Johnno Hills - The Man - About

 

What values and convictions inform your political views?

 

My political views are shaped by values of fairness, personal responsibility, and sustainable welfare, informed by my role in social care within the NHS. I deeply value the UK’s welfare system, which supports those in genuine need. However, I believe this system must be balanced with accountability to prevent misuse and foster independence, ensuring it remains viable for future generations.A core conviction is that welfare should empower, not enable dependency. In my work, I’ve observed how some individuals exploit accessible, free services, contacting social care for issues they could resolve independently. This misuse strains resources, increases taxpayer costs, and delays support for those truly in need. My political views thus emphasize policies that encourage self-reliance while preserving a safety net for the vulnerable.
 
The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted this tension. Elderly individuals with mobility issues, fearful of infection, stopped daily exercise during isolation, leading to muscle wastage and falls. This surged referrals, overwhelming social care. We implemented a triage system, prioritizing urgent cases, while others waited weeks. Many lower-priority clients, when finally contacted, had resolved their issues independently, demonstrating that delays can inadvertently foster self-reliance. This experience reinforced my belief in policies that promote proactive personal responsibility, reducing unnecessary reliance on public services.Another concern is the financial burden of excessive care packages. Some families request increased domiciliary care without exploring internal solutions, escalating costs and dependency.
 
I advocate for policies that incentivise families to take reasonable responsibility for loved ones, reserving state resources for critical cases. This balance aligns with my conviction that the state should support, not supplant, individual and familial initiative.Fairness also guides my views. Taxpayers fund welfare, and misuse undermines their trust and the system’s sustainability. I support measures to deter exploitation, such as clearer eligibility criteria or mechanisms to encourage self-resolution before state intervention. Simultaneously, I value compassion, ensuring those genuinely unable to cope -- due to health, disability, or circumstance -- receive robust support.In essence, my political views advocate a welfare system that is compassionate yet sustainable, promoting independence while safeguarding the vulnerable.
 
The state should provide a safety net but not a crutch, encouraging personal responsibility to reduce financial strain and preserve resources. These convictions -- rooted in fairness, accountability, and pragmatism -- stem from my daily experience in social care, where I witness both the necessity of welfare and the consequences of its misuse. By striking this balance, we can maintain a system that upholds dignity, supports those in need, and respects the contributions of taxpayers.
 

What are the most significant challenges facing the United Kingdom and how would you address them?

 

The United Kingdom faces interconnected challenges: a strained economy, declining public services, rising crime and disorder, and immigration pressures, and threats to free speech. My 25 years of experience as a police officer, substance misuse worker, homicide victims’ advocate, domiciliary carer, and now NHS health and social care coordinator inform my perspective. These roles reveal systemic inefficiencies in policing, healthcare, and drug treatment, alongside the economic and social impacts of immigration. Addressing these issues requires bold reforms prioritizing efficiency, accountability, and sustainability.

 

Economy and Public Services

The economy underpins public services, yet inefficiencies in both exacerbate financial pressures. In the NHS, where I currently work, outdated IT, excessive bureaucracy, and insufficient frontline staff hinder service delivery. Poor management and wasteful spending -- on unnecessary administrative layers or inefficient procurement -- burden taxpayers. Similarly, as a police officer in Thames Valley and Sussex, I saw how cumbersome processes and inadequate staffing reduced effectiveness, with officers spending hours in custody rather than patrolling streets.

To address this, I propose a “front-loading” approach for both the NHS and police. Streamline management by eliminating redundant layers, redirecting funds to frontline roles -- more nurses, doctors, and officers. Invest in modern IT systems to reduce administrative burdens, allowing professionals to focus on service delivery. Greater scrutiny of NHS expenditure, coupled with selective privatization where it enhances efficiency (e.g., diagnostics or non-emergency services), could optimize resources. For policing, increasing officer numbers and minimizing custody processing time would enhance visibility, deterring crime and boosting public trust

These reforms would reduce financial strain while improving service quality, supporting economic stability.

Social care, critical to the NHS, faces a looming crisis due to an ageing population and declining birthrate. Rising demand will widen funding gaps unless addressed. A long-term funding plan, combining public and private contributions, is essential. Public education campaigns promoting healthier lifestyles -- emphasizing exercise and nutrition -- could reduce future care needs.

An honest dialogue with the public about realistic expectations of social care is also vital, encouraging families to take greater responsibility where feasible. These measures would ease economic pressures while ensuring sustainable care.

 

Crime and Disorder

Crime, particularly acquisitive crime linked to substance misuse, disrupts communities and strains the justice system. As a police officer, I found high-visibility patrols effective in deterring crime, yet insufficient staffing and bureaucratic processes limited their impact. Later, as a substance misuse worker in prisons and communities, I worked with heroin-dependent individuals whose addiction drove theft and burglary to fund illicit drug purchases. Methadone prescribing, while preventing withdrawal, often failed to address addiction’s root causes, perpetuating a cycle of crime and dependency.

To tackle this, I advocate treating addiction as a public health issue rather than a criminal one. Prescribing diamorphine (medical heroin) under strict supervision could reduce the need for acquisitive crime, as seen in trials like Switzerland’s, where crime rates dropped significantly. This approach allows treatment workers to focus on addressing psychological and social drivers of addiction, such as trauma or poverty. Mandatory rehabilitation for persistent offenders, combined with expanded community-based recovery programs, would further reduce reoffending.

For policing, increasing officer numbers and streamlining processes to maximize street presence would enhance deterrence. These measures would lower the £20 billion annual cost of crime to the economy while improving community safety.

 

Immigration

Immigration, particularly irregular migration, strains public resources and challenges social cohesion. Housing asylum seekers costs billions annually, diverting funds from public services. Uncontrolled immigration can exacerbate pressures on housing, healthcare, and policing, potentially increasing crime and homelessness. My experiences in public services highlight how overstretched resources struggle to meet rising demand, underscoring the need for robust immigration controls.

I propose an “Australia-style” border policy, deploying naval or coastguard patrols to prevent unauthorized boat landings, ensuring asylum seekers are processed offshore. Visa overstayers and foreign nationals convicted of crimes should face automatic deportation to deter illegal stays and protect public safety. Simultaneously, legal immigration pathways must be streamlined to attract skilled workers who bolster the economy, particularly in healthcare and social care. These measures would reduce fiscal pressures, estimated at £4–6 billion annually for asylum processing, while preserving social cohesion and public trust.

 

Interconnected Solutions

These challenges interlink: efficient services support economic stability, crime reduction eases judicial costs, controlled immigration preserves resources, and free speech drives accountable governance. By front-loading services, treating addiction as a health issue, enforcing robust border policies, and protecting free speech, the UK can achieve sustainable services, safer communities, and a stronger economy.