CPAX Focus on

Timothy Webb

Timothy Webb http://www.cpanorthampton.org.uk

Timothy Webb stood as a CPA Parliamentary candidate in Northampton South in the 2005 General Election. Timothy is a great guy - a good friend, and full of optimism and encouragement. If you're feeling a little cast down or jaded, spend an hour or so talking to Timothy; he'll soon have you buzzing again. I interviewed him on the way back from a Political Issues Group meeting in London.

Timothy, could you tell us a little bit about your background?

I grew up in North Finchley, in London, but I've been around a bit since then - America, China, and of course Bournemouth. I'm 47 years old, and I'm married to Suzanne. We have four lovely children. For the past thirty years, I've worked chiefly in the electronics industry, and even ran my own electronics firm for a couple of years. I suppose my strangest job was as a railway signaller! But mostly I've worked on firmware and software development.

How did you get involved with the CPA?

I was working out my redundancy notice at a firm in London, and I saw three roadside ads, unrelated to each other (as far as I could tell), within a couple of days. They all said "think differently" or some trivial variant of those words. They weren't up for very long, but it was long enough. So I tried to think differently. I thought about selling the house and going to Bible college. So I started to follow that route, but Suzanne and I quickly realised that this wasn't what God wanted. We prayed about it, because we really needed to be in God's will. Meanwhile, I learned that a friend at church, Genevieve Hibbs, was standing as an MEP candidate for the Christian Peoples Alliance. I felt God was asking me to help her. So I did.

By giving that assistance, I soon met other people in the party and began to get more involved. I felt a strong conviction that I should stand as an MP. No, it's stronger than that... I felt that God was saying, "Timothy, I want you to be an MP!"

I asked Suzanne, and she agreed - she felt that God was saying this, too. So we sold our house, and then asked God what to do next, and He sent us to Northampton (much to our surprise).

I started a degree in Politics and Theology, learning enough on that course to get me through the CPA's selection process for Parliamentary candidates. I was even co-opted onto the Federal Executive (which certainly wasn't in my plan!).

And then you stood as a Parliamentary candidate, yes?

Yep.

Did Suzanne back you up?

I wouldn't have done it if she hadn't. Suzanne has been marvellous, right through this whole thing.

What about your church? Did they support you?

I certainly had the basic support that I needed for party reasons [the CPA won't accept a Parliamentary candidate without support from his or her pastor], and I also got good support from various individuals within the church.

How did you enjoy the campaign?

It was hard work! I very much felt that it was God's calling, though - it gave Northampton a choice. I believe, prophetically speaking, that that was important.

Do you think you failed, or succeeded, at the Election?

I certainly learned a lot. I feel the Church failed to some degree. I don't take that as personal failure.

Do you mean the Church had the chance to have a voice in politics?

Yes, and they didn't take the effort to understand. Some did, though.

Would you be willing to stand again?

Yes!

Timothy Webb, thank you very much.