Ian Swales

Ian was brought up in West Yorkshire and studied Chemical Engineering at Manchester University. After qualifying as an accountant with Yorkshire Electricity he joined ICI in 1978 and settled in Redcar. He lived in Brussels for three years in the 1980's. After working as a Finance Director, Business Leader and global Head of Leadership Development Ian left ICI in 1999. Since then he has run his own Management Consulting and Training business. As a founder member of the SDP in 1981 Ian was on the first Cleveland Area Committee. He contested the 2005 General Election in the Redcar constituency moving the Liberal Democrats up to 2nd place behind Labour. He has recently campaigned against the Iraq war, for better treatment of drug addicts, for a new swimming pool in Redcar, and for improvements in the environment. He is currently involved in various groups aimed at improving community facilities and protecting the environment. Ian has travelled widely and lived in Brussels for 3 years in the 1980's. He thinks this area is a great place to live and believes it can be even better with more ambition, more investment, more quality jobs and more focus on the environment. Ian enjoys travel, walking and pub quizzes. He is married to Pat and his three children are now making their own way in Thornaby, Gibraltar and Slovakia.