Winchester election candidates St Michael and St Paul

On May 4, residents will be able to vote for one candidate in 16 wards. Sitting councillors are marked with an *. 

We invited every candidate standing in the Winchester City Council local election to submit 100-word profiles. 

These are the candidates standing in the St Michael and St Paul wards and their own words as to why they are standing. 

St. Michael 

Peter Marsh – Labour 

Peter is a long-standing campaigner on housing and homelessness.

He leads an employee-owned project management company based in Winchester delivering capital projects for education and local authorities.

He was the previous social housing regulator for England, developing tenant engagement standards.

He served as deputy principal in a number of further education colleges.

Peter has substantial experience in delivering major projects, good governance, and delivering services through cooperative structures. 

Fiona Mather – Conservative 

Fiona Mather has lived in Winchester since 2000. She represented St Michael Ward on Winchester City Council for 19 years from 2002 to 2021.

She represented Winchester Eastgate Division on Hampshire County Council from 2013 to 2017 and during that time was a member of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority.  

She was chairman of the Licensing and Regulation Committee of the city council for 12 years. 

She has served on the board of Winchester BID and on the advisory board of the Trinity Centre. She is a trustee of St Cross Hospital, a member of Winchester Litter Pickers and a Cathedral sidesman. 

Kate Needham – Green 

We are in a climate and biodiversity emergency. Local services have been cut and we have lost so much.

I worry about what the future will hold for my grandchildren. I would like them to be able to paddle in the sea and local streams without fear of becoming sick.  

I’d like them to breathe cleaner air and be surrounded by more green spaces. To be able to afford to live here when they are older. 

We need to vote more Greens into positions of power for a greener, fairer world and a future we can all look forward to. 

George Prest – Liberal Democrats 

George lives in St Michael ward with his wife and children. 

He’s passionate about opportunities for young people, the climate crisis and the improvement of central Winchester.

“I want to make a difference in our local community,” George says. “We live in a great city but we need to make it even better.”

Years of campaigning on social and environmental issues, and running a successful business, means George knows what it takes to get things done. 

George successfully campaigned with local people and businesses to stop BT’s  plans for digital advertising screens in the historic centre. 

St. Paul 

Giles Gooding – Green 

I have lived in Fulflood for more than 20 years and have been actively involved in the local community for most of this time. 

I volunteer with the Scouts and campaign on green issues with Friends of the Earth, WinACC and Greening Fulflood. I also launched Freecycle Winchester in 2006. 

Winchester is choked by cars, affecting the health of residents and visitors. Much has been promised to reduce traffic, but little has been delivered. 

The council needs to increase its Green Voice to get the movement strategy back on track. I want to see a cleaner, healthier, fairer Winchester for all. 

Leo Keay – Conservative 

Leo is a young professional who was born and raised in Winchester. He first stood for election in 2022, and has campaigned passionately for the regeneration of the city centre, as well as for protecting Winchester’s green spaces and improving local transport.  

He works extensively with terminal illness charities, serving as a campaign volunteer for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, as well as organising his own fundraising for Marie Curie.  

Having previously volunteered at the Winchester City Museum, he remains a strong enthusiast for local history and tourism.   

*Martin Tod – Liberal Democrats 

Winchester resident, Martin Tod, has lived in the city for the last 16 years and been active in city life ever since. He’s been a local councillor for 11 years and leader of the city council since May last year.

As a councillor, he led Winchester’s work to successfully drive-up recycling rates and most recently was responsible for the decision to appoint a new development partner to regenerate the rundown parts of central Winchester.

He is particularly concerned about making streets safer for walking and cycling, and led the work to close the Square in Winchester to through traffic. 

Stephen Turner – Labour 

Steve, a Labour Party member since 1979, lives locally.

He was a teacher and educational psychologist for 20 years before becoming a lecturer at the Civil Service College.

He was a CEO and ran his own business for over 20 years, with a good understanding of public and private sectors.

He is fully committed to Labour’s pledges to revive participation in local democracy and make significant improvements in housing, energy efficiency, transport and a thriving high street.