Juggling work, a pandemic and life as a married man with three children, Richard says he has always had "regular dad duties" to fit alongside his busy working life.
But he discovered a newfound passion for politics had taken root in the summer of 2016 following the Brexit referendum.
"I was completely shell shocked by the result. I wasn't involved in any campaigning, I was a passive consumer of politics at that time.
"I was just watching this slow-motion catastrophe unfold, and things seemed to be heading towards absolute disaster. Rather than just bore my wife and kids with my complaints, I wanted to do something myself."