We’ve invited all the local election candidates to complete this questionnaire so you know more about the people asking for your vote on the 4th of May. We’re also compiling a list of their websites and social media accounts so you can follow them and get in touch if you have any questions.
Follow @mycardiffnorth
Name – Councillor Jonathan Bishop
Party – Independent
Ward – Llandaff North
Website – jonathanbishop.org.uk
Twitter – @votejonathan
Facebook – votejonathan
How can people get in touch with you? – Web and social media.
About You
Tell us about yourself
I am an information technology executive, researcher and writer. I founded the Centre for Research into Online Communities and E-Learning Systems in 2005, now part of the Crocels Community Media Group. My research and development work generally falls within human-computer interaction. I have over 75 publications in this area, including on Internet trolling, cyber-stalking, gamification, cyberlaw, multimedia forensics, Classroom 2.0 and Digital Teens. In addition to his BSc(Hons) in Multimedia Studies and various postgraduate degrees, including in law, economics and computing, I serve in local government as a councillor, and have been a school governor and contested numerous elections, including to the UK Parliament and Welsh Assembly. I am a fellow of BCS, CILIP, the InstAM, the RAI, the RSS and the RSA, senior member of IEEE and a member of the IMarEST with MarTech, the NUJ, CIOJ, CIPR. I have won prizes for my literary skills and been a finalist in national and local competitions for my environmental, community and equality work, which often form part of action research studies. In my spare time I enjoy listening to music, swimming and chess.
What are the biggest issues in your ward?
Air pollution, unemployment, crime and safety.
What’s your favourite place in Cardiff and why?
The Gabalfa Interchange. One can get almost anywhere from it!
What do you think should be done to improve engagement in politics?
I edited a book called Transforming Politics and Policy in the Digital Age. The problem is that there is too much focus on politics and not enough on policy. The BBC News Channel for instance focuses on nonsense like divisions in the Labour Party between those who support Jeremy Corbyn and those who do not. Everyone has an opinion on what should happen in their communities and the country, so from my point of view the role of a councillor should be to get the public’s message across to the powers that be and not getting the politician’s message across to the public.
What’s your favourite film?
Joint favourite are Top Gun and Days of Thunder.
If You’re Elected
What will you do to improve your ward?
Act in the interests of the people in the ward and no one else. When I’m elected to a council I represent my ward and am not afraid of making enemies to do the right thing for the people I speak on behalf of.
How will you communicate with residents in your ward?
I will set up a 24-hour telephone receptionist service, a dedicated website, and email. I will also set up a telephone redirection number to make it easier to report problems to the council 24 hours per day.
What issues that affect the whole city would you like to get involved in?
Crime, education, the environment.
Final Comments
What would you change about Cardiff and why?
Improving air quality because it is creating a generation of people with respiratory problems.
Any final comments?
Out of my council allowance I would provide a new apprenticeship each year for someone to help me with my work as a councillor, which would ideally be drawn from those who live in the ward. I would also spend a good proportion of my allowance on match-funding community projects.
My Cardiff North 