About Dave Callaghan

Born

Lyndhurst, New Forest

Education

• Newlands Primary School, Maybush, Southampton

• Testwood Secondary School, Totton, near Southampton

• Totton Sixth Form College.

• London University - 2nd class honours degree in Modern History

Career

20 years in journalism including The Guardian, as news editor on its website; also worked for Meridian TV, Radio Solent, and Southampton City Council as public relations officer. Currently a freelance journalist working for public sector magazines.

Politics

Prospective Parliamentary Candidate in the Southampton Test constituency. Councillor with Liberal Democrat-run Sutton Council in St Helier ward (including hospital) since 2006. Chair of a local committee with £354,000 budget, and Deputy Mayor 2008-09

Beliefs

• Local people making decisions with minimal central control from Whitehall

• We need to rebuild society from the bottom upwards and give families as much support as possible - this is the most effective way to tackle youth crime

• 'Pavement politics' focusing on the things that affect the places where people live is the way to win their support