John  represented the Central Region of Scotland as an MSP from  2007 until 2016.  During that time and throughout his political career,  he has fought hard for worker's rights and campiagned against the injustice of poverty, spending cuts and planning decisions which impact on the health and wellbeing of communities.  John's work on various committees has allowed him to highlight the need for more transparency within government, public bodies and the judicial system, assist credit unions, promote local democracy and community empowerment and press the need for more social housing.  John is a long standing campaigner against nuclear weapons and unconventional gas extraction.

John will be standing as an independent candidate at the North Lanarkshire Council elections for Ward 6, which covers Glenboig, Moodiesburn and Gartcosh.