About

My name is James Alexander. I am the Labour Leader of City of York Council and a Councillor for Holgate Ward.

I was born James Glasgow and was raised in a single parent family until my Mother married my adoptive Father. My Mother is a dinner lady and my Father is a security guard.

I was educated in a tough inner city school until completing my GCSEs. Through hard work and education attainment, I went on to one of the best sixth forms in the country for my further education. I then  read Politics and Economic and Social History at the University of York. After graduating with honours I served a one year sabbatical position as the elected Students’ Union President.

I have worked for members of both Houses of Parliament, different political parties, Government departments, local Councils, media organisations, communications companies and universities. For a number of years I worked in electrical retail.

In May 2007 I won my council seat against the national trend from the Liberal Democrats. I was elected a Labour Councillor for Holgate Ward with a majority of 127. I served as Chair of City of York Council’s Children’s Services, Licensing and Gambling Acts and Health Overview and Scrutinty committees. I served two years as York’s elected Children and Young People’s Champion and I was the Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for York Outer at the 2010 election where I achieved 9,108 votes. I was shortlisted for the national ‘Young Councillor of the Year Award 2010′ by the Local Government Information Unit.

In May 2010 I was elected leader of City of York Council’s Labour Opposition group. Because of this I gave up my employment as project and outreach officer at York St John University. My duties in this role included encouraging people from disadvantaged backgrounds to study in higher education and improve their chances in life.

I successfully led my group of 18 councillors into the 2011 local elections where we gained 8 seats to become the ruling group of City of York Council. Labour won an overall majority of 5 by winning 26 seats out of 47. Labour gained both the seats of the Liberal Democrat leader of the council and his predecessor, who had held his seat for 38 years. The Conservatives form the official opposition with 10 seats. I was re-elected with a majority of 948. I achieved 2211 votes, the most of any York Labour Councillor and the second highest vote in the council. On 26th May I was confirmed as the first Labour Leader of City of York Council in 8 years. At the time I was the youngest council leader in the country.

I am a director of Visit York, York’s tourism partnership, Vice-Chair of the Leeds City Region’s Leader’s Board and Vice-Chair of Without Walls, York’s Local Strategic Partnership.

I do not come from a political or establishment family but my upbringing and my late Grandmother have guided the formation and course of my political convictions. My political convictions are borne from first hand experience.

I want to live in a society where a person’s talents and hard work will determine where they get to in life and not the reverse. This is why I am in politics.

Councillor James Alexander, Labour Leader of City of York Council