HAD alongside Mind in Harrow, Community ConneX and Harrow Carers, are holding a hustings for the Brent and Harrow London Assembly member.
The London Assembly questions the Mayor of London ten times a year at Mayor’s Question Time. The Mayor of Londo must also consult Assembly Members before producing statutory strategies and the multi-billion pound budget for the Greater London Authority (GLA) Group. As well as examining the Mayor’s actions and decisions. Assembly Monday embers act as champions for Londoners by investigating issues that are important to the capital - from improving the economy to how to treat Disabled Londoners.
The London’s Mayoral Election will take place on Thursday 2nd May 2024.
A number of candidates have been nominated to represent Brent and Harrow on the London Assembly. See below statements received by us to date from the candidates for the London Assembly election.
Stefan Bucovineanul-Voloseniuc
Conservative Party
I'm truly grateful for the chance to possibly become the next GLA member for Brent and Harrow. It's a privilege that means a lot to me.
My dedication to disability rights is personal, not just political. Seeing my best mate deal with disability has really opened my eyes to the challenges faced, making this cause my personal mission. Working directly with people with disabilities in our community has given me key insights and a strong desire to make a real difference. We need to go further, making sure inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do from the start.Recognizing the importance of mental wellbeing and emotional support, I pledge to advocate for comprehensive support services that address these critical areas. This is essential for building a resilient community where everyone feels supported and understood.
Following this, my promise extends to offering new ideas for improving fire safety, transport, and housing access. With my personal experience and professional background, I'm ready to bring in changes that truly meet the needs of people with disabilities. I want to work closely with communities, turning their experiences into policies that have a real impact.With your support on May 2nd, I'm not just looking to be an advocate, but a committed ally to disabled people at City Hall.
Together, we can make our city a place that not only accommodates but celebrates everyone, ensuring a future that's inclusive for all.
Together we are much stronger!
Nida Al-Fulaij
Green Party
Nida Al-Fulaij, the Green Party candidate for the Brent and Harrow GLA constituency, works for a trust that aims to protect endangered species in the UK and globally. Her role involves addressing the biodiversity crisis and associated issues of climate change, food security, land use and access to healthy water.
Her experience as a local council candidate enabled her to speak to local people about the issues than concerned them and meet like-minded green voters. In her job Nida works with other NGOs to submit responses to government proposals and works with different communities that, whilst having different outlooks, can work for common goals. These are skills that she will bring to the GLA if elected.
Nida has given numerous media interviews including for BBC local radio, Sky News
Countryfile and BBC London News. Nida is a passionate believer in human rights and has joined in recent demonstrations in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Alongside other Green candidates Nida is standing for:
• is Cheaper rents
• Warmer homes
• Accountable policing
• Climate action
• Properly funded youth services
• Affordable fares
• Increase the real Living Wage for London
• Respecting diversity so all communities thrive
The representative attending our hustings will be Bastôn A. A. De'Medici-Jaguar.
Krupesh Hirani
Labour and Co-operative Party
It is an honour to represent Brent and Harrow, the best part of the greatest city in the world, at City Hall. I am incredibly passionate about disability rights and before getting into politics I worked in the voluntary sector supporting disabled people. Over a span of 11 years, I worked for Aspire, based in Stanmore, and also for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
It is this background and experience that has led me to ensure that I am always champion the needs of disabled people at City Hall. In my three-year tenure at City Hall, I have been building on the work of my predecessor, Navin Shah, with Step free stations delivered at Sudbury Hill and Harrow-on-the-Hill stations and feasibility work is starting at Rayners Lane and Alperton stations. I have been holding TfL to account on training for bus drivers on disability equality.
In addition, I have been taking up genuine concerns from disabled people on fire safety at City Hall working with the Fire Brigade. As a result we have seen the Fire Brigade locally engaging with disabled people on this important issue. On housing, it is crucial that we continue to ensure that the promise of 10% requirement of new build homes to be wheelchair accessible and the other 90% to be adaptable is entrenched in the London Plan so that disabled people have access to the homes they need. If re-elected on 2nd May, I will continue to be a champion for disabled people at City Hall.
Jonathan Singh
Liberal Democrats
As a Liberal Democrat I am standing to help build and safeguard a fair, free, and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in
which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. I am committed to working with our Councillors on environmental issues in Brent and Harrow, to ensure that we protect our green spaces and provide for active accessible travel. I would focus on improving youth services and local sports facilities and working with others on the GLA to hold the met to account and ensure we get the police service we deserve in London. We would prioritise accessibility for TfL services and ensure that we build the homes that people need in the area, but with strong community consultation so that the right homes are built in the right places, with the right social infrastructure.
Ian Price
Reform party
Among Reform’s priorities for London is the reversal of the war on motorists that has hit the disabled and carers for the disabled hardest of all. ULEZ and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in particular have made motoring either difficult, unaffordable or both, reducing freedom of movement for disabled people and limiting their freedom. Uniquely among major political parties, Reform will reverse not just the ULEZ extension but ULEZ in its entirety. It will also abolish all LTNs and also the imposition of 20 mph limits apart from exceptional circumstances. It will seek to reverse the central government ban on new sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2035, reducing the current drive to replace much needed parking 12 bays with EV chargers. The current Mayor’s plans for Net Zero in London by 2030 will be economically crippling with no discernible impact on global emissions. Uniquely, Reform plans to scrap these plans freeing up significant budget to support Londoners whose freedom of movement has been so badly constrained.
LIMITED PLACES, SO BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW!
We need confirmed names for refreshments and because of hall seating restrictions.
Let us know your access needs at least one week in advance. A BSL Interpreter will be present at the meeting.
There will be some time to ask questions at the end, but we would also like to make sure that common concerns are covered. So please, whether you wish to attend or not, let us know if you have a concern you would like the politicians to respond to.
Please reserve your place, register your questions or for further information, email Angela Dias on a.dias@had.org.uk or contact HAD Reception on 020 8861 9920.
Book your ticket on Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/london-assembly-member-hustings-harrowbrent-tickets-864572488587
Thank you.
