Jen Hughes for Ryde South-East

28/05/2026

Sorry this has ended up being a long post…! edited to add: This is not a sympathy post nor is it supposed to be negative, just honest! 🙂

Firstly, apologies for the radio silence, but the election period really knocked me for 6…it was a challenging time which has left me mentally, physically and spiritually drained! Thank you so so much for the words of support and kindness, I honestly am touched at comments and correspondence I have received. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!! 🙏

Secondly yes of course I was disappointed to lose, but I was even more disappointed to lose to a Reform candidate as I believe we need to build bridges not fuel anger and hatred whipped up by mainstream media and a multi millionaire protagonist who led the disaster that was Brexit and then ‘did one’!! 😟

Thirdly, I’ve met and spent time with the Ryde South East councillor Chris Way (of Reform) whom I came second to, and he seems a genuinely nice chap, but I was very disappointed to see him vote for Jonathan Bacon, the leader of the disastrous school place planning debacle, to be our new council leader last night! 🤦🏼‍♀️ Let’s just hope none of our local schools come up for closure again…!

Fourthly, I am still currently a Ryde town councillor, but I would urge you to contact Cllr Way if you have any major issues, as he has far more access to the right people to be able to help…I can always be here to listen, but as my role is only at town I don’t have the same access to the right people, or power to get things done. My role, unlike Cllr Ways, is unpaid. I have had to accept that being a town councillor brings very little value to my families’ lives and they have suffered as a result of the time I have given to the role and the impact it has had on me personally.

Cllr Chris Way has committed to serving Ryde South East, he is a decent guy and wants to help, so let him 🙏 I have every faith he will put the effort in as he seems genuine. You also, if in Ryde South East, have the deputy mayor, Jess Higgins, to contact with any issues, as she remains a Ryde South East town councillor too, as well as the Mental Health representative for Ryde Town Council.

Either way, there are people who are here to help, I will always listen and signpost you to the relevant people/department. I care deeply about Ryde and the people in our community and always will, but this result really has led me to look very hard at my work/life balance and admit some uncomfortable truths.

Have a wonderful Thursday and beyond everyone and thank you for the support and for believing in me 🫶🏻

08/05/2026

Good evening everyone 🫶🏻

So by now everyone will probably know that for me this journey ends here. But I just wanted to take the opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for every single person who showed up yesterday and voted for me 🙏 Honestly, it means an awful lot that you put your faith and trust in me and I’m truly humbled by this experience and the lovely people I have met! Thank you, sincerely!

Also for all the comments, messages, texts, calls, pep talks and encouragement during this process. You are all wonderful and I’m so grateful for every single one of you! I feel blessed to have been surrounded by such kindness and compassion and have been truly touched by everyone who, again, believed in me and supported me or kept me in their thoughts and prayers.

Again, shout out to the other candidates - Richard Collins, Chris Way and the one and only Steve Double.

Richard, is kind, intelligent, energy and environment conscious good guy and had a great deal of support! It was great to chat with him.

Chris (Reform) despite his questionable rosette(!)😂is a nice guy, who was great to talk with and I truly believe does want to try to make a difference - I wish him good luck in the future

Steve, as I said to him today, is one of the nicest guys I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! Spending time with him yesterday was an absolute pleasure!

To the Liberal Democrats; Firstly, congratulations to Cllr Andrew Garratt, Cllr Nick Stuart and Cllr Mark Rochell on your successful election and re-election today! Absolutely fantastic result and I hope you continue to do wonderful things! Thank you to those of you, including the wonderful Sarah Redrup and Simon Cooke, who helped deliver some of my literature, so kind of you both to help and support me and I’m so grateful! 🙏 Along with my island bestie Sarah B, and her beautiful little mini me ‘H’ who faced her fears in the name of helping me! 🥲🥰 lots of love to you both!! Also congrats to Ian ‘knocka’ Dore on his re-election for Binstead and Fishbourne! Well deserved and really pleased for you! Thanks for the laughs!

Finally, I just want to say to Cllr Michael Lilley - Ryde Appley and Elmfield. You, along with your fantastic wife Julia, have been my absolute rock! My fiercest defender, my encourager, my sounding board and at times de-escalation unit! 😂 I could not have survived this process without you, you walked Great Preston Road for me TWICE despite having your own Ward to do and have offered countless hours of Benson accompanied walking and talking!! 😅 I will never ever be able to repay what you have given me - belief in me when I still struggled to believe in myself. You are an absolute asset in my life and I am privileged to have walked this path with you; I can’t help but feel acutely sad that I don’t get to continue to walk this journey alongside you… 😔 but I know you will continue with integrity and kindness and I’m so pleased you were re-elected today! You are, without a doubt THE BEST man for the job!! 🫶🏻

Lastly (I can’t forget the most important people in my life!) thank you to Adam Hughes for helping deliver leaflets, listening to me going on and for being such a support during this difficult time. And to my daughters, the catalyst for the last few years, to make things better for their futures and the future generations of the island; Thank you so much for putting up with me, for helping deliver, for being dragged around, for existing on late dinners thrown together, constant phone calls and a tired grumpy mum! I love you all so much!

And to you all for following and supporting this journey and anyone who read this post, thank you too! I know I’m not accepting a presidency and I lost 😂 but I had a lot of people to thank 🤣

Have a beautiful weekend and look after yourselves and each other 😊 xx

07/05/2026

What a day…! I’m home, my feet are burning, I’ve somehow walked 12,000 steps just standing outside the polling station 😂 Thank you to everyone who came out and voted for me and for those that have helped, encouraged and supported me. You know who you are and I am seriously grateful to you all 🫶🏻
The messages and comments of support I’ve received today kept me going and I feel truly humbled by it all. It was also truly a pleasure to get to know Steve Double, Richard Collins, and Chris Way. I can honestly say that they were all genuinely nice guys and I wish them all the best for tomorrow 🙏
Finally Cllr Michael Lilley - Ryde Appley and Elmfield I truly couldn’t have done it without you and your lovely wife’s delicious rolling buffet! 😀

Photo below of me after 15 hours (with a couple of breaks) at the polling station!

07/05/2026

It’s election day! Please come down to the fire station and say ‘hi’! Good luck to everyone standing! 🙏

05/05/2026

Good afternoon everyone!! I hope you are all well?!

It’s less than 48 hours until the polls open for Local Elections and I must admit I’m nervous…

The national press is whipping up the political part by forecasting based on sensationalism…all I hope for is that people will think for themselves and vote for the candidate they truly believe will do the absolute best by our Ward.

We need local people in County Council that will work hard and I am standing and continuing to campaign as, the longer I am in this process, the more I truly believe I am the best candidate for Ryde South East!

I would go above and beyond to hear and represent the people in Ryde south east at county level, I have lots of ideas that I’d like to put to people, including giving back to the community by offering my practical help on a Monday morning to anybody who needs it, to give back at grass roots level.

I was delivering letters today and noticed a very overgrown path…this is the type of thing I could help with on an individual level. Listening and taking notice of what is needed to improve the lives of individuals as well as being a voice at county meetings and challenging unfit systems.

I am not standing because I want to virtue signal, I am not better than anyone else and I have no ambitions other than to try to improve things in this area me and my family call home, by listening and championing our residents, by doing FOR and not TO people!

Please do consider voting for me on Thursday as I am truly committed to being of service, and to making a difference for us all.

Thank you for reading! Jen

Below, a picture of my ‘campaign HQ’ as I have made and printed everything myself! Thank goodness for our ink tank printer! 😂

30/04/2026

Good morning everyone! I hope you are well and ready to enjoy some (hopefully!) more sunny weather!
I will be out and about later today, as I continue to deliver my leaflets…still something I find difficult as firstly I don’t like to trouble people and secondly I’m just a wife and mum looking to help represent our ward for positive change. I am a quick thinker and have spent the last 2 1/2 years fighting for my local community, helped save Oakfield primary and have spoken up regularly at town council, acting in the best interests of the residents of Ryde.

I’m not a ‘typical’ politician, I am not full of empty promises, or of my own self importance, I am no better than anyone else! But I genuinely believe I am capable of continuing to make very positive improvements in our Ward.

So, that being said, if you want a dedicated, conscientious and caring person, who will work hard to support and represent the ward, please do get out and vote for me next Thursday!

Your voice matters. Every vote matters. Have a great day on purpose 🙏

Jen

24/04/2026

FYI PARENTS OF OAKFIELD AND OAKFIELD/APPLEY RESIDENTS

The traffic lights are still not functioning on Appley Road outside Oakfield school…

Island roads have apparently attended and cannot fix them so they’re awaiting a mainland team…not sure why they need to come from the mainland but Island Roads emergency department were kind and helpful.

They are going to call me back with an ETA for the mainland team…and I will update in due course

Thank you 🙏

22/04/2026

A little impromptu walking video this afternoon…
Thank you Cllr Michael Lilley - Ryde Appley and Elmfield for the superb camera work 😅

One of many things I would love to champion, along with the things that matter to YOU as your voice matters!

Printed, published and promoted by Jen Hughes
107 West Hill Road, Ryde, PO33 1LN

19/04/2026

09/12/2025

I know that this is a difficult time of year and purses are stretched, but I’m posting this in solidarity and to raise awareness.

Men Only IOW is a charitable venture, a safe space for men to go for support and connection. It is a vital service for men suffering with mental health, worries or just for connection and a bit of support.

Sadly they are facing closure if they cannot secure donations to keep their Ryde high street premises running. If you can help, or know someone who can spare anything, every little helps.

Thank you for reading and have a lovely evening all x

https://www.facebook.com/share/1GAV1yGUYj/

Men Only IOW and Women Only have reached a critical point.

This will be our last public appeal. Without your help, both services will close on Christmas Day. We need your money to survive, like so many of the people who come through our door need the team at Rodger & Steve's to survive.

We support people every day through some of the toughest moments of their lives, through cold winters and isolation. And after over five years, we still do it on our own, without any central funding, even though NHS teams, GPs, Police, the Jobcentre and local councils regularly refer people to us, and we are proud to support them, but we cannot continue to do so without support

The truth is this: our doors are only open because some of our community choose to keep them open.

As the number of people coming through our doors increases, so do our costs. If you can spare £5 a month, it will help to keep this space alive. We can help with a warm room, a safe place, a form filled out, or a home found. And maybe a conversation that helps someone stay with us.

You may not need us now, but someone you know or love might, and so this is the moment to stand with us.