Leading your local Labour team: Kings Hedges

Elizabeth Hughes, Kings Hedges

171 Minerva Way, Cambridge Phone: 01223 313764

Elizabeth Hughes is your Labour candidate for Kings Hedges in the 2010 City Council elections. She was elected County Councillor in Kings Hedges in 2005 and undertook a heavy workload in her 4 years on the council. Elizabeth has lived in Minerva Way in Kings Hedges since 1978 and was the first resident on the new estate. When she arrived in Kings Hedges she joined the Arbury Orchestra, the Church Choir and got involved in community activities, running a Girl Guide company. She served on the PTA committee of the Manor School when it was threatened with closure; at present she is again a school governor at the Manor.

Having accepted redundancy from the University of Luton, Elizabeth was pleased to become involved with the Labour Government's new community flagship project, Sure Start. As a grandparent she represented Kings Hedges on the Cambridge Board and used her professional background to support the Health Improvement Committee. Week by week she made and served refreshments at the new Mums' Group and became the group's photographer and archivist from 2001-6.

In 2002 Elizabeth was elected Labour City Councillor for Kings Hedges and constantly challenged the provision for older and disabled residents in Cambridge. She stood down in 2007 but remains an active member of the Constituency Labour Party as a delegate from Kings Hedges on the General and Executive Committee. She has raised £100s by making and selling tea, coffee and cakes.

Elizabeth has been married to John, a severely disabled Welsh actor and a keen Labour supporter, since 1965. She is proud that her own grandfather went to hear Keir Hardie speak, and resists any lessening of her activities due to Parkinson's disease from which she has suffered for some 12 years.

She says, "I belong to the local Parkinson's Disease Support Group as their publicity officer, and as part of my work as a County Councillor I was committed to supporting diversity and raising awareness of the work and workplace needs of people with physical and emotional disabilities and of the impact of bad working conditions and poor people management".

Elizabeth sat on the following County Council Committees:

Cambs and Peterborough Minerals and Waste Plan - Joint Members Working Group

Children's & Young People's Services Scrutiny Committee

Enhanced Services Policy Development Group

Joint Accountability Committee

Joint Staff Panel

Universal Services Policy Development Group