From a state grammar school in South London, to Oxford University and a subsequent career as a successful entrepreneur – it’s fair to say that Chris Philp has been on an amazing journey.
38 year old Chris, from West Wickham, is now the Conservative Party’s parliamentary candidate for Croydon South – a seat which fellow Conservative Sir Richard Ottaway MP currently holds.
Chris is currently involved in a number of projects taking place in and around Croydon, including increasing funding for Croydon schools, campaigning for the X-Ray facilities to be restored at Purley Hospital, fighting for the redevelopment of Purley Town Centre and improving the performance of Southern Rail trains.
I managed to speak to the father of two recently, about his ideas for young people in Croydon, and what qualities he believes he would bring to the job. When asked what first attracted him into the world of politics after a successful career in business, Chris told me that “it was a time about eight years ago when my Dad was in hospital in Bromley for a heart operation, and I realised then how important the NHS was and what a big impact it has on people’s everyday lives.”
The world of politics is seemingly a million miles away from that of business, although Chris told me how his business experience would help him to achieve things and make real change.
“Relatively few MPs have had proper business experience, and that applies to all parties. One of the things which makes people frustrated about politics is that you get a lot of talk from politicians, but there isn’t so much action. I think an ability to get things done, rather than just talking about things, is really important.”
Chris also runs a successful charity, called ‘The Next Big Thing’, which according to his website “gets youngsters from inner city backgrounds interested in setting up businesses, building their confidence and showing them that by hard work and creativity, they can succeed - no matter how hard their start in life has been.”
On the subject of creating opportunities, Chris is very passionate. He told me that he believed “academies and apprenticeships are designed to give people the opportunities to achieve whatever it is they want to achieve, no matter what their background”, and that he would “give state schools the freedom to select on academic ability if they wanted to”, if it meant that opportunities for young people would increase.
Chris is also an advocate of grammar schools, which are no longer being created in the UK. “Grammar schools do give children from ordinary backgrounds the opportunity to achieve their potential. I ended up going to Oxford to study Physics, and I think without having gone to that grammar school, I don’t think I would have done that.”
On the subject of Oxford, just how did Chris make it from his background to such a prestigious university? He told me his advice for young people wishing to follow in his footsteps:
“First of all, you’ve got to obviously work hard at your academic studies. Whatever field of endeavour you’re looking to get involved in, music or whether its academic study, whatever it is you want to do, there is no substitute for hard work.”
“Go and visit the college you’re thinking of applying to – talk to the tutors, talk to the current students - they’re very happy to show people around.”
And finally, why should you vote for Chris this May?
“I’ve got real world experience of setting up businesses from scratch and making things happen – too few MPs have real world experience. I’m passionate about creating jobs and opportunities, education and the health service.”
Kirsty Bailey
Croydon High School
