Graham lives locally and cycles to work at St John’s College and the Oxford University Centre for the Environment. He has been an award-winning journalist and editor, and president of his trade union. Graham has experienced multi-occupancy and also knows what it is like to bring up a young family on a restricted income. ‘St Clement’s is my kind of area,’ he says. ‘Youthful, vibrant, and a rainbow mix of backgrounds and aspirations.’ Graham supports Oxfam, Christian Aid, and Amnesty, and has signed the 10:10 petition to start carbon emission cuts now. ‘I want the City Council to adopt the Lib-Dem target of carbon neutrality by 2050 and persuade colleges and businesses to do likewise.’

Graham lives in Cowley, sharing the house with a young family making their way on a low income. He has two children, each of whom is bringing up a family. His daughter is a homemaker and school classroom assistant, and formerly an airline cabin crew member, and his son runs his own business.

He has been a Liberal and then Liberal Democrat all his adult life. He has stood three times before as a local candidate: for Wandsworth council in London, for Harborough district council, and for Leicestershire county council.

He is an ardent European and internationalist, and a member of the European Movement national council. He regularly visits the Continent, socially as well as professionally, and travel is one of his main interests – together with cycling, badminton, cinema, ‘and the Independent on Sunday crossword!’.

His work, with a project dealing with the areas known historically and legally as forest, explores human interaction with, and communal stewardship of natural resources. Ignored or misunderstood by generations of scholars, areas of grazing, hunting and gathering (including timber and fuel) represent half this country’s agrarian experience.