Larkhall Councillor - Pete Robbins

Pete Robbins

When and why did you first become interested in politics?
I’m from a Labour family and growing up in the Eighties under Thatcher meant that I was aware of politics from a young age. I joined the Labour Party myself as soon as I was old enough and never looked back. I also remember taking part in a school mock election in 1992 and being crushingly defeated - because the Lib Dem candidate was better looking than me…

What inspired you to become a councillor?
Not everyone is as lucky as me - I’ve had a fantastic upbringing with a good education, NHS treatment on demand, and a supportive family. I’ve had so many advantages in life and as such I feel it is my responsibility to use them to help people who haven’t been so lucky. I hope that being a councillor will allow me to give something back and make a real difference to people’s lives. Nobody should have to tolerate second-rate services just because they aren’t rich.

Has it been worth it?
Absolutely - though I may have a different answer if you ask me after a long, boring, and pointless evening meeting...

What’s your greatest fear and your greatest hope?
My greatest fear is something terrible happening to my loved ones, and my greatest hope is that I will get the chance to rule the world for one day.

What’s the first thing you would do if you ruled the world for a day?
Have a very long lie-in.

What single thing would most improve your area?
Better housing, more green space and properly funded youth services. But many problems in my ward are caused by unthinking, anti-social idiots – so more people taking responsibility for their behaviour and the consequences of their actions would be great too.

What fictional character do you identify with, and why?
When dealing with certain parts of Lambeth Council, I feel like Joseph K from The Trial. But generally I model myself on Homer Simpson.

What’s your favourite film?
Frank Kapra’s It's A Wonderful Life - I'm a hopeless sentimentalist.

What does your council do particularly well?
I think Lambeth is great at celebrating and valuing the diversity within the borough. And it also has a world-class ability to frustrate and annoy residents... but I like to think we are starting to change that now.

What do you consider your greatest political triumph?
An obvious answer, but being part of the campaign that led to Labour winning back the Council in May 2006. We were the only council that Labour won in the entire country.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
I have never done anything embarrassing in my life. *coughs*

What is the biggest problem with local government today?
The lack of understanding amongst many people of what local government does and can do for them. If people had more knowledge of the type of decisions that are made by councillors they’d have more interest in our work. I think that localism is vital in rebuilding people’s faith in politics.

How would you solve it?
By doing a great job as a councillor. If people have effective representation they will start to have more confidence in local government.

Who is your political hero, and why?
Keir Hardie is my political hero – a founding father of the Labour movement and a decent and honest man whose practical brand of socialism was driven by a desire for genuine equality. In more modern times it's Neil Kinnock - he was the leader of the Labour party when I grew up and he laid the foundations for Labour to become electable again.

When and where are you most happy?
Sitting round the dinner table with my family, drinking wine and laughing.

What’s your theme song, and why?
You Can't Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones. Because you can't - but if you try sometimes...

What one book would you take with you to a desert island?
A copy of the Lambeth Council Constitution – I might just about have the time to read it properly. And if it gets cold I can burn it for fuel.

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