vice-Chair, Scrutiny Management Committee
• I am on the party’s “National Parliamentary Panel” – a list of NEC-approved party members who can seek a Parliamentary seat. I’m proud that at the last election I fought the strong Conservative seat of Ryedale, growing Labour’s vote by 41%, which was the most successful campaign in the whole country in terms of swing. You can have a look at my campaign website here.
• I have also been active within the Local Government Association for a number of years, where I currently serve on the Children & Young People Board
• I recently completed the “Next Generation” programme from Leadership Centre for Local Government, which is “an 18-month programme designed to develop and support high-flying councillors who have the potential for being leaders of the future”
• I am a member of (inter alia) Labour Animal Welfare Society, Labour Finance and Industry Group, Labour Movement for Europe, the Fabian Society, and Progress

RE-DESIGN ALERT!

I know this site design is poor.

But take a look at the re-design work in progress!

Member of:

• A lacto-ovo vegetarian since 2000, and strict vegan since early 2007, I am a member of The Vegan Society, RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming, Captive Animals Protection Society, and Labour Animal Welfare Society
• I am a secular humanist, and a member of the British Humanist Association, National Secular Society, and Dignity in Dying
• I am a committed republican and am a member of Republic. Click here for a clip of me on Sky News talking about the monarchy.
• Since 2002 I have been Chairman, York Board, of the national business education charity "Young Enterprise", working with many schools in the area to encourage young people to learn and succeed through enterprise. I am also a Volunteer Business Advisor and fundraiser. In August 2006, following a region-wide reorganisation, I became “Leader, York Taskforce.”

Some of the campaigns I support:

• Ban foie gras – my own campaign to ban this inhumane ‘delicacy’. Click here for a clip of me on Sky News promoting the campaign

• Votes at 16, Make Votes Count, Electoral Reform Society
• We’re not afraid
• Make Child Benefit Count
• My Society
• Citizenship Foundation

Hobbies and interests:

• Five a side football
• Socialising with friends
• Cooking
• Travelling around the UK and abroad
• Squash
• Walking and play-fighting with our dog (I always win)
• Politics and current affairs – here is a random clip of me on Richard & Judy defending ‘daft’ council decisions

Favourite…

• TV: Sky News, The Sopranos, 24, Prison Break, The West Wing, Lost, Six Feet Under, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Late Night with Conan, Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe, Father Ted, Blackadder, Frasier, The Office, Extras, Alan Partridge, Saxondale, Peep Show, Ali G, The Simpsons, Futurama, Family Guy, Bo Selecta!, SpongeBob. Yes Minister, The Thick of It, House of Cards trilogy, Knight Rider, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Quantum Leap
• Music: I love music and I go to as many gigs as I can. Hue and Cry, Evanescence, Cobra Starship, Linkin Park, Paramore, Breaks Co-op, David Gray, Lisa Loeb, Jewel, Goldfrapp, Carole King, Nelly Furtado, Alanis Morissette, Richard Marx, Hootie and the Blowfish, Scritti Politti, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Jamie Cullum, Michael Bublé, Harry Connick Jr, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole
• Movies – Ghostbusters I and II, The Three Amigos, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Departed, Bad Santa, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Dodgeball, Casino Royale, The Godfather, Unforgiven, 21 Grams, Superman Returns, The Shawshank Redemption, Schindler's List, Airplane, Pulp Fiction, Raiders of the Lost Ark (and the rest!), Glengarry Glen Ross, The Sting, Kill Bill, Toy Story, Groundhog Day, Heat, Terminator 2, Die Hard, Rocky Balboa, Aliens, Napoleon Dynamite, Jackass 1 & 2, Noises Off, An Inconvenient Truth, The Karate Kid

Last updated: 8 May 2008