Loz Kaye

http://www.ppuk.org.uk/loz-kaye

Loz Kaye joined the Pirate Party as he felt, like many people, let down by mainstream politics and politicians. Loz became Leader of Pirate Party UK in September 2010, having been a board member and election agent. He has stood in the Manchester Central constituency beating parties such as TUSC and Respect, and for the Ancoats and Clayton Ward in Manchester where he beat the Liberal Democrats and the BNP. His core passions are digital rights, civil liberties, city regeneration and an open and inclusive politics.

He has appeared widely in the media discussing Pirate Party policy, as a guest on BBC, CNN and Russia Today, interviews on BBC World Service and the Voice of Russia, and even FHM and Vice magazine. He has written for the Guardian, Public Service Europe, Attitude, the Occupied Times and ORGzine amongst others. He speaks and debates on Internet freedom, democratic renewal, social media and civil liberties. Appearances have included the Future Everything conference in Manchester, ORGcon North, Rethinking the Internet in Venice, the Demos populist politics event in Brussels and for the Literary and Historical Society Dublin.

He is an campaigner for communities in East and North Manchester. He is an active member of the Save Ancoats Dispensary campaign, spent many Sundays cleaning and repairing the heritage of Manchester with the Ancoats Canal Project and is a committee member of Friends of London Road Fire Station.

Loz has a professional background as a musician, composer, higher education lecturer and workshop leader. As a community artist he has worked with GCSE students, young people in care and learning disabled groups. His theatre music has been heard all the way from Nashville, Tennessee to Okinawa, Japan. He is a board member of Horse and Bamboo Theatre, which tours innovative work internationally as well as working with communities in East Lancashire. He is also Musical Director of the Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus.

"I hear all too often that politicians are all the same and that nothing can ever change. The only way to be sure nothing will ever change is to do nothing and not get involved. I believe passionately we need a new brand of politics for the 21st century, where citizens are an active part, not treated as suspects. Where technology can be welcomed not feared. Where we can all take an equal part in society".